So You Think You Can Lie: The Biggest Liar Contest

Posted on March 27, 2012 by

A lying contest in a funeral home?! Who wouldn’t want to see 10 of Chicago’s biggest and best liars (and storytellers) go head to head in a usually somber setting? That’s exactly what’s going down at the 43rd Annual Chicago’s Biggest Liar Contest!

biggest liarsProduced by Essay Fiesta alumni Scott Whitehair, the show will feature a variety of talented storytellers who will spin their best yarns in order to win the coveted Hogwash Cup. Competitors include familiar faces such as Monte LaMonte, Kristen Studdard and Essay Fiesta’s own Keith Ecker.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at Brown Paper Tickets. The show
takes place Saturday, March 31 at 8 p.m. at Herdegen-Brieske Funeral Home
(1356 W. Wellington). And that ain’t no lie!

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What a Day That Was: Essay Fiesta Recap

Posted on March 22, 2012 by

Hello friends of Essay Fiesta. This past literary extravaganza was a swell shindig indeed. Great prizes were won. Wonderful readers performed their work. Baristas slung coffees and beers. People absorbed art. We have to say it was a smashing success.

Our good buddy Monte (who is also an Essay Fiesta alumni) was kind enough to snap some pictures. Our regular photographer (one Ms. Elizabeth McQuern) was deployed on babysitting duties.

To those of you who were there, relive the memories. To those of you who missed it, feast your eyes on the literary buffet that was devoured:

Alyson and Keith

Alyson and Keith start the show with a bang...and some meandering banter!

Zoe Zolbrod

Zoe Zolbrod reads about Santa and sex.

Vinnie Lacey

Vinnie Lacey has a hairy butt and is not afraid to write about it.

Sheri Reda

Sheri Reda shares a story about a "pencil drop" gone awry.

Keith Ecker

Keith Ecker pieces together a portrait of a critic.

J.W. Basilo

J.W. Basilo bonds with his father through the conduit of George Carlin.

Robyn Okrant

Robyn Okrant closes out the night with a brilliant performance.

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Get to Know: Robyn Okrant

Posted on March 16, 2012 by

In the immortal words of Rebecca Black: “It’s Friday.” And thank goodness for that. Right? That means we are just a silly weekend away from the next Essay Fiesta. And boy oh boy have we got a show for you. I mean, we have the endearing Robyn Okrant.

Robyn OkrantRobyn is a writer, performance artist and yoga instructor. She is the author behind the popular book Living Oprah, in which she took a year to live by the sage words of the Big O herself. Her work has also appeared elsewhere, including the Huffington Post.

So come on out to Essay Fiesta and see Robyn and the rest of our readers. And put a few chunks of change into the bucket to help fund 826CHI and the wonderful work they do for Chicago-area students.

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Get to Know: J.W. Basilo

Posted on March 15, 2012 by

Hump day has passed, which means it’s pretty much smooth sailing to the next Essay Fiesta. The next performer we’d like to introduce is our friend and Essay Fiesta alumni J.W. Basilo.

J.W. BasiloJ.W. is known for his moxie on and off the stage. The professional poet (yes, you read that right) has performed his unique brand of slam throughout the country. He currently is making waves in the live lit scene as a poignant and hilarious storyteller. J.W. also runs the multi-genre performance series Real Talk Live and has released three albums of poetry to date.

So come check out J.W. and the rest of the crew on March 19 at 7 p.m. at the Book Cellar!

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Get to Know: Vinnie Lacey

Posted on March 14, 2012 by

Last night Essay Fiesta producers Keith and Alyson actually got to show off their essay know-how to the brilliant kids at 826CHI. Seriously, people. These kids are smart. We also learned that references to the Wonder Years and Doogie Howser don’t really go over well on people born in 1995.

Vinnie LaceyThat said, we’d like to introduce another March reader: Vinnie Lacey. Vinnie has been part of the Chicago performance scene for years. He is an improviser, writer, producer, comedian and commercial actor. He is also the Executive Director and a board member of the Chicago Fringe Festival.

So come on out on March 19 at 7 p.m. to the Book Cellar and witness the spectacle that is Essay Fiesta!

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Get to Know: Sheri Reda

Posted on March 13, 2012 by

Happy Tuesday, everybody! This evening Keith and Alyson of Essay Fiesta will be teaching a personal essay workshop to Chicago public school students at 826CHI. Exciting stuff! In the meantime, we’d like to introduce you to one of our March readers: Sheri Reda.

Sheri RedaSheri is a writer, editor and performer. Sheri has served as a dramaturg at Oakton College and as a director at MLTS and Lincoln Square theatre (LSTC) and has  acted in productions at Prop, Mary-Arrchie, Free Street Theatre, Artistic Home, and others, including the venerable old Organic and Center Theaters and the Vic. She’s a past member of the TranceSisters Performance Art Collective and a fan of WNEP Theatre. She will also be competing in the Chicago’s Biggest Liar Contest along with Essay Fiesta’s Keith Ecker.

So come check out Sheri on March 19th!

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Get to Know: Zoe Zolbrod

Posted on March 12, 2012 by

Hi Essay Fiesta fans! Just one short week away until we celebrate the March show. It’s going to be a doozy. We have a stellar line-up and some great raffle prizes. Plus, we are making some changes this go-around to the way we do the raffle. And guess what? Everyone gets a ticket! Come to the show for more details.

Zoe ZolbrodOur first reader to highlight is the alliterate Zoe Zolbrod. Zoe is a writer, editor and traveler. Her novel CURRENCY came out in 2010 from Other Voices Books. It won a Nobbie Award! She’s currently working on a deeply personal memoir, and she contributes to The Nervous Breakdown, writing about such topics as parenting, sexuality and gender.

So come on out to Essay Fiesta on March 19 and enjoy Zoe’s story as well as the rest of our lovely readers, who we will be highlighting throughout the week.

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