Tag: michele carlo

“Before & After” Part 1: Calvin S. Cato and Michele Carlo (Episode 79)

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Our spring “Before & After” show was our second time performing at the beautiful  Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre at Symphony Space on March 13, 2025, but it was our very first student matinee! 

Our storytellers and our special guest host, Najah Imani Muhammad, who are all No, YOU Tell It! alums, illustrated the power of storytelling for a theater full of high school juniors from Global Learning Collaborative and Talent Unlimited High School to help inspire the personal stories they want to tell in their college application essays.

Story siblings Calvin S. Cato and Michele Carlo. Photo credit: Russ Rowland

Give a listen to part one of our show, where Calvin S. Cato and Michele Carlo become story siblings by stepping into each other’s true tales about the best-laid plans and unforeseen accidents that send our lives in new directions. 

Thank you to NYSCA-A.R.T./New York Creative Opportunity Fund (A Statewide Theatre Regrant Program) for helping us make our first-ever student matinee a reality. Here’s to what we hope is the first of many!

Podcast narrated by Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons.

Stories

  • “Don’t Quit Your Day Job,” by Calvin S. Cato, performed by Michele Carlo, and directed by Tim Lindner
  • “The Accident,” by Michele Carlo, performed by Calvin S. Cato, and directed by Tim Lindner.

Bios

Named one of Time Out New York’s LGBTQ Comics of Color to Watch Out For, Calvin S. Cato has dazzled audiences around the world. His on-air and radio appearances include Oxygen, Netflix, Sirius XM, RISK!, WIRED Magazine, and an unaired pilot for Vice Media called Emergency Black Meeting. His comedy has been featured in numerous festivals and events, including the New York Comedy Festival, San Francisco Sketchfest, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Gotham Storytelling Festival, Brooklyn Pride, and FlameCon. In early 2021, Calvin was published in Kweendom, an anthology of essays by queer comedians and entertainers. In 2022, Calvin concluded a three-month run hosting a daily talk show on RushTix.com.

Michele Carlo is a writer, storyteller, sometimes actor, and the author of the NYC-set memoir Fish Out of Agua: My Life on Neither Side of the Subway Tracks (Citadel/Kensington). She has appeared on podcasts, festivals, and stages across the U.S., on NPR, and the WGBH-PBS television series Stories from the Stage. For bookings and more info, go to: www.michelecarlo.com 

April 18, 2025 Post Comment Podcast Tags: , , ,

Meet Our “Before & After” Storytellers

Our first story meeting for our first student matinee is tonight! But FIRST, meet our “Before & After” alum storytellers.

These four storytellers participated in four different NYTI shows over the past decade. They are meeting tonight to help each other develop their true tales inspired by the theme “Before & After” on the page.

On March 13, they will swap stories on stage for students and faculty from Global Learning Collaborative High School.

Meet our NYTI alums!

We’re excited to build our creative community by having alum storytellers return and trade tales with a new story partner!

These matinees for students working on their college essays are a dynamic example of how the No, YOU Tell It! collaborative process makes writing and performing personal narratives accessible, empathetic, and transformative.

We hope to do more student shows and are raising $2500 in March to make that happen.

If 50 people donate $50, we’ll reach our goal! Want to be one?

Donate $50 here via our fiscal sponsor, The Field, to get the ball rolling.

Want to see this special show at Symphony Space at 1 pm on March 13? Email noyoutellit@gmail.com for a ticket!

February 26, 2025 1 comment Live Shows Tags: , , , ,

WORD Anthology Event!

In two weeks, join us on 4/20 at WORD Brooklyn to celebrate our 10-Year Anthology. Producers Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons and Erika Iverson will provide behind-the-scenes insights on creating a new kind of nonfiction series.

Hear anthology selections from Brooklyn contributors Michele Carlo and Alexandra Gray.

Plus, generate and trade your own tiny true tale! More info and RSVP here.

April 6, 2023 Post Comment News Tags: , , , ,

Episode 63 – What I Know (Part 2)

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This first story takes us on the painful and isolating journey of struggling with stubborn fibroids. Kicking off the second half of our “What I Know” show, our storyteller must find the strength to physically and mentally overcome the enemy inside. Click here to watch a live stream of the show via YouTube.

