Short Story Theatre Presents True Stories About Funny Parents, Modeling, and More

Short Story Theatre presents an evening of warm, wise and wonderful true stories on Thursday, May 11, at 7:30 p.m. at Miramar Bistro, 301 Waukegan Ave. in Highwood. Tickets are $10 at the door. For pre-show dinner reservations (mention Short Story Theatre): 847-433-1078. Drinks are available during the show.

Judith MK Kaufman of Highland Park, editor of East on Central, returns with another story of what it was like growing up with two inadvertently funny parents. Her story: "Caught Laughing: More Esther and Bernie Stories."

Jennifer Dotson, founder of Highland Park Poetry, shares her story "Scentsitive," about one of her earlier jobs as a fragrance model in a department store.

Bruce Bertucci, also a Highland Park resident, former owner of Bertucci's Italian Steakhouse, now a blogger, tells a story about how he shot a puck at a Chicago Blackhawks hockey game.

In her story "One Mile at a Time" Deerfield resident Susie Perkowitz reminisces about how she hated running, but strangely entered an ultra marathon.

Highland Parker Bonnie Shay wonders if she'll ever meet Mr. Wonderful in her story "On the Street Where I Live."

Short Story Theatre was founded in 2012 and is dedicated to promoting storytelling as a vibrant, contemporary art form. Producer Donna Lubow says, "Stories are creative non-fiction, based on personal experiences. Our troupe of more than twenty members from Chicago and the northern suburbs melds writing skills and performance skills to entertain and inspire audiences."

Short Story Theatre is always on the lookout for new storytellers. For story submissions, contactdonna@shortstorytheatre.com. Guidelines for submission are on the website: www.shortstorytheatre.com.

BIOS OF PERFORMERS:

(in alphabetical order)

Bruce Bertucci was born and raised in Highland Park. His family comes from Pieve Pelago in the province of Modena, Italy. Grandfather Bertucci came to Highwood in 1907. Bruce attended Highland Park High School and Miami-Dade JC. He was the owner of Rainbows Bar and Grill and along with wife Lynne, Bertucci's Italian Steakhouse in Highwood. Now in semi-retirement, Bruce writes the weekly blog "The Bruce Report."

Jennifer Dotson earned her MFA in drama from the University of Virginia and followed the siren song of Chicago's vibrant storefront theater scene shortly after. Since then she has focused her creative energy into poetry. Her book, Clever Gretel, received the Journal of Modern Poetry First Book Award and was published by Chicago Poetry Press in 2013. She is the founder and program coordinator for Highland Park Poetry, now celebrating its 10th year.

Judith MK Kaufman is the Editor-in-Chief of East on Central, now in its 15th year. Judith's poetry has been published in literary journals, including Poetica and The Journal of Modern Poetry. "Caught Laughing: the Esther and Bernie Story" is a collection of flash memoir, stories which Judith has been telling throughout her life about growing up the daughter of two warm, wonderful, and inadvertently funny New Yorkers. She intends to publish her memoir soon.

Susie Perkowitz is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago with degrees in Communications and Theatre. Most recently she appeared in Improv Playhouse/GreenStick Theater Company's production of A Christmas Carol. Currently she narrates Cozy Corner Podcast, a guided relaxation and bedtime story for children, but in a previous life she worked for Clear Channel Communications Chicago. Susie enjoys singing, writing, painting, guitar and doing improv. She is also a Toastmaster and an outdoor enthusiast on a mission to visit all of our national parks.

Bonnie Hillman Shay was gifted with the "organizing" gene, which inspired her to establish her own Professional Organizing business in 2007. Bonnie creates order out of disorder, specializing in residential organizing, email management, and photo organizing (printed and digital.) Bonnie feels blessed to have found her calling, allowing her to perform "magic" for her clients. As a Photo Organizer, Bonnie helps her clients tell their story through photos and other media, so she is now thrilled and honored to organize her own words to share her stories. Bonnie wrote a book "Take Charge of Your Email Inbox." She admits it doesn't have much of a plot or character development, but does provide great tips and techniques for managing an overflowing email inbox.