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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.
February 12th Cast
Baba Tony Brown
To Baba Tony storytelling is sacred, whenever a story is told we need to be focused on listening and giving our total attention to learning. In the last twenty years he has facilitated workshops and performed storytelling for many audiences of all ages. Baba Tony , believes stories can transform and inspire its listeners. This is why,
Baba Tony Brown is a storyteller. He is also a “djembe” drummer, a banjo player, bones, shekere player, Mbira, a Results coach, and a Certified Coach Facilitator. Baba Tony works with children and adults whether it’s telling stories or facilitating workshops. He has an amazing ability to create an environment for learning, growth and development while being entertaining and creating a lot of fun for participants. His passion is in developing positive and heart driven situations for his audiences to enjoy. And he believes that storytelling can inspire, confirm, validate, and engage the
imagination, as well as enhance listening skills for both children and adults. Storytelling is also a great way to plant seeds for ones’ morality and values. His main focus is culturally based inspiring stories, folktales, personal stories and multi-ethnic stories.
Recently the University of Chicago honored Baba Tony Brown with the designation of Outstanding Educator. The National Association of Black Storytellers gave him the Brother Blue Circle of Elders Designation.
Baba Tony Brown is a storyteller. He is also a “djembe” drummer, a banjo player, bones, shekere player, Mbira, a Results coach, and a Certified Coach Facilitator. Baba Tony works with children and adults whether it’s telling stories or facilitating workshops. He has an amazing ability to create an environment for learning, growth and development while being entertaining and creating a lot of fun for participants. His passion is in developing positive and heart driven situations for his audiences to enjoy. And he believes that storytelling can inspire, confirm, validate, and engage the
imagination, as well as enhance listening skills for both children and adults. Storytelling is also a great way to plant seeds for ones’ morality and values. His main focus is culturally based inspiring stories, folktales, personal stories and multi-ethnic stories.
Recently the University of Chicago honored Baba Tony Brown with the designation of Outstanding Educator. The National Association of Black Storytellers gave him the Brother Blue Circle of Elders Designation.
Kucha Brownlee
Kucha means dawning in Ki-Swahili. Storytelling is the vehicle through which Kucha dawns. Kucha came to storytelling by way of theatre. She toured the Midwest and Canada with several touring theatre companies. She has been performing for over 40 years and storytelling for over 26 years. Kucha is a co-founder of ASE: Chicago Association of Black Storytellers. She loves sharing her craft, is the co-chair of ASE’s Youth Committee, has been lead instructor for Words 37, facilitated workshops for the Head Start program, Spirit Light Foundation, Inc., and the Alliance Library System. Kucha is also a lifetime Member of NABS The National Association of Black Storytellers. Recently the University of Chicago honored Kucha Brownlee with the designation of Outstanding Educator. The National Association of Black Storytellers gave her the Brother Blue Circle of Elders Designation. Kucha’s storytelling CD, Planted Bulbs, can be purchased at Afriware Bookstore in Maywood, IL; Unity of Oak Park Church in Oak Park, IL; and Zawadi Books in Buffalo, NY.
Chad Johnson
Chad Johnson was raised deep in the wet woods of the Southern Oregon Coast—hillbilly by geography, country by survival, and educated early in the hard curriculum of real life. He’s seen the good, the bad, and the kind of ugly that doesn’t make the brochure. Now more than a decade sober, Chad makes a living telling the truth sideways. He hosts the Not All There podcast, founded the Art of Recovery Foundation to amplify stories and art from the edges, and built Lymbic, a digital platform for people in recovery who refuse to live small, quiet, or bored lives. His storytelling is powered by dry wit, earned empathy, and a dark humor forged the only way it ever is—by making it through. Chad can spin a yarn worthy of a passed moonshine jug or a properly plated steak tartare. He’s serious about the work, loose with the delivery, and just unhinged enough to be trusted.
Michelle Kaczor
Michelle Kaczor loves Mister Rogers and Jesus, and her greatest desire is to “make goodness attractive”. She is the daughter of Polish immigrants, inconspicuously bilingual, and recently presented a solo personal-narrative storytelling program for the Chicago Public Library’s Polish American Heritage Month. She has performed at The Voice Box, Story Lab, Tenx9, 80 Minutes Around the World, Let Me Tell You, The Get Together, Story Vroom Vroom, and countless Do Not Submit open mics around Chicago.
Nicole Lombardi
Nicole Lombardi is a high school English teacher and writer who recently turned to live storytelling because AI can’t replace a human standing in a room telling the truth. She has four kids, a needy doodle, and a bad habit of telling vulnerable stories with moments she pretends didn’t happen.
Rajneesh Sehgal
Raj comes from the vibrant city of Mumbai in India, where he grew up and studied Computer Science. His journey took him across continents to settle in the suburbs of Chicago, where he now cherishes life with his wife and two boys. As a co-founder of an AI Agency, he thrives on the challenges of entrepreneurship. Amid a midlife crisis, Raj sank into the depths of depression. Yet, he emerged more vital than ever, shedding 70 pounds and conquering not just one but four full marathons alongside fourteen half-marathons. Raj discovered his love for storytelling in May 2024 and has won 3 Moth StorySLAMs and 3 Speech competitions at Toastmasters Club. Raj has shared his stories at various iconic venues in the Chicagoland area, including Steppenwolf Theatre and Soho House. Raj hopes to inspire others to lead a mindful, intellectually curious, and healthy lifestyle by embodying the change he wishes to see.
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.