Storytelling Intensive

Bay Street Theater’s Storytelling Intensive Workshop is a three-day immersive class in Sag Harbor where participants craft and perform powerful personal narratives using Moth-style storytelling techniques.

Everyone has a story to tell—whether you’re a seasoned performer or someone who’s never spoken in public before. In this workshop, Mike will guide you through the art of Moth-style storytelling: sharing personal narratives live, without notes, that focus on authentic connection, truth, and the storyteller’s emotional journey. Participants will develop a 5–10 minute personal story based on an experience they had — funny, sad, strange, unexpected, deeply meaningful, etc. — and perform it for a live audience! You’ll craft your voice, discover the spine of your story, and learn how to grab an audience and never let go!

FULL SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN:

April 24 (Friday) – 6:00pm – 9:00pm

April 25 (Saturday) -1:00pm – 5:00pm

April 26 (Sunday) – 1:00pm – 5:00pm, performance at 3:00pm

CLASS OVERVIEW:

Day 1: Share story ideas with the group, and get feedback to help select a story you’ll share onstage at the end. Go home with writing exercises to bring in the next day.

Day 2: Share some of your writing exercises with the group, get additional one-on-one time with your instructor to re-write and work-thru material.

Day 3: Show Day. An onstage run-thru of your story with the class, followed by a group performance for your family and friends.

ABOUT THE MOTH:

The Moth was founded in 1997 by a group of artists who wanted to recreate the feeling of sultry summer evenings when moths were attracted to the light on the porch and friends would gather to spin spellbinding tales! This intensive will show you how to craft your story idea into a spellbinding tale.

ABOUT MIKE SCHLITT:

Mike Schlitt has been a storyteller all his life, through multiple careers on stage, film and radio; a founding member of the Actors’ Gang Theatre, two-time winner of the New York International Fringe Festival’s Outstanding Solo Performance award, a recipient of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for outstanding contribution to Los Angeles Theater and a Moth Story Slam champion, he’s performed original solo works Drive, He Said, Mike’s Incredible Indian Adventure, Jesus Ride and Patriot Act in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Cleveland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oregon and Florida. He is a freelance journalist and amateur historian for NPR affiliate KCRW, he’s produced and reported on the Document, Unfictional and Greater LA.  He’s worked for over two decades in movie marketing, helping build creative advertising campaigns for Zero Dark Thirty, Skyfall, The Social Network, and The Amazing Spiderman, among others. His original podcast series Early Bird Special can be heard on iTunes and @ www.mikeschlitt.com