Jessica Robinson, Better Said Than Done’s founder. Photo contributed
Better Said Than Done, Northern Virginia’s premiere storytelling organization, is keeping the lights on during the pandemic by moving its previously scheduled April and May storytelling shows online. Though the venues for the organization’s monthly storytelling shows are closed (The Auld Shebeen in Fairfax on the last Saturday of the month; and Drafthouse Comedy Theater in Washington, D.C., on the third Thursday of the month. For now, both venues are closed.), April and May shows will be livestreamed on Zoom.
The theme for Better Said Than Done’s April and May shows is “Come As You Are.” Based on the same concept as parties from the ‘50s and ‘60s, when teenagers would await a call announcing a party and then show up in whatever they were wearing, Better Said Than Done expects the audience and storytellers to show up in whatever they are working-from-home, sheltering-in-place in. Clothing, however, is not optional – at least, not from the waist up!
“One great advantage of hosting events online is that we can expand our audience to include people on the West Coast, for example, or anywhere in the world,” explains Jessica Robinson, Better Said Than Done’s founder. “And, of course,” Robinson continues, “the other wonderful benefit is that we can have performers join us from all over the world to tell their stories. Alton Chung, whom I met at the National Storytelling Festival resides in Hawaii. Thanks to our shows being online, we will get to see Alton perform live, all the way from Hawaii. And, in addition to our local Maryland, D.C., and Virginia performers, we will also have Donna Washington joining us from North Carolina, Megan Hicks, from Pennsylvania, and, in May: Andy Offutt Irwin, from Georgia; Simon Brooks from New Hampshire; Kim Weitkamp, from Ohio; Bil Lepp, from West Virginia; and Norm Brecke and Anne Rutherford, from Washington.
Better Said Than Done is addressing the current economic crisis by offering pay-what-you-can tickets for online access on a sliding scale. Contributions of $15 per person – the usual ticket price – are suggested, with a minimum contribution at $5. Proceeds from each show will be split with the storytellers from that show. Contributions are encouraged to help support the performers and Better Said Than Done, as both arts organizations and artists are struggling during this time.
On April 16, 9 p.m., join host and Better Said Than Done founder Jessica Robinson and storytellers Natalie Amini, Sheila Arnold, Nick Baskerville, Jack Scheer, Meghann Shutt, Sarah Snyder and Donna Washington. [Storyteller bios follow the release.]
On April 25, 9 p.m. join host and Better Said Than Done founder Jessica Robinson and storytellers Noa Baum, Alton Chung, Dustin Fisher, Bonnie Gardner, Megan Hicks, Desarray-Tamar Joachim, Len Kruger, and Cyndi Wish.
For more information on upcoming shows, storytellers, or workshops, visit www.bettersaidthandone.com.