|
2nd Thursday of Every Month Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro 3905 N Lincoln Ave., Chicago 7:30 PM (Doors at 7:00) FREE |
This Much Is True is the longest running monthly storytelling show in Chicago, IL. (Since 2008). Every month, we come together for an evening of true personal stories from some of Chicago's most fascinating people. An all new cast takes the stage each month to let you in on the heartbreaking, the hilarious, and everything in between.
Past guests have included writers, actors, chefs, theologians, SNL alums, musicians, bloggers, activists, professional storytellers, comedians, and more from our city and around the world. We hope that you can join us.
Past guests have included writers, actors, chefs, theologians, SNL alums, musicians, bloggers, activists, professional storytellers, comedians, and more from our city and around the world. We hope that you can join us.
June 12th Cast
Le'Trice Buckingham
Le’Trice Buckingham is a Chicago based multi-disciplinary artist whose practice weaves together visual art, storytelling, and poetry to subvert and conjure. Rooted in the transformative power of art, her work engages with ancestral memory and the fluid intersections of history and imagination. Through bold abstract imagery and layered
symbolism she creates spaces for reflection, resistance, and reimagining. As a storyteller, Buckingham draws from oral traditions, folklore, and lived experiences, infusing her narratives with rhythm, movement, and historical resonance. Her work has been featured in literary journals, exhibitions, and community-based art initiatives, and she continues to cultivate spaces for creative expression through Art Conjure, a collective dedicated to Black storytelling and visual artistic conjuration.
symbolism she creates spaces for reflection, resistance, and reimagining. As a storyteller, Buckingham draws from oral traditions, folklore, and lived experiences, infusing her narratives with rhythm, movement, and historical resonance. Her work has been featured in literary journals, exhibitions, and community-based art initiatives, and she continues to cultivate spaces for creative expression through Art Conjure, a collective dedicated to Black storytelling and visual artistic conjuration.
Micky Govern
Micky Govern is a writer, director, and actor. He’s written and directed several short films and performed on stage in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Macomb, IL. Early roles were The Picky Eater at a dinner theater performance of “The Govern Family Thanksgiving” and the Obnoxious Kid in the Back in “Fourth Grade” which earned him his first detention. His breakthrough performance was The Bluelight Special at the Evanston Kmart when he was in high school. After living in other parts of the country, Micky moved back to Evanston, where he grew up, and he and his wife Carol have raised a son and a couple of cats there. Micky is also a puppeteer and plays bluegrass banjo, both unironically. He really enjoys storytelling and is always happy to have a chance to get better at it.
Monica Matsakis
Monica Matsakis was born and raised in Toms River, NJ. She’s lived in the Chicago area for over 25 years, currently in Glenview with her Husband, 2 sons, and dog (Lola). Monica works at a wonderful place called Glenview Jewelers where she uses her storytelling abilities to craft compelling social media content. Besides storytelling, Monica likes to read, paint, watch good television and movies, travel and garden. She’s told stories at Story Lab, This Much is True, The Moth, and the Laughing Academy, as well as a few other venues. She’s beyond grateful for the opportunity to share with you.
Keelah Moore
Keelah Moore is a Chicago native, wife and mother of two who brings warmth, humor, and heart to every story she tells. She shares both personal narratives and adapted folk tales, weaving them into performances that are insightful, touching, and spirited. Keelah is a proud member of the SOL Collective, a group of Chicago tellers who share stories rooted in the perspectives of Black women and women of color. Offstage, she finds joy in everyday moments with loved ones -- the kind that often sparks her next story.
J. Rohr
J. Rohr is a Chicago native with a taste for history and wandering the city at odd hours. To deal with the more corrosive aspects of everyday life he makes music in the band Beerfinger (available on Spotify). Currently, he writes movie reviews and analysis articles for Film Obsessive.
Lynda Shadrake
Lynda Shadrake, a long-time Chicago actor, teacher, and improviser, is happy to add storyteller to that list. After telling her first story with This Much Is True last year, she has told stories with Tenx9, Loose Chicks, and The Moth Slam. She is an ensemble member of Griffin Theatre, appearing in several of their shows and touring extensively with their critically acclaimed Letters Home and their classic children's show Frindle. In addition to her work with Griffin, she has worked with Steep, TimeLine, Redtwist, and Oak Park Festival theatres. For many years, she played Sister in the long-running hit Late Nite Catechism and was in the cast of Flanagan's Wake. After graduating from the Second City Training Center a very long time ago, Lynda was enmeshed in the Chicago improv scene for many years. You may have seen her pop up on your computer in a Door Dash ad where she got to ride a Vespa or as a doctor in an AFC urgent care commercial.
Scott Whitehair
Host/producer of This Much Is True
Scott Whitehair is a storyteller, teacher, and producer living in Chicago, IL. He is the producer of This Much Is True, creator of Story Lab Chicago, which has put 900+ new storytellers on stage since 2011, and director of Do Not Submit, a grassroots network of open mics across the city bringing people together to connect with each other. Scott tells anywhere someone will listen, including The National Storytelling Festival Exchange Place, Steppenwolf Theater, the historic Green Mill, and on NPR, the Risk podcast, and Siruis XM. He is a frequent guest instructor at the city's top universities, and his personal narrative class has been selling out every month since 2012. Scott is in demand as a coach and trainer, spending his days helping individuals, companies, and non-profits develop their voices as storytellers. He is a 2024 Meier Achievement Award winner.
Scott Whitehair is a storyteller, teacher, and producer living in Chicago, IL. He is the producer of This Much Is True, creator of Story Lab Chicago, which has put 900+ new storytellers on stage since 2011, and director of Do Not Submit, a grassroots network of open mics across the city bringing people together to connect with each other. Scott tells anywhere someone will listen, including The National Storytelling Festival Exchange Place, Steppenwolf Theater, the historic Green Mill, and on NPR, the Risk podcast, and Siruis XM. He is a frequent guest instructor at the city's top universities, and his personal narrative class has been selling out every month since 2012. Scott is in demand as a coach and trainer, spending his days helping individuals, companies, and non-profits develop their voices as storytellers. He is a 2024 Meier Achievement Award winner.