We are excited to be bringing The Story Shuffle as a special pop-up show to Orinda Community Center (home of the Bay Area Storytelling Festival). Fresh off her appearance at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, TN, Ingrid Nixon will be telling stories for 45 minutes. She travels extensively around the world and recounts her journeys, whether they are imagined, stretched, or actually true, you are guaranteed an adventure!

We will still have our usual Open Mic part of the show, featuring two options: you can either throw your name in the hat to tell a 5-minute story or a 1-minute story in our Story Sprint lighting round. No theme, just bring your best story. Sign up on the door and we will pick names randomly out of the hat.

Your story can be ANY GENRE! A true, personal story, a tall tale, a braided tale, a myth, a folktale, a fractured fairy tale, etc.

Regardless of the genre, your story should follow a narrative format (beginning, middle, end) and be told without notes—no reading!

Our featured tellers for the evening:

Ingrid Nixon Ingrid Nixon is an award-winning, world-traveling storyteller who whisks listeners away on journeys of the imagination. Exploration nail-biters, tall tales, traditional and personal stories—she tells them all on international expeditions, and at venues around the country, including the National Storytelling Festival. She is a champion liar many times over and – no lie – holds a Masters in Storytelling from East Tennessee State University. She currently hails from Southeast Alaska. https://ingridnixon.com/

Claire Hennessy is a founder and co-producer of Six Feet Apart Productions. Claire is a British-born, award-winning storyteller, podcaster (The Bonkers Brit), and author. She has been a featured teller at a number of Festivals and has appeared on the Risk! Podcast, and The Moth GrandSlam, plus she is one of the Bay Area Storytelling Festival organizers and Board Member of Storytelling Association of California.www.thebonkersbrit.co.uk

Regina Stoops is a founder and co-producer of Six Feet Apart Productions. Regina is a writer, comedian, and award-winning storyteller who spins stories on stage and in print. Regina has developed humor as her weapon of choice to help tackle diversity, adversity, and suburban chaos. She is one of the in-person/virtual Bay Area Storytelling Festival organizers and was recently invited to tell at the National Storytelling Festival Exchange Place. www.reginastoops.com

For those still a bit puzzled, here is more information on what we mean by different genres and the types of stories you may hear or tell at The Story Shuffle.

True, personal story: This type of story is told at shows like The Moth. It is a true narrative about something that happened to YOU. It is not a rant, or comedy stand-up routine.

Folk or Fairy Tale: A fictional story, originating from oral tradition and passed down through generations, often without a single author, featuring universal themes like overcoming challenges, teaching moral lessons, and reflecting cultural values. Think Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood. Different cultures often have their own folktales, such as “Anansi The Spider” from Africa or “The Monkey and the Crocodile” from Asia.

Braided Story: A storytelling technique that weaves together two or more separate storylines, perspectives, or topics to create a single, cohesive work. Often, a personal story is woven with a folktale to create one narrative.

Fractured Fairy Tale: A fractured fairy tale is a traditional one that has been altered, often by changing the point of view, character roles, setting, or plot to create a humorous or modern retelling. Instead of the original story, a fractured tale might tell the tale from the villain's perspective, like "The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs" by the Big Bad Wolf, or change the story to have a new message or outcome. Key characteristics include an altered point of view, a modified plot, a changed setting, and a humorous tone.

Tall Tale: A story with unbelievable elements presented as if it were true and factual, often involving a larger-than-life hero or heroine with superhuman abilities. These humorous and exaggerated stories have roots in the folklore of the American frontier and are a uniquely American genre. Modern tall tales often start out as a personal narrative and then add outrageous elements.

Get Tickets Here

Venue: Marriott Courtyard Hotel, 1400 Hamilton Pkwy, Novato, CA 94949