I stood for two hours in high heels and I did not mind one bit. Story District (which as of three days ago was known around the city as Speakeasy DC) resurrects the lost art of story telling and brings it to the masses. I came in expecting to be entertained and giddy, but left with a conflict of emotions. The stories told had me on a roller coaster of emotions that was 10x better than any Kardashian / Scandal / True Blood binge watching weekend I could ever go on. I was really impressed by the wide range of performers who came from all ages, ethnicity, sexual and gender orientations, bodies, health -- everything. Their short stories celebrated their triumphs and hardships and also was a mental reminder that everybody is not as they appear. For those who are obsessed with Humans of NY -- you'll love Story District. Shows are every second Tuesday of the month and tickets were $16 per person. Seating is limited so I recommend coming an hour early if you would like some tush cushion. I highly recommend attending this show if you are looking to have some great post dinner conversation with someone you are looking to know better....or even someone you've known for years. Five Stars all around. Now who's going to the next show with me?!??!?! read more

I have to give SpeakEasy DC huge props for being an island of humanity in our detached, digital, hollywood age. Want some real, human emotion? Go check out these storytellers. Everyday people (and some a little less everyday than others), get on stage, and candidly tell personal short stories. What's unique and inspiring about it, is the surprisingly intimate peek you get into the mind and thought process of the speaker. These aren't scripted, hollywood stories...they're random, eloquently told tales of life. Most are funny, but some are quite dramatic. Storytelling is rapidly becoming a lost art...and it likely was the FIRST art. Public oration has been relegated to the domain of attorneys, politicians, and motivational speakers. I like these reminders that it belongs to all of us. read more

I have been going to StoryDistrict since it was held in Town Danceboutique back in 2016. If you are a fan of the Moth Radio Hour, StoryCorps, or any other story-based performance venue, you will love StoryDistrict. The best part about StoryDistrict is that anyone can submit a story to tell. Yes, they do have classes that you can take to help hone your story-telling craft, but anyone can submit stories based on the themes that change bi-monthly/monthly. The audience is always very supportive of everyone who gets on-stage and while not every story is moving, funny, or eccentric, they each have their own relatable quality to them. If you haven't checked it out, you really are missing something special in the DC area. read more

SpeakeasyDC's events are quickly becoming one of my favorite things to do in this city, especially if you don't count eating and drinking as activities. I have to admit I was skeptical when a friend asked me to go to a show for the first time. Amateurs standing on stage and telling stories? I was worried that it would be super awkward, like that squirmy feeling I get when I watch Curb Your Enthusiasm, but worse because it was live. But it totally exceeded my expectations! They are funny, and sometimes sad, and heartwarming. At their best, the storytellers remind you of that friend you have that always has the best stories--the most incredible, unbelievable, ironic, or funny. Turns out that true stories told by real people are pretty darn entertaining. Their shows are always very reasonably priced. Even their Valentine's Day special at 9:30 club was a good deal, especially on a night when everything is inordinately overpriced. I'm looking forward to checking out their upcoming shows, especially "Colossal Fail: Stories about Total Flops and Massive Wipeouts." read more

Thanks, again Yelp DC for the gratis tickets to the SpeakeasyDC Top Shelf showcase at the Atlas Performing Arts Center! This was the perfect opportunity for me to check out what DC has to offer in the way of the performing arts for the first time and I have to say, after seeing this showcase, not only was I impressed but inspired! Basically, Top Shelf was a presentation of the top 8 best of the best stories from their 25 plus productions they have a year. It's basically real people telling real-life stories that have a narrative arc. They aren't reading from notes, but just standing in front of a microphone and giving the audience good old-fashioned storytelling on a variety of themes. For this particular performance, we got a variety of the best stories of 2011 in categories like: "Jackpot: Stories about reversals of fortune, hitting the bigtime, or losing it all", "Till Death Do Us Part: Stories about marriage and divorce", and "Big Booties, Beer Bellies, and Bad Hair: Stories about our bodies", to name a few. All the stories were about 10 to 15 minutes long and all kept me interested and intrigued. They all provided a mix of humor, sadness, triumph and feel-good vibes. What a fun way of expression. After seeing this show, I took it upon myself to check out their website and noticed that they have storytelling workshops. I'm considering signing up and maybe even having the gall to do one of their open mic nights. You never know! Either way, I will definitely be checking out more of their performance throughout the year. It's guaranteed entertainment for a very reasonable price. Definitely not what you'd expect. You'll be glad you went! read more

