Storytelling Monday Night at A Grape in the Fog

Tonight at , local writer and comedian Lynn Ruth Miller hosts an evening of storytelling.

Joining Lynn will be stand-up comedian Joe Klocek, performance poet Baruch Porras-Hernandez, comedian Mary Van Note and Pacifica's own Laurie Frater.

People have always loved a good story but the desire for storytelling seems to be growing. Widely-aired radio programs – such as This American Life, Snap Judgment and The Moth Radio Hour – are dedicated to the art of storytelling. Back Fence PDX, a live monthly storytelling show based in Portland, Ore. is nearly always sold out.

And in San Francisco, Previously Secret Information – also a live, monthly storytelling show – is on its tenth sold-out show in a row...and counting. 

Previously Secret Information was co-created by Joe Klocek, who thinks that the desire for good storytelling is a reaction to the blips of false connection we get from social media.

"I love doing stand-up," said Joe, who's been perfecting the craft for nearly twenty years,  "but audiences seem to be craving something more. In the past year or so, I've started telling stories to broaden the way I communicate with the audience.”

Previously Secret Information was inspired by Joe’s experiences waiting in green rooms pre-show, where comedians sit and tell each other stories about their lives on the road.

“The stories are hilarious,” said Joe, who’s appeared on Comedy Central, “but they're too long for stand-up comedy acts.” He knew there had to be a venue for the deeper quality of comedy that comes from telling a story and he began working toward it. Here’s a clip of Joe telling a story about his father.  

Lynn Ruth Miller first starting doing stand-up when she was seventy and she’s taken her act all over the Bay Area – they adore her at The Punch Line – and as far away as Scotland where she regularly appears at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Like all great comedians, Lynn is a truth teller. Here’s a clip of her storytelling craft.  

Baruch Porras-Hernandez dedicates his life to keeping poetry alive in San Francisco’s literary community. He has co-hosted and co-organized San Francisco's Queer Open Mic for the past two years.

Baruch's poetry can be found in the online literary magazine DanseMacabre and in print from OneDedCow. Here’s a link to Baruch performing his poetry.  

Mary Van Note created and starred in an online comedy show, The Mary Van Note Show. Known as a “comedienne of the weird variety,” Mary performs stand-up all over the country and has participated in the San Francisco SketchFest, LitQuake and the San Francisco Zine Fest. Check out The Mary Van Note Show, a ten episode series in which Mary tries to win the heart of Gavin Newsom.   

Laurie Frater has long been a member of Pacifica’s improv comedy troupe, Asylum, which begins its 2011 season on March 12th.

Laurie's known to sing a great story with the accompaniment of his guitar and he’s appeared with Lynn Ruth Miller at her monthly open mike nights at the and at her comedy nights at the . 

The show starts at 8:00pm. Admission is free and Happy Hour lasts all night.