A violent accident.
A public face-off.
A literary ghost.
The material is rich, diverse, sometimes shocking, sometimes funny, and always true. And you’re invited to witness it all.
On Saturday, June 8, the MAPSO Storytelling Show (a portmanteau for the towns of Maplewood and South Orange, for you out-of-towners) will return to the Burgdorff Cultural Center in Maplewood with a group of seven storytellers. And after last January’s sold-out evening, this “Moth-Style” event is gaining momentum.
For those unfamiliar, The Moth is a non-profit organization which hosts open-mic storytelling competitions all over the map. Their stories are featured on the Peabody Award-winning The Moth Radio Hour and Moth Podcasts.
Now while MAPSO Storytelling is not officially affiliated with The Moth, event organizer and Maplewood resident Boo Trundle is a veteran storyteller and previous winner of a Moth StorySLAM. In addition to hosting this event, Trundle serves as a mentor and nurturer of sorts for storytellers who are new to the craft.
Trundle savors the relationship between the person onstage and the audience. “This is less about performance and more about the communal sharing of a truthful moment,” says Trundle.
The evening features stories by Kimberlee Auerbach Berlin , Debbie Halpern, Naseem Rochette, Tameka Stafford, Donny Levit, Kate Nichols, as well as an appearance by New York-based comic Gastor Almonte.
Almonte was raised in the East New York section of Brooklyn by his immigrant family and shares his experience in his signature easygoing, down-to-earth style, which has garnered him appearances on Comedy Central’s This is Not Happening, VICE Live, and PBS’s Stories from the Stage. In April 2019, Almonte released his impressive debut comedy album, Immigrant Made, which is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
“There’s no way to anticipate how an audience will respond,” adds Trundle. “And that’s the risk and excitement that makes the experience so enriching.”
What: Mapso Storytelling Show
With: Kimberlee Auerbach Berlin , Debbie Halpern, Naseem Rochette, Tameka Stafford, Donny Levit, Kate Nichols, Gastor Almonte
Where: Burgdorff Cultural Center, 10 Durand Road, Maplewood
When: Saturday, June 8, 2019 at 7:00 pm.
Tickets: $15 or $25 with drinks/open bar. Purchase tickets online.
The show is sponsored by Allison Ziefert Real Estate Group. Most of the proceeds will benefit this wonderful organization: MEND (Meeting Essential Needs with Dignity.)
New Pulp City disclosure: editor and publisher Donny Levit will appear in the Saturday, June 8 show.
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