SpeakeasyDC is so cool that it's one of those things that you're loathe to take anyone with you who is anything less than totally fantastic company! Mostly because those magical nights that you laugh so much you could cry or are moved by a story to such an extent that you recall of it for days--those are not give-away nights to just any ole' Joe or Betty. If you know the Moth podcasts series (often featured on Ira Glass' This American Life), then you have a decent idea of what SpeakeasyDC is about. The stories are funny, heart-warming, and sometimes heart-breaking. If conversations already flow well with your company--date or otherwise--this is a great place for inspired socializing. read more

Courtesy of Yelp, we were treated to free tickets to see a showcase of SpeakeasyDC finalists at the Atlas Performing Arts center last night. This was my first exposure to SpeakeasyDC, and I was quite intrigued with the medium. For the uninitiated, the way it worked was that there were 8 scheduled stories to be told by 8 separate people, one at a time. There is an open stage, a curtain, a microphone, and nothing else, no props, not even a stool. Each person has upwards of 10 minutes to tell a true, ideally engaging, story about themselves. Each person we saw had previously won a themed night competition at a previous SpeakeasyDC event, so, effectively, we were seeing "the best of the best". Sure, I have heard people tell stories before, informally, sometimes poorly and sometimes overly exaggerated for effect. This was quite a bit different. In all 8 cases, the delivery was sound. The accounts were all truthful, and never gave in to exaggeration. Sometimes the subject matter was sad and moving, but even in those cases the stories were still punctuated by moments of levity. I found most of the stories to be compelling in some sense. It's a day later, and I am still thinking about details of some of the stories, what the people managed to reveal about themselves. I find myself thinking about the larger truths behind the stories that were told. It is very effective way to engage an audience, making the medium not so passive as one would first expect. Spoken literature, in a phrase. I think I have become hooked, and I really want to attend more SpeakeasyDC events. There is something special here, and I am glad that Yelp exposed me to this relatively new performing art which formalizes something we have been doing all of our lives. And, if that is not enough, it is actually a quite a bit of fun, too. read more

After a fantastic adult happy hour at Sei, Kim G. and I headed to Town (the ex 2k9) for "Big Booties, Beer Bellies, and Bad Hair" open mic storytelling by SpeakeasyDC. I paid $15 admission. The drink special at intermission was Firefly Vodka and any mixer for $5. I needed it too. Why? Because on the mic, these stories were...well...let's just say some were funny; some heart wrenching; and some simply not funny or interesting at all. I'd attend another event by this organization I guess. It seemed like a money making event. read more

I love SpeakEasy, because it's heart felt, real and has a little something for everyone. I fell in love with the Moth, and this is DC's equivalent. Anyone expecting perfection or walk-up open mic is missing the point. SpeakEasy is curated, so while anyone may have access, they need to sign up beforehand, and get a little coaching from the SpeakEasy folks. This is semi-pro theater. I mean that in the best possible way. These are stories that people like you write and tell. They are mostly true. They always have something to give, but not all of them are smooth sailing. One wish? All ages shows! read more

Storytelling is truly a lost art. There are films, there'sTV, there's standup comedy but it's rare to find raw, candid stories told by real (non celebrity) people. It's refreshing and a skill set that I admire. Thanks to Yelp, we were treated to a free show of SpeakEasy. Good thing for me because I've always wanted to check them out. The first story was about a dating service, the 2nd about a car dealership deal gone awry, the 3rd about traveling in the Middle East as an American, and the 4th about a woman's misadventures with Spanxx. I enjoyed every single one of them and could relate to all of them in some way or another. SpeakEasy is a great date night event or night out with friends who want something more than bar. club. drunk. repeat. If you're the type who has a story to tell and wants an audience, SpeakEasy teaches classes and also has an open mic night. I will definitely be up for checking out another performance in the future! read more

I'm actually afraid to mention this place, enough people know about it and its crowded enough. But I'm hoping it will spread and other venues will start hosting something similar (jammin java, are you listening?)... ;^) Located in HR 57, just south of the U St corridor, named after a resolution in the House of Reps that honored jazz as a national treasure. It's an event hosted monthly, second Tuesdays of the month - probably the coolest thing to do in dc for $5. Stories go from 8-10pm and are a mix of first timers, regulars, slam poetry - all focused around a theme. Drinks are cheap, and there's a low corking fee if you bring your own bottle - some people bring in food too and I think they have a limited menu. You have to show up early though and reserve a seat, the place can get packed! http://speakeasydc.org/ read more

