Short Story Theatre to Host Evening of Storytelling at The Alley in Highwood

Short Story Theatre presents an evening of storytelling with true stories from Mary Lou Gilliam, Ron Levitsky, Scott Woldman and more. The show, produced by Rick Leslie and Donna Lubow, begins at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 1, at The Alley, 210 Green Bay Road in Highwood. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door (cash only).

Mary Lou Gilliam of Deerfield shares her story "Over Fences," in which a standoff occurs between two mothers protecting their children. In his story, "Mentor," Ron Levitsky (Lake Forest) reveals what happens when an admired teacher crosses the line. Scott Woldman tells a true story about how his single mother repeatedly fell for the worst men. For more information, contact donna@shortstorytheatre.com.

Short Story Theatre was founded in 2012 by Donna Lubow of Riverwoods and Rick Leslie and Susan Block of Highland Park and is dedicated to promoting storytelling as a vibrant, contemporary art form. Co-founder 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." For story submissions, contact rick@shortstorytheatre.com. Guidelines for submission are on the website: www.shortstorytheatre.com

Mary Lou Gilliam was an English teacher for nearly three decades, using music and drama to engage her students. Besides musical comedy and the church choir, she has been a wedding soloist for many years. Her writing credits include nationally distributed educational materials, user guides, and magazine articles.

Ron Levitsky is a retired educator who currently serves as Trustee for West Deerfield Township and hosts a public access TV show, "Friends of Ron." In addition, Ron has published four mystery novels and several short stories, four of which have been anthologized.

Scott Woldman has performed as an actor, performance poet, storyteller and comedian for over 15 years in venues across the United States. He is a Resident Playwright at Chicago Dramatists, Redtwist Theatre, and the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre. Most recently, Scott's drama Beaten was produced at The Artistic Home and several of his late-night comedies- including Dates From Hell, Drunk and Ready, and Men Exposed-were produced at Redtwist Theatre as part of their Luv Cycle.

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