'Next Time' Will Be The Theme of our Next Story Slam!

Our March Lancaster Story Slam will be held on Tuesday, March 23rd, with the theme of “Next Time.” Luanne Sims will be our emcee!

Click here to register to watch our ‘Next Time’ March Story Slam!

Once you register, we'll send you a confirmation email that includes your unique link to tune in on March 23rd. We will begin promptly at 7 pm that evening. You'll be able to see the storytellers as they share their stories; we will not be able to see the audience members.

What type of stories fit the theme, "Next Time?"

The first time we try something new can involve a lot of trial and error. We often walk away with a better understanding of what to do “next time.” Maybe after your first experience with something, you decided there won’t be a next time. Is there something you’ve been putting off, always saying, “next time”? What would you change? Would you want to go through the same experience again? 

The event is pay-what-you-can. No ticket fee will be collected when you register; we will gratefully accept contributions via Venmo (@cwilsonwilson) and PayPal (paypal.me/lancstoryslam) to cover the cost of our production and to help out our friends at Zoetropolis. (We miss them terribly and can’t wait to host LSS there again!) If you aren't in a position to give, no problem - please join us anyway.

If you would like to sign up to be a storyteller for the evening, please COMPLETE THIS STANDARD TALENT RELEASE FORM. You will be contacted with more details.

How a Story Can Keep Delivering Good News!

If you attended our Story Slam themed ‘Overdue’ in January, then you will remember this awesome winning story from Doc Yoder:

After he concluded his story that evening, our emcee Luanne Sims said, “Oh, I’m crushed. I was so hoping you were going to say that you ran into her at the mall or something and explain it…. we have to make go viral and send it around! [so that we can find Mrs. McGowan]”

A few days later I received a delightful update from Doc. I’m going to let him pick up the story from there:

“After telling my story in the January Story Slam about my awful note to Mrs. McGowan at the end of my fourth grade year in Kalona, Iowa, I posted a link to it online. A friend and former 4th grade classmate named Marcus Miller who lives in the community where I grew up spent about an hour online and was able to find someone that he thought might be Mrs. McGowan by first finding her full name in old issues of the Kalona News that are now posted online. He then found a 2017 newspaper article about a shop called the Spice and Tea Exchange in Naples, Florida that was owned by a K. McGowan who was from southwest Iowa and had been a teacher for many years and was probably about the right age.

I looked up the spice and tea shop online only to find out that it had closed, so I contacted the newspaper that had run the article. I got a response the next day with a phone number which I called late at night on January 31 and left a message saying who I was, my phone number and email address, and that I was looking for my fourth grade teacher from 1967-1968 in Kalona, Iowa who was named Mrs. McGowan. I am sure that my message was not very smooth and coherent and I probably said my phone number at least three times. I felt like that fourth grade boy all over again. I got an email the next day from Mrs. McGowan's daughter saying that I had the right Mrs. McGowan, that she was pleased to hear from me, that she would contact me soon, and that the spice and tea shop was moving to a new location and would reopen soon.

Doc Yoder found Mrs. McGowan!

Mrs. McGowan and I started texting back and forth. She did remember me - her exact words were, "You hid your feelings well as I always thought you were judging me and my lack of teaching experience...you were such a bright kid and presented a challenge.", but she fortunately didn't remember the note that I had written to her. She also remembered many of my classmates and their descriptions and characteristics.

I got to have a long phone conversation with the now Ms. McGowan on February 21. She still has a wonderful sense of humor and was fun to talk to. I don't know if I'll ever get her on a Zoom call with other fourth grade classmates who would also like to talk with her, or will get to visit her in her shop in Naples; but I do know that she didn't carry the weight of my note for all of these years, and that I don't have to carry it any longer!”

How awesome is this story and how it continues to unfold?! Just this morning Doc reached out again to say that one of his classmates from fourth grade, Nancy, had found a copy of their class photos. I’ve added a frame around Doc’s photo and some hearts around Mrs. McGowan’s photo.