This is probably the most entertaining and worthwhile open mic of any kind in town. The stories are hysterical and heartwarming, the atmosphere is tremendous, and one walks away feeling inspired. Great great night on the town for anybody interested in fun and camaraderie, and something new and rockin'! The stories and tellers are varied, but they all shine. And if you want to tell stories yourself, they offer a lot of classes and workshops. Really everybody should check this out. There is a really cool food truck outside selling chili and barbecue and the club itself is as fun as the people who attend. Five Big Stars! You don't want to miss this one. read more

I never know how to describe Speakeasy DC to friends. It's not stand-up and it's certainly not theater. It's just people telling true stories in about 7 minutes. Some are funny and some are more heart-felt. But no matter what, EVERYONE I take to these things always walks out saying: "I had no idea this place existed. It was so much fun!" Not sure what Kelly G is saying... yes some of the storytellers have more of a presence than others, but isn't that the whole concept of "open mics?" Seriously, try the place out. Great space, good drinks, and above all else, a really fun and entertaining time. read more

professional entertainers perform the stories as "regular people". Many have already degree training and years of extensive performance for audiences with extensive years of training. To avoid a np conflict of interests they re-train everyone in a class you have to pay for to possibly perform; do it the way they teach it and and make adjustments to the story but your still liable whats said as they own it on film. what's great: The PR person is excellent for covering the social climbing and correcting any lacking of skills with real people telling real stories that are not entertainers. read more

I'll be honest, I am a real sucker for people that really open up, like when they tell me the truth about an awkward/embarrassing/silly/shocking/scandalous situation. I'm enthralled when the stories are told with style and flair. That is what I love about SpeakeasyDC: true stories, well told. Simple as that. People on stage, just telling us what is up, what happened and how it changed them. For a moment, I am in their shoes, seeing the world through their eyes. You could hear a pin drop. Sometimes I even forget to drink. (It's weird -- I don't even get the usual DTs.) When I bring people to the monthly open mike event, just like Mike K mentioned, they always rave about it and keep coming back. This is a wonderful organization, worthy of attention, time and talents. Keep it up, SpeakeasyDC! I am and will always be a fan. Just don't become a lame Showtime program, like This American Life. Seriously. Just don't. I will totally break up with your ass. read more

Speakeasy DC you are my savior!!! For the last 20 years, plus a decade, add several years, I had no idea what my purpose in life was until I met you. This show really resonated with me. It's like a blog but in living color. I am impressed that you were able to narrow it down to just 8 speakers. I won't give away the stories but I thoroughly enjoyed them all. What's even nicer is that you offer classes for those people like me who have tons of stories to tell but no audience outside of my family and friends. My friends just think I'm nuts but with your help I can make my day to day life sound normal. I have to thank Yelp for the opportunity of experiencing this show. I am forever a fan of Speakeasy. I inadvertently won a t shirt from you all. My apologies. I think I was confused on the question but hey, I blame the pre drink I had with Kristin and the crew. The show was well put together. It was long enough to not get antsy and short enough to want more. Keep doing what you are doing and who knows, someday I will be a part of the show :-) read more

Think of these storytelling shows as pg-13 versions of "This American Life" but live and in person. The monthly Story District shows are such a fun way to spend your Tuesday evening. Some of the stories are awkward, occasionally touching, and most often hilarious. Some of them make you think. Others just make you cringe. All in all, it's awesome that these folks are willing to share their stories and connect to their audience. One thing that would make the shows more accessible would be if they held their shows in a bigger space so there would be more seating (or maybe even set up an overflow room with video downstairs). To that point, given their current seating situation, definitely get there at least 30 minutes early to get a seat. You can bring in outside food too to snack on before the show starts. The stories will definitely be worth it! read more

I LOVE storytelling events & when I re-located to the District from Chicago, I was sad to say goodbye to my favorite haunts. Story District @ Town was a fun-filled night of stories centered around a distinct theme (in this case the idea of being "catfished") & it didn't disappoint! The stories were varied and the place was jumping with other story enthusiasts of all ages. Tickets cost around $16 and you are allowed to BYO FOOD (amazing!). They also usually have a food truck outside for attendees to purchase from too. There are no outside drinks allowed since there is a full bar at the venue. The place gets packed, so show up early to grab a chair (or spot on the floor) or prepare to be on your feet for a few hours :) The only real downside: it feels a little more "commercial" than other story telling events I've attended that are smaller in scale, but with less flashy lights and music and more intimacy. The host of the event was also pretty mediocre. read more

