Doug Whippo from 2nd Story on Vimeo.

Tomorrow night, we plan to do just that, with the help of an amazing live storytelling company from Chicago, 2nd Story. With its roots in the Chicago theater community, 2nd Story combines high-energy performance storytelling with live music and delicious wine. Sound good so far?

2nd Story also manages to do something more. They bring an intimacy to their performances that makes you feel like you are sitting at the back table of your favorite corner bar, with a friend you haven’t seen in a long time. As you listen, you find yourself leaning forward. You laugh and then just as quickly you feel that tugging, clenching feeling around your heart. Your wine glass is empty, but you don’t even notice, so caught up are you in the tale. You think you might cry. And there’s something else, that welling up of an image, a word, a memory and when the story ends, you find you are on the edge of your seat, ready to grab your neighbor by the wrist and say, “That reminds me of when …”

Which is exactly what they want. In fact, 2nd Story incorporates breaks between each story, just enough time for you to engage with your friends or whomever is sitting next to you, and maybe refill that wine. Their goal is nothing short of creating a community through stories. We can’t think of a more fitting way to open the 5th annual Wordstock festival.

Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind event!
When: Thursday, October 8, 8:00 p.m.
Where: Bagdad Theater, 3702 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
Tickets: Get ‘em online at ticketsoregon.com and at the door