The Abbey is a great venue. The walls are dark, the bar in the back is easily accessible, there is the standing pit as well as large soft couches in the back, making socializing easy with friends in the intermission of whatever is going on. It rests in Thorton Park, right by downtown Orlando (It's not real downtown, that's Orange Ave and don't let anyone tell you different). The small venue hosts a real variety of events, I saw AJJ there not too long ago. The show was crowded, the stage isn't quite high enough from the general standing pit to make the bands feel too far away. Last Wednesday though, was the event hosted by the Abbey that I never miss. Orlando Story Teller's club was set to begin.
Hosted by Bobby Wesley and Danielle ZissThe first Wednesday of the month, that was Story Tellers club at the Abbey last year. This year (unfortunately) it goes to quarterly, with a fringe show and a best of the year at the end. I went with a writer friend, a guy who loves Orlando almost as much as I do, but where I go to comedy mics and slam events, he seems to find the "paint a collage and write a poem about it" type of events. I wouldn't be surprised if the next text I got from him would be an invite to make pottery to sell to save the bees, or something. He told me about a chance to get on stage (which usually gets me anywhere, I'll do any stage once) but he told me it wouldn't be comedy. Or poetry, for that matter. It was story telling. I was eager to try, but I definitely needed to sit in first.
The theme was set, as it is every month. This one was "Secrets" or something to that effect, and after I put my name in the hat for potentially going up on stage, I had my story in mind. I was nervous though, I looked around and I was definitely a black sheep here, amongst the story tellers. They were older, mostly women, and all wonderfully graceful. They walked as though they were bursting with that empathatic type of wisdom, and their words would touch your mind beyond how most do. These seasoned individuals were floating about the crowd and being welcomed by all the groups they entered, I chose to sit with my friend and nervously wait to see if I was called.
I was. My story was about a friend who sat alone in her car, crying after being ditched by her boyfriend for another girl, on her birthday. I was one of his closest friends, and didn't know, yet I was given the task regardless to defend him and his choices. I didn't know where he was really, but she seemed certain that he was off with another girl. When she finally spoke through her tears enough to let me know how she knew, she said that her boyfriend told her that he wasn't out with a girl, he was out with me
I think I won third, maybe second. Each Story Tellers Club is a competition of sorts, with ten people competing for a small prize. Three judges are picked, they score all night. It's organic, and somewhat a mix up each time, with some first time performers sharing a fun on theme story taking home first, while other times the seasoned tellers carry the whole venue through waves of emotion and command first place.
I was hooked, and I don't think I have missed an event since. Also not to brag, but I have won three of the four events I have been chosen to perform in (okay a little brag but I can't NOT mention it). What I want to share is that the performances are touching, incredible, and honestly so Orlando. I love this city, it has so much going on. Every Story Teller's club is a five dollar donation entrance fee to a local charity, everyone who performs calls this place home. The radiant positivity from everyone involved is contagious, and the best part is you get to participate in the sharing of a moment that means something to someone. It is a place to share, perform, participate, just over all be involved with what makes Orlando progress into tomorrow.
The next event is in July, and the theme for stories is "What a Mess!" RSVP and come out to support local art, and local charity on their Facebook page, Orlando Story Teller's Club.