As a Story Slam producer it’s exciting to hear the developments after a story has been told. I believe that this demonstrates how a story can keep delivering good news. Even though we haven’t met Mrs. McGowan, I’m certain she lives in our hearts with all our favorite teachers.

Thank you to Doc for sharing his stories! Here is his follow up story at our February Slam.

David Smith wins our 'Oil and Water' Story Slam!

The winner of February’s “Oil & Water” story slam was David Smith with his story about the nocturnal escapades of his college roommate. 

Pictured is this month’s winner, David Smith, virtually accepting the prized pint glass!

For this month’s  “Oil & Water” Story Slam we had several regular storytellers as well as two first-time storytellers who both did an excellent job. We heard stories of sibling rivalry and stories that reminded us (for better or worse) of the old saying, “opposites attract,” and a number of outrageously funny stories. Thanks to all our many talented storytellers and everyone who came out to cheer them on and be a part of our storytelling community. 

Our next Story Slam is themed "Next Time" and will be held on Tuesday, March 23rd starting at 7 PM. Make sure to save the date and watch our website and Facebook page for updates! 

Check out David Smith’s winning story below. To watch other stories told on the night, click on over to the Lancaster Story Slam YouTube Channel.

'Oil and Water' is the theme of our February Story Slam!

Our seventh season of Lancaster Story Slam continues on Tuesday, February 23rd, with the theme of “Oil & Water.” You must register in order to attend. Once you register, we'll send you a confirmation email that includes your unique link to tune in on January 26th. We will begin promptly at 7 pm that evening. You'll be able to see the storytellers as they share their stories; we will not be able to see the audience members.

What type of stories fit the theme "Oil & Water?"

Oil and water just don’t mix! Maybe it’s a person that rubs you the wrong way or a clash of personalities you’ve witnessed in action. Or perhaps it’s even more literal than that and you have a tale about cooking or chemistry gone awry. We want to hear your stories about whatever doesn’t mix well for you. 

The event is pay-what-you-will. No ticket fee will be collected when you register; we will gratefully accept contributions via Venmo (@cwilsonwilson) and PayPal (paypal.me/lancstoryslam) to cover the cost of our production and to help out our friends at Zoetropolis. (We miss them terribly and can’t wait to host LSS there again!) If you aren't in a position to give, no problem - please join us anyway.

If you would like to sign up to be a storyteller for the evening, please COMPLETE THIS STANDARD TALENT RELEASE FORM.

Doc Yoder is the winner of our 'Overdue' Story Slam!

Congratulations to Doc Yoder! He was the winner of our “Overdue” Story Slam. Doc shared a story about having a crush on his 4th-grade teacher and an overdue acknowledgment of how much he adored her. 

Doc was a great kick-off to our 2021 season by welcoming a new storyteller to our stage and hearing from several returning storytellers. John Teske told of his overdue acceptance into his wife’s family, PK Hill shared about an overdue traffic ticket, Karen Foerstel shared about her father who was a librarian, and Sarah Steinhauer shared her story of an overdue retirement from teaching.

Thanks to all our many talented storytellers, the judges, and everyone who came out to cheer on our storytellers, and be a part of our storytelling community. 

Our next Story Slam is themed "Oil & Water" and will be held on Tuesday, February 23rd starting at 7 PM. Make sure to save the date watch the Facebook page for updates! 

Check out Doc Yoder’s winning story below. To watch other stories told on the night, click on over to the Lancaster Story Slam YouTube Channel.

Our Seventh Season Launches on January 26th with the Theme 'Overdue'

We are excited to launch the *seventh* season of Lancaster Story Slam! Our first Story Slam of 2021 will be held on Tuesday, January 26th at 7pm via Zoom. The theme of the evening will be OVERDUE. Our emcee will be Luanne Sims.

You must register in order to attend. Once you register, we'll send you a confirmation email that includes your unique link to tune in on January 26th. We will begin promptly at 7 pm that evening. You'll be able to see the storytellers as they share their stories; we will not be able to see the audience members.