Here’s “Knowing is Half the Battle,” written by Sheria Mattis and performed by Michele Carlo.

What better way to celebrate Women’s History Month and 10 years of No, YOU Tell It! than this stellar storyteller swap introduced by their director Erika Iverson.

Story partners: Michele Carlo and Sheria Mattis

Switching it up, our final storyteller reflects on her youthful battle to control her hair in an attempt to redefine her identity.

“Viva La Curlvolution!” was written by Michele Carlo, performed here by Sheria Mattis.

The first in-person show of our 10-year anniversary season took place at Culture Lab, LIC, in Queens on March 7th, 2022.

March 29, 2022 Post Comment Podcast Tags: , , , ,

“What I Know” Program

Mar 07 2022 @ 7:00PM

No, YOU Tell It! “What I Know” is tonight. Come out to hear these stellar stories that the tellers have been working so hard on performed at Culture Lab, LIC!

  • Show starts at 7, doors open at 6:30, proof of vaccination is required.
  • $15 suggested donation cash at the door; CLICK HERE to donate online.

Take a look at our “What I Know” storytellers who are trading true tales.

TL: Julia Granacki; TR: Sheria Mattis; BL: Hannah Leland; BR: Michele Carlo

Tonight’s Stories!

No One Told Me written by Julia Granacki, performed by Hannah Leland, and directed by Marcos Stafne

Finally Arriving written by Hannah Leland, performed by Julia Granacki, and directed by Marcos Stafne

Knowing is Half the Battle written by Sheria Mattis, performed by Michele Carlo, and directed by Erika Iverson

Viva La Curlvolution! written by Michele Carlo, performed by Sheria Mattis, and directed by Erika Iverson

Listen carefully because there will be story trivia after the show! Special shoutout to Timothy Lindner of Revisionary Writing and Editing, LLC for all the social media and show support.

On a personal note, we are thrilled to be back at Culture Lab, LIC for a LIVE show and our very first LIVESTREAMED No, YOU Tell It!

What an amazing way to celebrate 10 years of switching stories to embody each other’s experiences!

Want to support 10 more years? Here are 3 great ways:

  1. SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter for updates.
  2. SHARE the No, YOU Tell It! Podcast far and wide. Available on our website and your fav podcasting platforms.
  3. DONATE through our fiscal sponsor The Field. Plus, it’s tax-deductible.

Thank you!
Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons

 

Event Information

Mar 07 2022 @ 7:00PM

Culture Lab LIC, (5-25 46th Avenue, Long Island City, New York, NY 11101)

March 7, 2022 Post Comment Live Shows Tags: , , , , ,

Meet “What I Know” Storyteller Michele Carlo

Mar 07 2022 @ 7:00PM

Rehearsals start this weekend for our “What I Know” show. We can’t wait for you to hear these story swaps at Culture Lab, LIC on Monday!

First, meet our final storyteller, Michele Carlo.

Photo credit: Mindy Tucker

Michele Carlo has told stories across the U.S., including the Moth’s Mainstage in NYC, RISK!’s live shows and podcast, on NPR and the WGBH-PBS series “Stories from the Stage.” She is also an actor, podcast host and author of the NYC-set memoir “Fish Out Of Agua.” www.michelecarlo.com

Event Information

Mar 07 2022 @ 7:00PM

Culture Lab LIC, (5-25 46th Avenue, Long Island City, New York, NY 11101)

March 4, 2022 Post Comment Live Shows Tags: , , ,

Up Next: “What I Know” Show

Save the date for No, YOU Tell It! “What I Know” on Monday, March 7th at Culture Lab, LIC.

In celebration of women’s history month, four women storytellers have worked together to develop true tales inspired by the theme “What I Know” on the page. Come watch as they swap and step into each other’s life experiences on stage. Plus, play story trivia for the chance to win fun literary prizes.
February 8, 2022 Post Comment News Tags: , , , ,