We give you a mic and 8 minutes. You tell us a story.

"More stripped-down than spoken word, more intimate than a reading, less frantic than stand-up, less showy than theater, [live lit is] essentially a reader and a mic and a room full of people. Live lit is verbal seduction, polemic, rhythm and lyric, bedtime story, bombast, and lament all at once.” - ​Chicago Reader

What is Story Club?

Story Club is a nonfiction storytelling show. The goal of Story Club is to mix the spontaneity of an open mic with the experience of live theater. Each show has both open mic and featured performers.

​Story Club was started in Chicago by Dana Norris in 2009 and now exists on/in Cleveland and Pittsburgh.

Who can read at Story Club?

Anyone. We have at least three open mic slots at each show (more if time allows). Open mic participants sign up before the show and and are chosen randomly during the show. There is a timer on stage with the performer, counting down. Once the timer goes off, the story is over. Story Club loves having new storytellers on stage. We encourage everyone to sign up and show off what they've got! 

What kinds of stories are told at Story Club?

Story Club is a forum for nonfiction stories.  Each performer has 8 minutes to do their thing (about 1300 words). Stories may be read or memorized. They may also incorporate that evening's theme or not. The best stories quickly tell us where the story is taking place, who it involves, and what's at stake. If you're uncertain if your work is appropriate, we recommend reading a couple stories from Story Club Magazine and/or reading a copy of Dana's book The Storytelling Code. ​

What if I've never performed before?

Then we love you the most. We pride ourselves in being a venue that many writers use as their first performance space. You will get a microphone, a music stand for your pages, a stool (if you want to sit), and a timer. You will also get one of the most attentive, welcoming audiences in Cleveland.

Who are the "featured performers"?

Featured performances are curated for each show by the Story Club production team. Featured performers write towards that month's theme, provide drafts of their stories, work with our producers to refine their tales, and are paid based on the audience donations from the evening. Want to be a featured performer? We're always looking for intriguing nonfiction stories to bring to our stage. There are only two steps required to becoming a featured performer: (1) Attend a Story Club show. (2) Email a nonfiction story to [email protected]. Previous Story Club Cleveland featured performers include:​
  • Shannon Cason
  • Deena Nyer Mendlowitz
  • Marissa DeSantis
  • Josh Daum
  • Josie Brandt
  • Megan Erwin
  • Sarah Jones
  • Ken Schneck
  • Eryc Watson
  • Hanna Dean
  • Joshua Trefney
  • Larry Soloman
  • Zachariah Durr
  • Rachel Oscar
  • Kris McGuigan
  • Meryl Williams
  • Sky Brown
  • Laura Vaidich
  • Adam Richard
  • Jay Demagall
  • Patrick French
  • Lachlan MacKinnon
  • Jasmyn Carter
  • Theodore Pavlich
  • Ali Arnold
  • Bella Sin
  • Brittany Nicole Gaul
  • Mandy Anderson
  • Jessica Syre
  • Maria Gigante
  • Carey Callahan
  • Jennifer Koster
  • Katie Brunetti Cutshaw
  • Bridget Callahan
  • Gwynnedh Jones
  • Logan Dorado
  • James Catullo
  • Justin Kilduff
  • Barbara Orney
  • Luke Frazier
  • Jessica Schickel
  • Mallory McMaster
  • Ashley Malone
  • Alex DiFrancesco
  • Dale Winlock
  • Susan Fee
  • Scott Sheperd
  • Helen B Lindsay
  • Amy Newman Smith
  • Ashley V Malone
  • Carolyn Chan
  • Marc Jaffe
  • Colleen Szekelyi
  • Billy Halal
  • Liz Ferro
  • Rik Dean
  • Carey Skinner
  • Allison Meyer
  • Anthony Zart
  • Melissa Zreny
  • Nancy Lick
  • Lisa Ryan
  • Stacie O'Kane Schafer
  • Brynna Fish
  • Gabriella Valentine
  • Erin Cosyn
  • Ashley Davis
  • Trish DiFranco
  • Dionne Atchison
  • Rick Dean
  • Hannah Zipple
  • Julia Sieck
  • Sam Dee
  • Anna Soref
  • Molly McFadden
  • Carey Skinner
  • Sara Norris
  • Tomasz Rybak
  • Meredith Webb
  • Mark Shumann
  • Sujata Lakhe
  • Amy Eddings
  • Kim Pride
  • Michelle Smith
  • Danielle Dixon
  • CJ Cobb
  • Lee Chilcote
  • Tim Cornett
  • Kris Wernosky
  • Michael Pomerantz
  • Nicole Rossa
  • Siarra Freeman
  • Lauren Karch
  • Chris Della Volpe
  • Annie Zelm

Why do I have to buy a ticket? 

We strongly believe that art should be accessible and that artists should be paid. We ask for a $15 ticket at the door to help us cover our production costs for each show, to allow us to pay our featured performers for their time and talent, and to support vulnerable individuals in our local communities through our ongoing charitable donations. If you would like to attend but are unable to due to the ticket price, email [email protected] and we'll send you a coupon code. 

Is Story Club a nonprofit?

Yes! Story Club is a fiscal sponsee of The Reading Room CLE. The Reading Room CLE is a nonprofit bookstore that collects donated books and re-sells them; they use the profits to offer literary and literacy programs. Their goal is to fight inequality and injustice in our schools, our students' lives, and our city's future.

Can I start a Story Club in my area? ​

We have produced seven shows in six cities and we're always looking to start more. COVID shuttered many of the Story Club franchises, but we're always looking to start up a new show. Start a Story Club in your own city by emailing [email protected]  and letting us know you're interested. We're always looking for more ways to bring the live lit experience to new audiences.
Founder/Host/Producer - Dana Norris
Producer - LS Quinn
​Producer - Cassidy Benson
Producer - Jamie Stewart
Producers Emeritas - Ian Whippie, Amy Phipps