Tag: switched-up storytelling

“Schooled” at FDU

What a fabulous show this weekend at the summer residency for Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Creative Writing MFA program!! After working together throughout July to develop their stories on the page, Tiffany L. Berryman, Andrew Condouris, and Eliot Schrefer took the stage Sunday morning, August 5th, to perform each other’s true-life tales inspired by the theme “Schooled.”

The tri-flip was directed by our own Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons and we couldn’t be happier by the ecstatic reception from FDU students, alums, and faculty in attendance.  Podcast of the live show coming soon. SUBSCRIBE today!

Left: Tiffany L. Berryman, Top: Andrew Condouris, Eliot Schrefer, Tiffany L. Berryman

Click here to see more pictures from the show. Learn more about our switched-up “Schooled” storytellers below!

Left: Eliot Schrefer, Top: Andrew Condouris, Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons, Bottom: Lovely FDU applause!

 

TIFFANY L. BERRYMAN is a former YES Network TV Personality who still believes in the mystical power of the curveball. A former publicist and high school English and creative writing teacher, she fancies herself an inspired-type with an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Now, as an educational consultant, Berryman relishes the opportunity to help others find their own authentic voice. She is the co-creator of www.mybookship.com  and has a Masters in Theology from Georgian Court University and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a concentration in the Young Adult genre. Happily sharing her creative journey on social media as she writes the next chapter and tries to dispel the great myths of New Jersey.  And while she prefers her maltipoo, Merlin, to most humans, she promises not to bite if you follow her on twitter @TiffyInspired

ANDREW CONDOURIS has been writing since he was eight years old. One night, the stars in the sky mixed up with the city lights, and he wrote a little poem about it. Since that night, he has always been inspired by shadows and the strange beasts he finds there.

ELIOT SCHREFER is a New York Times-bestselling author and has twice been a finalist for the National Book Award. In naming him an Editor’s Choice, the New York Times has called his work “dazzling… big-hearted.” He is also the author of two novels for adults and four other novels for children and young adults. His books have been named to the NPR “best of the year” list, the ALA best fiction list for young adults, and the Chicago Public Library’s “Best of the Best.” His work has also been selected to the Amelia Bloomer List, recognizing best feminist books for young readers, and he has been a finalist for the Walden Award and won the Green Earth Book Award and Sigurd Olson Nature Writing Award. He lives in New York City, where he reviews books for USAToday. Visit www.eliotschrefer.com UPCOMING: His next novel, Orphaned, comes out 9/25!!

Episode 42 – My First

Give a listen to this alternate No, YOU Guess It?! version of our show featuring switched-up stories from students, faculty, and alums of Fairleigh Dickinson University’s MFA in Creative Writing program. Plus, our own Kelly Jean talks about her inspiration behind creating No, YOU Tell It!

These six stories, inspired by the theme “My First,” were written by Aminah Abutayeb, Hayden Bergman, Walter Cummins, Anthony Gramuglia, Amanda Ramirez,  and Gracelyn Weaver. But not in that order! Part of the fun is guessing who wrote what??

“Into the Rapids” artwork by Letisia Cruz. Click here to see more pictures and artwork from FDU’s “My First” show on our Facebook page. And please LIKE us while you’re there!

The stories – My First Plaster & J Sandwich, Sight, Travelers & Malibu, Into the Rapids, The First Time, and My First Failed Driving Exam – were recorded live on August 6th, 2017 as part of FDU’s summer writing residency.

 

Episode 38 – Blowback (Part 2)

A simple neighborly gesture plus an ill-advised night of drinking leads to stalking, harassment, and an ever-escalating sense of danger. Kicking off the second half of our “Blowback” show, here is Courtney Frances Fallon’s story “Wine Wednesday” read for us by Gabriel Berezin.

After another failed coupling spawned in the dumpster fire commonly known as Tinder, Gabriel  Berezin recalls his first sexual experience in all its fumbling teenage glory.

Switching it up, here is “Sexaholism” written by Gabe and read by Courtney Frances Fallon.

Stories performed live as part of our “Blowback” show on Wednesday, May 17th, 2017. Click here to learn more about our “Blowback” storytellers. Podcast narrated by Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons.

Episode 37 – Blowback (Part 1)

A superfan desperately wants to connect with the Wonderful Wizard of YouTube, Todrick Hall, in Ariel Mahler’s story “Under the Rainbow, Over the Sea” read for us here by Molly Touger.

Left: Molly Touger reads “Under the Rainbow, Over the Sea.” Upper Right: Erika Iverson rehearses with Molly Touger. Bottom right: Ariel Mahler reads “And in Local News…”

Switching it up, when Molly Touger spends the summer as an intern at a local newspaper, she has to figure out which words to use and when to use them. Here’s Molly’s story “And In Local News…” read by Ariel Mahler.

