Got a story to tell? StoryOly once again invites you to share it with a live audience

StoryOly, Olympia’s story slam, is back.

The monthly event — which invites anyone who’s brave enough to tell a true story in front of friends and strangers alike — continued online after the pandemic shut down live entertainment, but the Thursday, Dec. 16, slam will be the first one happening before an in-person audience since February 2020.

“I am so excited,” said Elizabeth Lord, the storyteller, producer and emcee who created StoryOly with actor/singer/playwright Amy Shephard. “Oral storytelling is meant to be in person, face to face, so we can make eye contact with each other.

“I’m grateful to Zoom for sustaining us while we all needed to stay home, and I am so grateful also for vaccinations and for safety protocols.”

Before the pandemic began, the monthly storytelling competition — inspired by such slams as The Moth in New York City — happened at Rhythm & Rye, a popular Capitol Way bar and performance venue that is now closed.

Now, StoryOly will happen at Cryptatropa Bar, a space Lord and Shephard chose in part because vaccinations and masks are required. It’s a great space for performance, Lord told The Olympian, but it’s far smaller than Rhythm & Rye.

“Lauren O’Neill and I did a show called ‘The Bubble’ at Cryptatropa before the pandemic,” Lord said, “and at that time I believe it could comfortably sit about 50 people. We would have more than 100 sometimes at Rhythm & Rye.”

While it was founded by two of Olympia’s best-known and most versatile performers, StoryOly welcomes anyone and everyone to tell a personal and true story.

“The atmosphere in the room is really supportive,” past teller Christian Carvajal told The Olympian in 2018. “It’s a lot less like an American game show … and a lot more like ‘The Great British Baking Show,’ where the contestants can freely admit when someone did a better job than them and they’re happy for the person who won.”

Each tale must be no more than eight minutes long, and there are typically eight tellers at each event. The winner — selected by three volunteer judges — is invited back to tell a new story at the yearly Grand Slam.

“The stories that are shared more often than not are deeply personal,” Lord said. “The fact that people are trusting and willing to share their personal story with the general public is incredible. People come away feeling heard whether or not they get on stage. Often, one person’s experience is also someone else’s experience, so it can be cathartic for the teller but also consoling for the listener.”

But fear not if you’re looking for light entertainment: There are always funny tales, too. “There are plenty of stories where people share embarrassing moments, and we all laugh together,” Lord said.

StoryOly

• What: Olympia’s story slam is once again happening before a live audience.
• When: 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month, beginning Dec. 16
• Where: Cryptatropa Bar, 421 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia
• Tickets: $5-$15 donation suggested, with half of proceeds going to local nonprofits
• More information: 360-250-2721, http://storyoly.com