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.
May 8th Cast
David Edler

Originally from a small town in Ohio, David Edler came to Chicago with dreams of working in the theater. Life, however, had other plans. After retiring from a fulfilling 40-year career in Vision Care, he is thrilled to return to the stage as a storyteller. David’s favorite roles include being a husband, parent, and cyclist, as well as briefly playing keyboards and cowbell in a local garage band. These chapters of his life shape the stories he loves to share.
Lauren Goode

Lauren Goode has been a performer all her life. From a young age, she gave voices to her family pets' inner monologues. In highschool and college, she took to the stage—earning her BFA in performing arts (while simultaneously scoring a completely useless minor in Philosophy & Religion) from Stephens College. In 2003, she embarked on the only socially acceptable career path for someone of her temperament: Voice Over. She stumbled into Storytelling in 2024, when she signed up for what she thought was a writing class at Second City—and immediately fell in love with the form. She's now a regular at Chicago's Do Not Submit story jams and looks forward to the connection and laughter each one brings. You can see and hear her professional stage and voice over portfolio at www.goodevoice.com.
Maria Kostas

Maria Kostas has told stories on various stages around Chicagoland. Her stories are sometimes entertaining, at times historical, perhaps insightful, and often quite personal. Currently she is facilitates story telling workshops for Women in Custody, and still standing as a special event bartender at the beautiful Artifact Events venue.
Mariah Nichelle

Mariah Nichelle is a proud Chicagoan. From teaching high school English to now working in the mental health space, public speaking is a passion. A proud UIC alumna and dog mom, Mariah Nichelle is currently working on her master's degree in Trauma Informed Leadership at Dominican University. Unsure of what’s next, Mariah Nichelle is excited to share her story and honor those who come before her and have made her into the woman she is today.
Diamond Tucker

As the youngest of seven children, Diamond has found herself with many stories to tell, and she has learned that there are always multiple versions of the same story. A true lover of music and personal narrative, Diamond makes it a practice to listen to the voices around her. She has traveled the world collecting diverse perspectives and has made a career out of hearing the stories of others. Despite the pushback, she still believes that Oreo cookies are better without the cream filling.
Jack Zimmerman

Jack Zimmerman has worked at a dozen different jobs, among them parking-lot attendant, trombone player, piano tuner, newspaper columnist, and PR man. He’s authored a couple of novels, spent four years in the Navy, and throughout his life he’s told stories. Now retired, he lives in the West Loop with his wife, Charlene.
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.