Stories performed live as part of our “Blowback” show on Wednesday, May 17th, 2017. Click here to learn more about our “Blowback” storytellers. Podcast narrated by Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons.

Scenes from a spectacular “Blowback” evening!

We were thrilled to celebrate 5 years of No, YOU Tell It! at our “Blowback” show this week! Molly Touger, Ariel Mahler, Gabriel Berezin, and Courtney Frances Fallon delighted a packed back room at Jimmy’s No. 43 with their stunning story swaps.

Thank you to everyone who came out! Audio from the evening available soon on the No, YOU Tell It! podcast.

SUBSCRIBE (available on iTunes and GooglePlay) to make sure you don’t miss out. Click here to catch up on past episodes featuring true-life tales recorded live at our shows.

Next Up: Our “Blowback” Show!

May 17 2017 @ 7:00PM

May 17th! Save the date! We had our first story meeting last week and you don’t want to miss this intense set of swapped stories inspired by the theme “Blowback” from:

Gabriel Berezin

Courtney Frances Fallon

Ariel Mahler

Molly Touger

Our last live show at Jimmy’s No. 43 until September!!

Event Information

May 17 2017 @ 7:00PM

Jimmy's No. 43 (43 East 7th between 2nd and 3rd Aves)

Episode 36 – Migration (Part 2)

After years of staying on the fringes, Erika Iverson finds community and comfort through the intricate act of folding paper cranes in Union Square. Kicking off the second half of our “Migration” show, Ken Crossland reads, “September 18, 2001 or How I Became a New Yorker.”

They say breaking up is hard to do. But breaking up and then living together for another six months is even harder. Switching it up, Erika Iverson presents “The Six Month Brooklyn/Queens Reclamation Project” written by Ken Crossland.

These stories were performed live at Jimmy’s No. 43 on Wed, March 22nd, 2017. Click here learn more about our “Migration” storytellers.

Podcast narrated by Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons.

Episode 35 – Migration (Part 1)

After a devastating loss, an heiress comes to terms with the one thing that money can’t buy. First up from our “Migration” show, Leslie Malaika Lewis asks the big questions in “A Broader View” read for us by Elisa DeCarlo.

pictured left to right Elisa DeCarlo and Leslie Malaika Lewis

What are the things we truly need in life? The things that we aren’t willing to leave behind? For Elisa DeCarlo, it is “A Basket Full of Cats.” Switching it up, here’s Elisa’s true-life tale performed by Leslie Malaika Lewis.

These stories were performed live at Jimmy’s No. 43 on Wed, March 22nd, 2017. Click here learn more about our “Migration” storytellers.

Podcast narrated by Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons.

 

Who’s Ready To Get BLANKED?

Sep 14 2016 @ 7:00PM

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Our next live show is coming up fast! But what does No, YOU Tell It! “Blanked” mean exactly?

For those of you who haven’t been – which you can soon remedy! – the way we work is: Each NYTI installment features true-life tales written specifically for that live show and inspired by a different theme. Such as “Three Strikes” or “Temper, Temper.”

Part of the excitement is seeing how four people from varied backgrounds interpret that idea in unique and personal ways.

How will Tobias Carroll (managing editor of Vol. 1 Brooklyn and author of Transitory), Ryan Donovan (writer of instructional and marketing materials by day/secret story spinner at night), Jennifer Harder (featured actress in I’ll Say She Is and pro trumpet player with Hungry March Band) and Alex Rubin (playwright, lyricist, librettist, and storyteller to name a few…) interpret the theme Blanked??

We had a sneak peek at our recent story meeting when this fab four met to workshop their first drafts with the NYTI creative team. And the answer is: In four delightfully damaged stories about memory ear-worms, travel blank-ups, awkward mind-blanks, and near black-out running.

Intrigued? Join us on Sept 14th!  Responsibility shifts as our storytellers swap the true-life tales they’ve been working together to develop on the page and present each other’s story live on stage.

FREE. Plus, the chance to win some fun literary swag!

Event Information

Sep 14 2016 @ 7:00PM

Jimmy's No. 43

Episode 20 – No Vacancy (Part 2)

Starting out the second half of our recent “No Vacancy” show at Jimmy’s No. 43, Sydney Beveridge learned that the space between two college roommates is often more than the physical 12 feet separating their single beds.

Here’s Liz Simons reading Sydney’s story “Brochure Worthy.”

no vacancy photo

(pictured left to right Liz Simons and Sydney Beveridge)

Finally, the occasion of a 10 year college reunion creates some possibly unmeetable sex-pectations in Liz Simons’ story “Not Great Expectations,” read here by Sydney Beveridge.

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