The event is pay-what-you-can. No ticket fee will be collected when you register; we will gratefully accept contributions via Venmo (@cwilsonwilson) and PayPal (paypal.me/lancstoryslam) to cover the cost of our production and to help out our friends at Zoetropolis. (We miss them terribly and can’t wait to host LSS there again!) If you aren't in a position to give, no problem - please join us anyway.

If you would like to sign up to be a storyteller for the evening, please complete this Standard Talent Release form. All storytellers will need to attend a tech rehearsal on Monday, January 25th.

Steve McLean is the winner of our 2020 Grand Slam!

The 6th annual Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam theme was “Silver Linings.” 

Steve McLean was the winner of our “Silver Linings” Story Slam. Steve shared the story of how he found the silver lining in losing his husband of almost 40 years.

If you missed watching our livestreamed event, you can watch here.

Thank you to everyone in our community who supported us this year - whether by being a storyteller, being an audience member, being a judge, or being a sponsor! Your help keeps the show running! Special thanks to LancLiving Realty for their continued support into 2021!

The Grand Slam concludes our sixth season. We’ll be taking a break for the holidays, but we’ll be back in 2021. Watch the Lancaster Story Slam Facebook page for 2021’s dates and themes.

Grand Slam will be livestreamed on November 24th!

On November 24th at 7pm we will livestream our 6th annual Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam. The theme of this year’s Grand Slam will be ‘SILVER LININGS.’

The livestream will happen via a YouTube premiere on our YouTube channel. You will not need to register in advance to see the Grand Slam!

We will be livestreaming our storytellers telling their stories from the stage at Zoetropolis! We’re sad that you won’t be able to join us in person, but you can pretend you’re in the theatre with us. Order some curbside pick-up or take out from Zoetropolis and enjoy watching the Grand Slam in style from your living room!

Our finalists will compete for the title of 2020 Lancaster Story Slam Best Storyteller in Lancaster and will win a trophy, bragging rights and have their name added to our Storytellers Cup!

This year’s finalists include Swapna Deshpande (January / Blank Canvas), Steve McLean (February / #adulting), Tony Crocamo (March / Luck), Beth Horenkamp (April / Ink), Tom Bottiger (May / Not What I Intended), Paul Armstrong (June / Identity Crisis), Jamie Beth Cohen (July / Gifts), Randy Schulz (August / Firsts), Mark Lentz (September / All Grown Up), and Doc Yoder (October / Unmasked).

Here is a link to the playlist of all the winning stories from this year!

Doc Yoder wins the 'Unmasked' Story Slam and earns a spot in Grand Slam!

Doc Yoder was the winner of our “Unmasked” Story Slam. Doc shared the story of a charity event where he performed as a clown.

Pictured above is Doc Yoder, winner of our ‘Unmasked’ Story Slam, accepting his virtual prized pint glass from Carla!

Our “Unmasked” Story Slam included stories about hidden identities, being discovered, and attempts at concealing true identities.

Thanks to all our talented storytellers and everyone who took time away from their quarantine to cheer on our storytellers and be a part of our storytelling community. 

Our next Story Slam will be our November Grand Slam. This year’s theme for the Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam will be “Silver Linings” and will be held on Tuesday, November 24th starting at 7 PM. Make sure to save the date and watch our Facebook page for more information! 

Check out Doc’s winning story below. To watch other stories told on the night, click on over to the Lancaster Story Slam YouTube Channel.

Our Grand Slam theme to be 'Unmasked' at our October Story Slam!

Click here to REGISTER for our October Story Slam!

Luanne Sims will emcee our ‘Unmasked’ Story Slam and unveil our Grand Slam theme at the end of the evening!

From the Lancaster Story Slam team:

Just a year ago we gathered in a sold-out auditorium at the Ware Center and laughed and cried and clapped like nobody’s business! You remember the hush of the crowd during a poignant moment, the “you got this” called out in support of a nervous storyteller, and the standing ovation when the winner was announced. That is Lancaster Story Slam Grand Slam! 

