We’ll have two to three featured storytellers and then an Open Mic part of the show, featuring two options: you can either throw your name in the hat to tell a 5-minute story or a 1-minute story in our Story Sprint lighting round. No theme, just bring your best story. Sign up on the door and we will pick names randomly out of the hat.

Your story can be ANY GENRE! A true, personal story, a tall tale, a braided tale, a myth, a folktale, a fractured fairy tale, etc.

Regardless of the genre, your story should follow a narrative format (beginning, middle, end) and be told without notes—no reading!

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Our featured tellers for the evening:

Tim Ereneta connects ancient stories to modern-day life. Trained as a playwright and actor, he is an award-winning storyteller who has performed on stages in schools, theaters, and festivals across the country. He was recently a featured teller at the National Storytelling Festival. https://www.timereneta.info/

Claire Hennessy is a founder and co-producer of Six Feet Apart Productions. Claire is a British-born, award-winning storyteller, podcaster (The Bonkers Brit), and author. She has been a featured teller at a number of Festivals and has appeared on the Risk! Podcast, and The Moth GrandSlam, plus she is one of the Bay Area Storytelling Festival organizers and Board Member of Storytelling Association of California.www.thebonkersbrit.co.uk

Regina Stoops is a founder and co-producer of Six Feet Apart Productions. Regina is a writer, comedian, and award-winning storyteller who spins stories on stage and in print. Regina has developed humor as her weapon of choice to help tackle diversity, adversity, and suburban chaos. She is one of the in-person/virtual Bay Area Storytelling Festival organizers and was recently invited to tell at the National Storytelling Festival Exchange Place. www.reginastoops.com

For those still a bit puzzled, here is more information on what we mean by different genres and the types of stories you may hear or tell at The Story Shuffle.

True, personal story: This type of story is told at shows like The Moth. It is a true narrative about something that happened to YOU. It is not a rant, or comedy stand-up routine.

Folk or Fairy Tale: A fictional story, originating from oral tradition and passed down through generations, often without a single author, featuring universal themes like overcoming challenges, teaching moral lessons, and reflecting cultural values. Think Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood. Different cultures often have their own folktales, such as “Anansi The Spider” from Africa or “The Monkey and the Crocodile” from Asia.

Braided Story: A storytelling technique that weaves together two or more separate storylines, perspectives, or topics to create a single, cohesive work. Often, a personal story is woven with a folktale to create one narrative.

Fractured Fairy Tale: A fractured fairy tale is a traditional one that has been altered, often by changing the point of view, character roles, setting, or plot to create a humorous or modern retelling. Instead of the original story, a fractured tale might tell the tale from the villain's perspective, like "The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs" by the Big Bad Wolf, or change the story to have a new message or outcome. Key characteristics include an altered point of view, a modified plot, a changed setting, and a humorous tone.

Tall Tale: A story with unbelievable elements presented as if it were true and factual, often involving a larger-than-life hero or heroine with superhuman abilities. These humorous and exaggerated stories have roots in the folklore of the American frontier and are a uniquely American genre. Modern tall tales often start out as a personal narrative and then add outrageous elements.

Venue: Marriott Courtyard Hotel, 1400 Hamilton Pkwy, Novato, CA 94949