To live is to tell stories. Embracing that truth, Story Club Pittsburgh (created by the former producers of The Moth Pittsburgh), organizes and hosts a monthly nonfiction storytelling series at City of Asylum. 

Storytelling is a tradition that spans across cultures, countries, and centuries. Stories have the ability to capture our hopes, dreams, and joys, as well as our sorrows and fears, so that we might share them with the world. Stories allow us to build deeper empathy and understanding, and highlight the shared experiences of humanity. 

Story Club Pittsburgh mixes the spontaneity of an open mic with the experience of live theater. Every show includes volunteer storytellers and featured performers who all take the stage to share stories based on a theme. New for 2024, the top storyteller, as voted by viewers, will receive a City of Asylum t-shirt and a $25 gift card to COA Bookstore as a prize! The theme for March 2024 is Lost in Translation.

Do you want to share your story but keep letting stage fright stop you? Consider signing up for one of our two mentored storyteller slots! Each month, two story slam participants eager to share (and learn!) can sign up and receive coaching before the slam by the producers. Learn more here or sign up for an open mic slot at the slam.

About the Host:

Alan Olifson is an award-winning humor columnist, comedian and was the regular host of Pittsburgh’s monthly Moth StorySlams. He created the acclaimed storytelling series Wordplay at Bricolage theater and now produces the new storytelling/talk show Speakeasy with Arcade Comedy Theater.  His book, Manchild: My Life without Adult Supervision from Six Gallery Press is available wherever you buy books—hopefully somewhere local.

About Your Visit: 

The in-house restaurant 40 North will be closed, but a cash bar will be available open.

Copies of our host Alan Olifson’s book, My Life Without Adult Supervision, will be available for sale.