In our 6th season of LSS, we’ve been hosting our slams virtually, every 4th Tuesday of the month even during the COVID-19 shutdown because, well, stories must be told.  Our time together during our virtual slams has been different, no doubt, but the stories are just as real, just as powerful, and just as necessary. We feel the community we build together over shared experiences is too important to give up on and we hope you feel the same. 

Be sure to join us at our final slam, Tuesday, October 27th to learn who will earn the final spot at the Grand Slam, AND the announcement of this year’s Grand Slam theme!  We have an amazing group of winning storytellers lined up in the virtual wings ready to wow you at this year’s Grand Slam on November 24th, and we can’t wait to feel the love from our story loving audience again! More details to follow!

'Unmasked' is the theme of our October Story Slam!

Our October Story Slam, “Unmasked”  will be held on Tuesday, October 27th.

Click here to REGISTER for our October Story Slam!

This will be the last regular Story Slam of this season, as our Grand Slam will be held in November. Luanne Sims will emcee the evening. We will unveil our theme and announce some exciting plans for a special Grand Slam. You won’t want to miss this one.

You must register in order to attend. Once you register, we'll send you a confirmation email that includes your unique link to tune in on October 27th. We will begin promptly at 7 pm that evening. You'll be able to see the storytellers as they share their stories; we will not be able to see the audience members.

What type of stories fit the theme "Unmasked?"

We’re looking for your stories of superheroes and mysterious identities. Do you have a story about someone hiding behind a mask? Maybe you have a story about someone showing who they really are. Perhaps you have a revealing story you’d like to tell? So come out of the shadows and unmask yourselves (figuratively, of course)!

We’d love for you to join us!

Mark Lentz wins our 'All Grown Up' Story Slam!

Mark Lentz was the winner of our “All Grown Up” Story Slam. Mark shared the story of how he finally grew up enough to pass organic chemistry.

Our “All Grown Up” Story Slam included stories about learning to hold one’s tongue to prevent arguments, learning to speak up for yourself and others, and earning the respect of others.

Thanks to all our talented storytellers and everyone who took time away from their quarantine to cheer on our storytellers and be a part of our storytelling community. 

Our next Story Slam is themed "Unmasked" and will be held on Tuesday, October 27th starting at 7 PM. Make sure to save the date and watch our Facebook page for more information!

'All Grown Up' will be the theme of our September 22nd Story Slam!

Our September Story Slam, “All Grown Up”  will be held on Tuesday, September 22nd. We start telling stories at 7 pm. Luanne Sims will host the evening. Grab your tickets HERE!

You must register in order to attend. Once you register, we'll send you a confirmation email that includes your unique link to tune in on September 22nd. We will begin promptly at 7 pm that evening. You'll be able to see the storytellers as they share their stories; we will not be able to see the audience members.

The event is pay-what-you-can. No ticket fee will be collected when you register; we will gratefully accept contributions via Venmo (@cwilsonwilson) and PayPal (paypal.me/lancstoryslam) to cover the cost of our production and to help out our friends at Zoetropolis. If you aren't in a position to give, no problem - please join us anyway.

What type of stories fit the theme "All Grown Up?"

We’re looking for your stories about being All Grown Up. Maybe you have a story about moving out of your parents’ house and feeling all grown up. Or perhaps you’re a parent or empty nester with a story about your child growing up. Or maybe you have a story about a time when you thought you were all grown up, only to realize that maybe you weren’t as grown up as you thought. However you’d like to spin the theme all grown up, we’d love to hear your stories!

UPDATE SEPTEMBER 18: Storyteller sign ups have closed. We have a full slate of storytellers for the evening.

If you would like to sign up to be storyteller for our ‘All Grown Up’ Slam, please COMPLETE THIS STANDARD RELEASE FORM.

Randy Schulz is the winner of our 'Firsts' Story Slam!

Randy Shultz was the winner of our “Firsts” Story Slam! Randy shared the story of how his sheepish grin caused him problems in the military.

