Tag: Coming and Going

Happy New Year!

Like so many, 2020 was not what we expected. We were rehearsing for our first show at Sunnyside Plays and looking forward to an in-person Lambda Literary story swap when COVID-19 cases exploded in NYC back in March. Our future quickly became uncertain and we weren’t sure if we’d be swapping stories ever again.

Despite technical difficulties, a different genre of performance, and a huge learning curve, we were pleased to deliver two virtual story swaps. We hope listening to the stories provided a needed respite.

Storytelling has both the power to elicit empathy and create connection, and though we couldn’t physically be together we hope both of these things came through the screen. We’re especially grateful to everyone who came out to support the storytellers. And if you missed the shows, check out our podcast!

From top left clockwise: Heather Quinlan, Sokunthary Svay, Gail Thomas, Charlotte Marchant, Nita Noveno, Calvin S. Cato, Nancy Agabian, Nicole Shawan Junior.

Our virtual shows raised nearly $1000 for the Woodside/Sunnyside Community COVID-19 Food Relief Group – You can still donate here: Use the dropdown to indicate Covid 19 Sunnyside/Woodside Food Distribution (or Venmo @KellyJean-Fitzsimmons who will collect and donate).

In the spirit of giving, we appreciate any end-of-year donations you are able to make in support of  No, YOU Tell It! Make your tax-deductible donation directly here or through the DONATE button below – any and all amounts help make shows like “Precious” and “Coming  & Going” possible.

And LASTLY, thanks to all of our partners and elves behind the scenes who helped along the way, including but not limited to: The Brooklyn Book Festival, Lambda Literary, Revisionary Writing and Editing LLC, Astoria Bookshop, Queens Council on the Arts, Amanda Sisk, Noah Diamond, Erika Marit Iverson, Mike Dressel, & Tim Lindner.

Until next time, check in on our podcast where you can listen to any of our past shows on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram @noyoutellit for the latest updates and information on upcoming events in 2021!

Wishing you all the best for a bright new year,
Kelly Jean

December 29, 2020 Post Comment News Tags: , , , , ,

Look! “Coming & Going” Show Program!

Sep 30 2020 @ 7:30PM

TONIGHT! Join us for our team-up show with Lambda Literary an official Brooklyn Book Festival Bookend Event!

Click here at 7:30 to join directly or “Join a Meeting” on Zoom with the Meeting ID: 976 7999 6439

Take a look at our stellar set of storytellers who will be trading tales on the virtual stage inspired by the theme “Coming & Going.”

For optimal viewing and listening experience, be sure to keep your video off, your mic muted and your non-video participants hidden. See instructions below for how to do this. When ready, verify you are in ‘Speaker View’ and enjoy the readings.
Hiding non-video participants: Click on the ^ symbol near the video icon in the lower-left and navigate to video settings. Verify the box next to Hide non-video participants is checked. 

Tonight’s Stories!

Becoming Someone Else in Florida – written by, Calvin S. Cato, read by Nicole Shawan Junior, and directed by Amanda Sisk

Finding Our Way Back Home – written by Nicole Shawan Junior, read by Calvin S. Cato, and directed by Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons

The Faith of Candy – written by Nancy Agabian, read by Charlotte Marchant, and directed by Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons

Cookie – written by Charlotte Marchant, read by Nancy Agabian, and directed by Amanda Sisk

Put your listening hats on because co-producer Tim Linder of Revisionary Writing and Editing LLC has whipped up some fun story trivia for us. The first ones to put the right answer into the chat will win a $25 gift certificate to The Astoria Bookshop!

$10 suggested donation for tonight’s show to the Woodside/Sunnyside Community Covid-19 Food Relief Group.

Click here to donate directly. When donating use the dropdown to indicate Covid 19 Sunnyside/Woodside Food Distribution (or Venmo @KellyJean-Fitzsimmons who will collect and donate)

Huge thanks to our friends at Lambda Literary, Brooklyn Book Festival, and Queens Council on the Arts!

