Lily Be, Margaret Burk, John Capaul,  Patrick Curtin and Eunice Jarrett.

Lily Be is a Chicago legend in the making.  Her off book storytelling style is like no other in the scene which she stormed onto completely by accident in 2010.  A near death experience followed by a mental breakdown is what essentially got her here today.Today thanks to storytelling, Lily is a teacher, producer, healer, host and writer.  Find out everything she does and is doing on her website lilybe.com 

Margaret Burk co-produces and co-hosts two monthly storytelling events in Oak Park/River Forest: BACK ROOM STORIES at Hamburger Mary's, and Do Not Submit Oak Park at the Eastgate Cafe.  After a career in fundraising for arts organization, Margaret returned to her love - the spoken word.  She performs throughout the Chicago area and believes in the power of story, not only to entertain, but to touch the heart, spark the imagination and embolden the spirit.

John Capaul  is a storyteller, essayist and playwright.  John has performed at Pour One Out, Three Cats Cabaret, Bughouse, Tenx9, The Stoop, Chicago Dramatists, Ice House, Story Club, Duly Noted, Story Jam and Truth or Lies. For money he's a marketing professional at a large, independent, Chicago-based marketing innovation agency. 

For almost three years, he was the organizer for Chicago Theater Meetup and board member and fund raiser for Interrobang Theatre Project, where they earned fourteen Jeff nominations and won four awards in last two years. John is an enthusiastic and unskilled dancer, and loves Irish whiskey, fruit-filled butter-crust pies, and his dogs, Hank and Gabby. 

Quoting John:  "If you buy me good Irish or Scotch whiskey, I will gladly talk about my zeal for writing, my love of my dogs, my love for blues music, and what being deaf in one ear means to me."

Patrick Curtin is a Chicago native that incorporates storytelling as a celebrant for weddings, memorials and other moments in life that should be celebrated. Patrick has shared stories at the Irish American Heritage Center, Steppenwolf, Second City and the Goodman Theater.

Skip Griparis has been a versatile performing artist and writer since 1964.  Highlights include 1971 Mercury album as singer and guitarist for Joliet rock band, Trilogy. 1972-74 member of MCA recording artists, the New Colony Six. 1975-78 member of Olivia Newton-John band, and songwriter for MCA recording artists, Buckacre. 1983-2013 musical comedian, headlining Dangerfield's NYC, Zanies Chicago, and the Ice House LA.  1988 and 1993, featured actor in the "Major League" movies.  2014 to present, writer and star of The Heroes of Rock!, a fun, two-hour musical about the dynamic evolution of the 40's/50's/60's.   www.skipgriparis.com 

Eunice Jarrett is a retired public school teacher, proud mother of 2 adult sons, and ex-wife of more, who engages in stand-up comedy, storytelling, and public speaking.  She is a member of the Kates comedy organization and has performed for audiences in Illinois, Michigan, and various Indiana venues. She is proud to say she is almost as funny as her 96-year-old mother.