Our “Firsts” Story Slam included stories of travel, significant life lessons, and unfortunate circumstances.

Thanks to all our talented storytellers and everyone who took time away from their quarantine to cheer on our storytellers and be a part of our storytelling community.  Randy’s winning

Our next Story Slam is themed "All Grown Up" and will be held on Tuesday, September 22nd starting at 7 PM. Make sure to save the date and watch our Facebook page for more information!

Check out Randy’s winning story below. To watch other stories told on the night, click on over to the Lancaster Story Slam YouTube Channel.

'Firsts' is the theme of our August Story Slam!

Our virtual slams continue! Our August Story Slam will be held on Tuesday, August 25th via Zoom. The theme of the evening will be FIRSTS, and Luanne Sims will be our emcee.

You must register in order to attend.

Once you register, we'll send you a confirmation email that includes your unique link to tune in on August 25th. We will begin promptly at 7 pm that evening. You'll be able to see the storytellers as they share their stories; we will not be able to see the audience members.

The event is pay-what-you-can. No ticket fee will be collected when you register; we will gratefully accept contributions via Venmo (@cwilsonwilson) and PayPal (paypal.me/lancstoryslam) to cover the cost of our production and to help out our friends at Zoetropolis. (We miss them terribly and can’t wait to host LSS there again!) If you aren't in a position to give, no problem - please join us anyway.

What type of stories fit the theme "Firsts?"

There’s a first time for everything! We’re looking for your stories about your firsts. Your first kiss, your first cavity, your first day of school - whatever first you have to share. Do you have a story about a first date gone wrong? Or perhaps a first place ribbon you’ve won? Who knows, maybe we’ll even have some first time storytellers! Whatever your story of firsts, we’d love for you to join us!

UPDATE: WE HAVE A FULL SLATE OF EIGHT AWESOME STORYTELLERS AND SIGN-UPS ARE CLOSED.
If you would like to sign up to be a storyteller for the evening, please COMPLETE THIS STANDARD TALENT RELEASE FORM. You will be required to join us for a ‘tech rehearsal’ on Monday, August 26th (7pm) to test equipment.

Jamie Beth Cohen is the winner of our 'Gifts' Story Slam!

Jamie Beth Cohen was the winner of our “Gifts” Story Slam. Jamie Beth shared her story about the gift of knowing exactly what her father wanted when he passed. 

Jamie Beth Cohen - whose picture is highlighted above - was the winner of the ‘Gifts’ Story Slam.

Our “Gifts” Story Slam included stories about love, empathy, loss, and the idea that anticipation is often better than reality. 

Thanks to all our talented storytellers and everyone who took time away from their quarantine to cheer on our storytellers and be a part of our storytelling community. 

Our next Story Slam is themed "Firsts" and will be held on Tuesday, August 25th starting at 7 PM. Click here to register for our August Slam! 

Check out Jamie Beth’s winning story below. To watch other stories told on the night, click on over to the Lancaster Story Slam YouTube Channel.

'Gifts' will the theme of our July Story Slam!

Our July Story Slam will be held on Tuesday, July 28th via Zoom. The theme of the evening will be GIFTS.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE JULY STORY SLAM.

You must register in order to attend. Once you register, we'll send you a confirmation email that includes your unique link to tune in on July 28. We will begin promptly at 7 pm that evening. You'll click the link at the scheduled time from your laptop, tablet, or phone to join the call. You may wish to download the Zoom app if you don’t already have it, but it is not necessary to participate – if you don’t have it, the call will launch in your web browser. The app does give you access to more features. You'll be able to see the storytellers as they share their stories; we will not be able to see the audience members (so - shower and pants are optional! :-) ).

The event is pay-what-you-can. No ticket fee will be collected when you register; we will gratefully accept contributions via Venmo (@cwilsonwilson) and PayPal (paypal.me/lancstoryslam) to cover the cost of our production and to help out our friends at Zoetropolis. (We miss them terribly and can’t wait to host LSS there again!) If you aren't in a position to give, no problem - please join us anyway.