THIS IS AN OFFICIAL 2020 BROOKLYN BOOK FESTIVAL EVENT
No, YOU Tell It! “Coming & Going” is made possible (in part) by the Queens Council on the Arts with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. 

Event Information

Sep 30 2020 @ 7:30PM

Zoom! Meeting ID: 976 7999 6439

September 30, 2020 1 comment Live Shows Tags: , ,

BKBF Bookend Events Begin Today! Ours is Wed!

Sep 30 2020 @ 7:30PM

Brooklyn Book Festival Bookends kick off today and continue all week with events taking place from dawn, lunchtime and into the night. Full schedule here.

See you on Wednesday for our “Coming & Going” show at 7:30! RSVP via Facebook. 

TL: Nancy Agabian; TR: Charlotte Marchant; BL: Nicole Shawan Junior; BR: Calvin S. Cato

Event Information

Sep 30 2020 @ 7:30PM

Zoom! Meeting ID: 976 7999 6439

September 28, 2020 Post Comment Live Shows Tags: , ,

Meet “Coming & Going” Storyteller Nicole Shawan Junior

Sep 30 2020 @ 7:30PM

Lambda Literary introduced us to our next storyteller.

We are excited to share the love and have you meet Nicole Shawan Junior! Click here to RSVP to our upcoming “Coming & Going” show.

Nicole Shawan Junior (Smith College BA | Pace University MST | Temple University JD) was bred in the bass-heavy beat and scratch of Brooklyn, where the cool of inner-city life barely survived crack cocaine’s burn. She is a black, queer and poverty-born counter-storyteller. Her writing appears or is forthcoming in Lambda Literary’s anthology Emerge, Roxane Gay’s Medium platform Gay Mag, ZORA, The Feminist Wire, SLICE, Color Bloq, CURA: A Literary Magazine of Art and Action, Inkwell Black, Sinister Wisdom, and more. A 2021 Hedgebrook Writer in Residence, Nicole has received fellowships from New York Foundation of the Arts, Esalen, Show Us Your Spines RADAR Productions, and more. She’s an alumna of the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, Tin House Summer Workshop, the Hurston/Wright Foundation’s Writers Week, the Lambda Literary Writer’s Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ Voices, and VONA. Nicole is also the founder of Roots. Wounds. Words. Inc.: A Literary Arts Revolution and the Senior Nonfiction Editor at Raising Mothers: A Literary Magazine. Learn more about Nicole at www.NicoleShawanJunior.com. Follow her on Instagram @NicoleShawanJunior and on Twitter @NicoleShawan

Event Information

Sep 30 2020 @ 7:30PM

Zoom! Meeting ID: 976 7999 6439 Password: storyswap

September 21, 2020 Post Comment Live Shows Tags: , ,

Meet “Coming & Going” Storyteller Calvin S. Cato

Sep 30 2020 @ 7:30PM

How excited are we for our first story meeting tomorrow night! The storytellers are going to virtual meet each other for the first time and work together to develop their true-life tales on the page.

But, FIRST, meet our next storyteller Calvin S. Cato.

Calvin S. Cato has performed all across the United States and has even crossed the border into Canada. His television appearances include the Game Show Network, Oxygen’s My Crazy Love, National Geographic’s Brain Games, and an unaired pilot for Vice Media called Emergency Black Meeting. His comedy has been featured in numerous festivals including San Francisco Sketchfest, Austin’s Out of Bounds Comedy Festival, Brooklyn Pride, and the Women in Comedy Festival. In addition, you may have heard him overshare on many podcasts including Keith and The Girl, Guys We F*cked, RISK!, and Tinder Tales. In 2017, Calvin was named one of Time Out New York’s Queer Comics of Color to Watch Out For.

Event Information

Sep 30 2020 @ 7:30PM

Zoom! Meeting ID: 976 7999 6439 Password: storyswap

September 15, 2020 Post Comment Live Shows Tags: , ,