SpeakEasy DC is wonderful. A comedian friend from Los Angeles recommended it to me and after participating in the Storytelling 101 class, I am hooked. It's a fun night filled with great, relevant stories. Some stories are a little more raw than others, but autobiographical storytelling is about what all of us experience and that's what makes it such a delightful event. Be sure to check out their Podcast, too! read more

On a Tuesday night, how can you do better? The place is packed and you don't really know what you're going to get-- there's always at least one story that blows you mind and a few that are funny. Not all of them, but for an open mic, that's exactly what you want. Because it's a popular event (again, you can't do better in DC on a Tuesday night), it might take a few times before you can get a slot to tell your own story (it did for me), but keep trying-- it's an appreciative crowd and a great venue. read more

Last night's "Sucker for Love" V-day Special was my third SpeakeasyDC event and each one keeps getting better and better! The show was at Dance Place in NE DC. Considering I went to CUA, I'm a little bummed I never knew this place existed. It was awesome to see a food truck outside (I think it was Dangerously Delicious) and the concession stand selling wine & beer for a suggested donation of $3-5. The event was well-organized and overall a fantastic production. Eight stories of love.. ranging all emotions.. but surprisingly, all with happy endings! If I'm in DC on Valentine's Day next year, without a doubt, I'll be back for this show. Great for couples, friends, and those flyin' solo. read more

What a cool art form. When you first hear storytelling, you think of a Kindergarden teacher, but this couldn't be any further from the truth. Each story is finessed and coached til it becomes a piece worthy of performance. You'll laugh a lot, maybe you'll get a little teary eyed, but you'll never be bored. read more

speakeasyDC performed at the atlas performing arts center and i was pleasantly surprised. they specialize in the art of storytelling. true stories, told to me interesting and captivating. and captivate they did. the event was running late, and lot of people kept leaving in between acts, but the bf and i were totally enjoying all the stories and stayed. most were funny stories, and there was one serious story. I'd love to see another one of their performances!! staff telling stories: amy, adam, kevin, and one other chick i can't remember her name right now.... read more

SpeakeasyDC is a very entertaining show with one of the best crowds you'll ever encounter at a live function. I definitely recommend checking it out. After seeing videos from some of the storytellers online, I actually signed up and told a couple of stories at Speakeasy. Luckily, they coach you through your story beforehand so you'll be more confident and prepared once it comes time to go up there and tell it onstage. Overall, it's fun, whether you're a part of the show, or just watching it. read more

You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll find yourself getting on stage telling your life story before a crowd of appreciative strangers. At least that's what happened to me... This monthly open mic storytelling event is one of the most entertaining and inclusive (you will find young and old, black and white, straight and gay here in equal parts) evenings out you can have in DC. Note the address listed here is the org's office - at present the regular monthly shows are at DanceBoutique near U St. read more

Love this organization! The best 2 hour show that $15 can buy. The stories are hilarious and poignant. Clench them out the second Tuesday of every month at Town on 8th st. Show starts at 8, but get there by 7 to get a seat! At intermission they have $3 drink specials too! read more

Took a Storytelling 101 class here and absolutely loved it. Great overview for beginners to story telling. I've wanted to do this for a while but lacked the motivation. Here they created a supportive community and disciplined schedule, helping you shape your story and get it ready for the final student showcase. I definitely would suggest you check it out! read more

Speakeasy is an opportunity to hear real stories from real people who have worked to put together their experiences into a meaningful narrative. These are not professional actors or writers, so you can't expect every story to hit it out of the park, but most of the pieces are funny, heartwarming, or just really interesting. Better than a lot of other live performance in DC.... read more

SpeakeasyDC's monthly open mic at Town on 8th and U is my favorite night of every month. With a mix of regulars and first timers, you never really know what you're going to get exactly, but I always laugh until I cry at least 3 times, and sometimes just straight out cry. Everyone is so warm and welcoming that its an uncommonly supportive environment for first timers -the audience really wants the teller to succeed and rewards every effort with enthusiasm. read more