What type of stories fit the theme "Gifts?"

We’re looking for your story about the gifts you’ve received and the gifts you’ve given. What’s the best gift you’ve ever gotten? What about the worst? Are you a good gifter? Does your grandmother always give you a chia pet for your birthday? Has Great Aunt Mildred really wrapped up the cat as a Christmas present? Or, taking it in a completely different direction, are you gifted in some way? Whatever your gifting story, we’d love to receive the gift of your story, so come out and join us!

If you would like to sign up to be a storyteller for the evening, please COMPLETE THIS STANDARD TALENT RELEASE FORM. You will be required to join us for a ‘tech rehearsal’ on Monday, July 27th (7pm) to test equipment.

Paul Armstrong is the winner of our 'Identity Crisis' Story Slam!

Paul  Armstrong was the winner of our “Identity Crisis” Story Slam. Paul shared his story of misjudging weeds.. 

Our “Identity Crisis” Story Slam included stories about a spontaneous hair cut, the natural instinct of fight versus flight, and the idea that who others think you are doesn’t determine your identity. 

Thanks to all our talented storytellers and everyone who took time away from their quarantine to cheer on our storytellers and be a part of our storytelling community. 

Our next Story Slam is themed "Gifts" and will be held on Tuesday, July 28th starting at 7 PM. Make sure to save the date and watch our Facebook page for more information!

Watch Paul’s video here, and check out videos of all our stories at our YouTube channel.

Hello, World!

"Identity Crisis" will be our theme on June 23rd!

Lancaster Story Slam continues to come to you live in your living room. We'll host our June 23rd story slam via Zoom. The theme is IDENTITY CRISIS and our MC will be David Smith.

Click here to register for our June Story Slam.

The event is pay-what-you-can. No ticket fee will be collected when you register; we will gratefully accept contributions via Venmo (@cwilsonwilson) and PayPal (paypal.me/lancstoryslam) to cover the cost of our production and to help out our friends at Zoetropolis. (We miss them terribly and can’t wait to host LSS there again!) If you aren't in a position to give, no problem - please join us anyway.

You must register in order to attend.

Once you register, we'll send you a confirmation email that includes your unique link to tune in on June 23. We will begin promptly at 7 pm that evening. You'll click the link at the scheduled time from your laptop, tablet, or phone to join the call. You may wish to download the Zoom app if you don’t already have it, but it is not necessary to participate – if you don’t have it, the call will launch in your web browser. The app does give you access to more features. You'll be able to see the storytellers as they share their stories; we will not be able to see the audience members (so - shower and pants are optional! :-) ).

What type of stories fit the theme "Identity Crisis?"

We’re looking for your stories of times your identity has come into question. Maybe it was an experience of mistaken identity, or losing your passport. Perhaps you have a story about finding out who you really are, or aren’t. No matter who you are, come out and share your identity story with us.

If you would like to sign up to be a storyteller for the evening, please COMPLETE THIS STANDARD TALENT RELEASE FORM. You will be sent a special STORYTELLER link to use for the rehearsal and the Slam. You will be required to join us for a ‘tech rehearsal’ on Monday, June 22nd to test equipment.

Tom Bottiger wins our "Not What I Intended" Story Slam!

Tom Bottiger was the winner of our “Not What I Intended” Story Slam! Tom shared his story of working for a television station and through a series of unfortunate events ended up accidentally violating broadcast standards. 

Tom Bottiger won the prized pint glass!

Our “Not What I Intended” Story Slam included stories of a sentimental nature as well as some hilarious tales. This was our third virtual story slam event and we had a total of eight storytellers share their stories.

Thanks to all our talented storytellers and everyone who took time away from their quarantine to cheer on our storytellers and be a part of our storytelling community. 

Our next Story Slam is themed "Identity Crisis" and will be held on Tuesday, June 23rd starting at 7 PM. Make sure to save the date and watch our Facebook page for more information!