True stories, great tellers, and a very good reason to put on pants
This is your nudge to come out to February's show
Hello to my favorite humans!
Can we just take a moment to say: what a way to start the year!
January’s show was electric, wasn’t it? The storytellers all tackled our “Stories of Substance” theme with aplomb and flair. We could hardly tell that two storytellers had canceled on us at the last second. Well, okay, our brand-new programs, printed with said cancellations, kinda made it hard to forget, but other than that, Kiry Shabazz and Beau Ryder Davis were phenomenal and saved our bacon!
And the programs looked pretty nifty anyway, didn’t they?
It was so nice to see you all after our holiday break. Thank you for showing up like that. Thank you for being such an awesome audience. I always tell every person I book about how warm and welcoming you are, and it’s true. Even when someone on stage gets anxious, loses the thread of their story, or surprise-bombs you with their movie trailers (ahem), you remain good-humored, gracious, and most importantly, you keep your ears and your heart open and curious for whatever happens next.
And now, we get to do it again!
Here’s the thing I keep thinking about after January’s show. People don’t just come to Nutshell to laugh (though we all do, a lot). Nor do they just come to be entertained (though we all absolutely are). People come because sitting in a room together and listening to real stories does something to us that sitting at home scrolling never will.
It reminds us we belong to each other.
Which is . . . a perfect segue into February.
Here’s what’s happening in the In a Nutshell universe this month:
🎤 In a Nutshell Storytelling—Friday, Feb 27
The People Who Made Us is an evening of true, personal storytelling about family in all its complicated, emotional, funny, painful, beautiful forms.
Some of these stories are warm. Some are tender. Some are heavy. All of them are deeply personal, and yet you will catch glimpses of yourself in each and every one. That’s the magic of live storytelling.
Featuring:
Meghna Bhat · JP Frary · Brian Copeland · Joe Klocek
💜 Full February show details, storytellers, and tickets: click here
🎲 WILDCARD! is Thursday, Feb 19!
Our welcoming and wildly fun open mic storytelling night at Old Soul | The Alley.
This month we’ll have two featured storytellers alongside the NOT HAT, and if you’ve been thinking about telling a story yourself . . . this is the place.
❗ Wildcard details: click here
🎧 The Nutshell True Story Hour (formerly Prompt)
On February 4, our last episode under the name Prompt drops. After that, the podcast will forevermore be The Nutshell True Story Hour! Yay!!!
Same podcast. New name. Entirely free starting this year and full of incredible true stories from our live shows and conversations with the tellers about the craft behind them.
If you love storytelling, this thing is a goldmine.
Feb 4: Diane Amos, THEE Pine-Sol Lady!
Feb 18: Corey Rosen of The Moth fame!
🎁 Can’t wait? Listen to back episodes here: click here
Look. I know it’s easy to stay home. I know it’s easy to say “next month.” Trust me, I’m living life as an incredibly anxious person who used to be afraid to leave the house. Past Amy thought she was a lone wolf on the good days and a monster on the bad ones. But it turns out I’m just . . . I don’t know . . .human?
And so are you. So why not go ahead and come on out and be a flawed, silly human with me and everyone else?
I promise you: it’ll be the kind of night that makes you glad you put on pants and came out into the world.
If you’ve been before, you already know exactly what I mean. (HI, KEITH!)
We can’t wait to see you in real life again. Until we do, keep telling your stories to each other.
xoxo,
Amy Bee
(and her story goblins, Keith & Aaron)
A little Nutshell extra:
Starting in January, we began printing a monthly program—more keepsake than flyer. It’s a way to spotlight the storytellers, give you something to take home, and acknowledge the local folks who help keep rooms like the one we have at The Sofia full.
If you (or a business you love) might be interested in sponsoring the printing costs for our new programs this year, we’d love to talk. You can learn more here:
Program sponsorship details: click here
And as always: showing up, listening, and bringing friends is already real support💜
Our Ride or Dies:
“What if an umbrella could double as a STOP sign?” That question became a movement to help pedestrians stand out, feel seen, and cross with confidence. The STOP Umbrella is more than just an umbrella; it’s a collapsible STOP sign designed for real life. Curious to find out more? Go to STOP Umbrella and check it out! And thanks for being our Ride or Die!
Looking for things to do in Sacramento?
Sacramento365 is your year-round resource for arts and entertainment in Sacramento County. From festivals and music to theatre and holiday events, you’ll always find something new to do in Sacramento. Visit Sacramento 365 to learn more. And thanks for being our Ride or Die!
Join the best storytelling ambassador we know, John Aubert, at LogOff Brewing for Capital Storytelling’s monthly in-person true storytelling open mic event, Do Tell! At this gathering, you’ll hear true personal stories told by regular folks just like you. In fact, he invites YOU, and anyone else who is interested, to put their name in his AWESOME GIANT HAT for a chance to tell a story.
(You’re receiving this email because you either signed up for it or interacted somehow with Keith, Amy, or Aaron in the past. We’re so glad you’re here!)
Really love how this captures the power of phyiscal gatherings over endless scrolling. The idea that "sitting in a room togther and listening to real stories does something to us that sitting at home scrolling never will" really cuts to the core of why live events still matter. I've found that hearing someones vulnerability in person creates this weird permission to be real too.