More Better Stories

Howard Lieberman is a master storyteller

Very much enjoyed the improv storytelling by Howard Lieberman on Tuesday 8/6. His life story is rich and he tells it extraordinarily.

Leslie Polk is a Gem

Leslie Polk's storytelling is a gem. She speaks intertwined stories of three different women, and covers issues of importance to all of us: the history of slavery and Jim Crow, the church, and the stories we tell. Her physicality and her prose are wonderful. We are lucky that she has made her way from Texas to NY to Minneapolis for this Fringe. I hope we see much more of her.

Storytelling and location: both a delight

We saw Sufian at 7pm on that rainy, rainy Monday. For long term Fringers (and everybody else), be sure to make the short trip up Hennepin to the American School of Storytelling. This is just a jewel box of a site and worth the trip just for that. Sufian was fabulous, so fabulous that I looked at his resume afterwards on-line: many awards and accolades. My only gripes: let us know what is going to happen in advance (two storytellers and a musical interlude); and end on time (I would have loved to chat with Sufian afterwards, but we were zooming up Hennepin to pick up the car and make our next show).

Heartwarming!

Performance storytelling, intimate venue!

Brilliant storytelling

Howard is a master storyteller, and these stories from his long, colorful life pack a wallop to the heart. We’re grateful to have seen him once again at Fringe. Catch him if you can

Intimate story space

Nice to hear one person stories in an intimate setting. Well presented.

Howard Lieberman is a Stellar Teller

See Howard Lieberman whenever you can! He's a master of his craft who always enthralls and surprises with the true tales he spins with charm, aplomb and finesse. Not only do his stories fascinate and entertain, they leave you a better person, or at least thinking about how you can become a better person.

Marie Cooney and soda bread

This is yet another time I've had a chance to see Marie's work at Fringe. Her work is dynamic, and by that, I mean that it changes from show to show, which is something that I've learned from and taken away for my own productions. It's not easy to do, but it allows for a greater collaboration with the audience and how it responds. The stories in this year's episodes are totally different, less mythological and more autobiographical than last years. Curious to see what Marie will come up for the 2025 Fringe. In addition, this year's innovation was food, specifically soda bread. I'll have to think about how to incorporate that into one of my future shows.

Five Stars for the Irish Soda Bread!

Marie is a Fringe staple each year and is warm, inviting, humble down-to-earth. It was way better Irish Soda bread than most of what you could buy at a store - a family recipe. That is a touch that is a bit unique among Fringe shows. When Marie told stories, I may have been wondering for a bit where it is leading for a while. But it all comes together with a powerful end. I will say that each show here is unique and different with quite an extensive schedule.

Sweet memories, Sweet, Sweet Life!

I saw Loren in their new story telling space, a lovely place to tell lovely stories. “Loren Niemi with “Finding Gregory”: The story of an extraordinary man who lived a double life, his disappearance and the "grief before death" when he is found.” Loren’s description sums it up. To experience it and think about it later is profound.

First-person storytelling at its finest

The American School of Storytelling is an independent producer at the Fringe for the first time, with five tellers taking turns in solo and duo shows. So far I've seen Howard Lieberman and Sufian Zhemukov. Both of these tellers have garnered national acclaim, and we're so lucky that they reside in the Twin Cities metro. They are both extremely adept at creating stories from their lives, and this initimate venue is the perfect place to hear them. Howard's tales tend to focus on hard topics and social justice, and he delivers them with an intensity and unblinking self-scrutiny that pulls the listeners into his world. Even though I'd heard some of his stories before, I hung on every word. Sufian's style is more gentle and humorous, as he recounts his experiences as an immigrant from Russia attempting to adjust to American culture. One is reminded that national differences are real, but in many ways we're all alike. The storytellers are changing up their stories on different nights, but I guarantee all the stories will be engaging and worth your time. Marie Cooney and Loren Niemi are also in the rotation, and I recommend both of them highly as well; they know how to craft a good yarn. I haven't seen Leslie Polk before and am very much looking forward to her show, which looks to be the most unconventional of all in terms of of format and content. To sum up, whether you're already a fan of live storytelling or want to experience it for the first time, you should definitely sample all or some of "More Better Stories."

A mixed bag (of nuts)?

This venue features 5 diverse storytellers, all doing hour long stories. Howard and Sufian, plus one small cameo is what I heard in the two sessions I attended. Both were excellent and engaging. Producers Loren Niemi and Christine Mounts are nationally known storyteller/poets who have worked hard to make this little hole in the wall theatre a magical place to be. Kudos to all!