Just like a compact disc, our August lineup will spin you right round baby right round at approximately 200rpms (we recommended taking Dramamine a day prior to the show). Come on down to The Book Cellar on Monday, August 17th at 7pm for a skip-free night of stories from our scratch-resistant lineup. Think of it like we burned you a CD with our favorite essay tracks:
Chris Bower
Chris Bower is a writer and teacher and the host of the Ray’s Tap Reading Series. His first book of short stories, Little Boy Needs a Ride, with illustrations by Susie Kirkwood and a forward by Audrey Niffenegger is available now through Curbside Splendor. His novella The Family Dogs was included in My Very End of the Universe, the novella-in-flash anthology put out by Rose Metal Press in late 2014. My Very End of the Universe won the Gold Medal in the anthology category at the Independent Publisher Book Awards. You can find Chris at holdmyhorses.com
Eileen Tull is a storyteller, performance artist, poet, comedian, and one-woman-show person. Her work investigates feminism, body image, addiction (to technology, to substances, and to ourselves), and, above all, seeking joy. She has performed throughout the country, from San Francisco to New York City, including in the SF Fringe, New Seeds Festival, United Solo, Cincy Fringe, and the Minnesota Fringe Festival. In Chicago, her work has been seen with Beast Women, Loose Chicks, Is This A Thing?, The Enthusiasts, The Stoop, That’s All She Wrote, Miss Spoken, and the Chicago Fringe Festival, among others. Eileen co-curates Sappho’s Salon at Women and Children and First bookstore, a monthly performance series for female-identifying artists exploring gender, sexuality, and feminism.
David Boyle hosts Chicago Solo Theatre’s monthly storytelling show It’s Personal. In September he’ll perform his new solo show Pizza & Pop (and Church) at the Elgin Fringe Festival.
Barrie Cole
Barrie Cole is a writer and playwright. Coming up this Winter, her newest play Meaning is Tricky, starring (Essay Fiesta alum) Diana Slickman, will premiere at the Prop Theatre as part of the Rhinoceros Theatre Festival.
Joy Ellison is a writer, a teacher and scholar, and a grassroots, community activist. They are interested in using stories, both fictional and true, to build community, document social movements, and imagine a liberated world. Joy is currently working on their first graphic novel, a timely, nonfiction account of the power of community set in a small Palestinian village called At-Tuwani. Joy is also the co-creator of the world’s first Quaker fashion blog, dapperquakers.tumblr.com. Their work can be found at http://jmellison.net
Essay Fiesta 