Stories on the Lawn
Reaching for the Stars
Moth-Style Storytelling at the Neill-Cochran House Museum
May 4, 2023 | 7:30PM
Doors at 7:00, Performance at 7:30
Tickets
$15 General Admission
$10 Students
$0 NCHM Members
Join us on the front lawn for a night of Moth-style true personal stories. Local comedians and storytellers tell personal tales beneath the grand columns of the NCHM porch.
May 4th is (unofficially) Star Wars Day, and the theme of this Stories on the Lawn is “reaching for the stars.” We will be sharing stories of going for it all, even when our reach may sometimes exceed our grasp. So whether you’re a Luke Skywalker looking longingly at Tatooine's twin suns or Yoda seeking great wisdom, there will be something for you in these stories.
Coming by Millennium Falcon? The Neill-Cochran House Museum has free parking behind the museum for attendees.
Cost: $15 for nonmembers, $10 for students, and includes cocktails! All proceeds support the Neill-Cochran House Museum.
MEET THE STORYTELLERS:
KRisten drenning
Kristen Drenning is an Austin transplant, having grown up in Los Angeles. She hopes you won't hold that against her. Aside from storytelling, she spends most of her free time improvising.
You can catch her Sundays in June at Game On! ATX or everywhere Improv is done!
chris mack
Dr. Chris A. Mack is a former University of Texas professor, a current tech entrepreneur, and self-taught storyteller. When he is not desperately trying to keep up with software developers twice as bright and half his age, he enjoys time with his wife Susan and their two teenagers. Life is good.
Paul normandin
Paul Normandin is a large man with a big mouth who loves to tell stories to anyone who can’t outrun him. Paul learned to tell stories from the loving feedback of other people's children while teaching Sunday school for 13 years. Paul is an accomplished storyteller, improvisational comedian, actor, and Dean of the Merlin Works Institute for Improvisation.
hari rao
Hari Rao moved to Austin in 2022 having spent most of his life in the Chicagoland area. While new to storytelling, Hari has been on stage many times as both a bass guitarist of nearly 20 years, and more recently as a standup comedian, performing regularly at East Austin Comedy Club. His alter ego is an accountant at a small fitness company in Austin.
rene slataper
Rene Slataper (he/him/his) is a gay transgender pastor in Central Texas. He is currently receiving his masters in divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary, he’s a National Scholar through his denomination, and is a mental health advocate. When Rene isn’t working or going to school you can find him making online content for faith organizations and telling stories through mixed media. Rene’s theology often calls him to tell people to love themselves and love each other, and to also make good choices and do good things.
humaria zafar
Humaira Zafar grew up in Karachi, Pakistan and moved to the US for education. She loves listening to stories and also believes that she is a world class chef. She likes to make friends and talk to her siblings for hours and hours. When she is not working, she is mostly planning her next travel adventure.
Susan Mack (Emcee)
A regular on the Austin storytelling performance scene, Susan Mack has more than 20 years experience with corporate and personal storytelling. She's currently pursuing her MFA with Vermont College of Fine Arts.