|
|
By Bill Zarchy, on July 6th, 2020 
Then there was the time I said to Brent, “I’ll meet you on the street as soon as I grab my fanny pack,” and the Kiwis on our crew all laughed and snickered and guffawed.
In case you missed the live event, here’s the video of my story, “New Zealand: Living a Lie at Mrs. O’Brien’s,” as told during the public showcase of my Storytelling class with Joel ben Izzy last Wednesday.
Storytelling in the oral tradition. This was my first time telling on Zoom to a virtual audience, except for previous class exercises.
Closed captions available. Just click on CC near the bottom of the player below.
The written version of this story was originally published in Film/Tape World, then included in my memoir, Showdown at Shinagawa: Tales of Filming from Bombay to Brazil, which is available in both paperback and Kindle editions.
. . . CONTINUE READING: Video: Telling ‘Living a Lie’ on Zoom
By Bill Zarchy, on March 15th, 2020 
Stay home.
Stay safe.
Stay healthy.
If you already bought a ticket, I’ll be in touch about your refund. . . . CONTINUE READING: Postponed until the Fall—BILLY SOLO 2020: Tales of Travel
By Bill Zarchy, on March 3rd, 2020 
Tickets On Sale Now — BILLY SOLO 2020 Tales of Travel
All-New, One-Hour Storytelling Soirée Salon with BILL ZARCHY
FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2020 from 7 to 8:30 pm / Doors open at 6:45.
SILK ROAD HOUSE, 1944 University Avenue #107, Berkeley CA 94704 (6-minute walk from Downtown Berkeley BART Station)
SUGGESTED DONATION: $10 Refreshments will be served! No one turned away for lack of funds. . . . CONTINUE READING: BILLY SOLO 2020 — Tickets On Sale Now
By Bill Zarchy, on February 4th, 2020 
I found out later that Spicy Jew’s Ear was a type of mushroomy fungus, but it still didn’t sound like something that I wanted to eat.
Here’s the video from my telling “Shanghai Lunch” at Tell It On Tuesday at The Marsh in Berkeley on January 28th. Storytelling in the oral tradition. No notes, no text.
Closed captions available. . . . CONTINUE READING: Video: Telling ‘Shanghai Lunch’
By Bill Zarchy, on January 25th, 2020 
In just a few days …
this Tuesday, January 28th …
I’ll be telling a new story — “Shanghai Lunch” — at TELL IT ON TUESDAY, the monthly storytelling event at The Marsh in Berkeley.
I am also performing at LUNCHTIME STORYTELLING at Stagebridge in Oakland on February 20th.
. . . CONTINUE READING: I’ll Be Telling This Tuesday in Berkeley
By Bill Zarchy, on May 18th, 2019 
We tried to make sense of what we had seen. We compared notes. We realized that we would probably never find out anything more about what had happened, and why and how.
In case you missed any of the live shows (or you’re dying to see it again!), here’s the video of my story, “Mysteries of Travel,” from the Monday Night Marsh event at The Marsh in San Francisco on April 29th. Storytelling in the oral tradition. No notes, no text.
Closed captions available. Just click on CC near the bottom of the player.
. . . CONTINUE READING: Video: Telling ‘Mysteries of Travel’
By Bill Zarchy, on April 9th, 2019 
‘Mysteries of Travel’
‘The Great Debate’
‘The Elevator in Rome’
I’ll be telling some new stories at three gigs this month in San Francisco and Oakland. Storytelling in the oral tradition. No notes, no text. Hope you can make it! The Marsh venue is easily accessible on BART (or park nearby). And the Stagebridge telling is free.
MONDAY NIGHT MARSH on April 15th and April 29th at The Marsh in San Francisco.
LUNCHTIME STORYTELLING on April 18th at Stagebridge in Oakland. . . . CONTINUE READING: My April Storytelling Gigs
By Bill Zarchy, on March 17th, 2019 
She looked at me, wide-eyed, with a big smile.
I knew that getting stuck in an elevator was one of her worst fears.
In case you missed the live show (or can’t wait to see it again!), here’s the video of my story, “The Elevator in Rome,” from Tell It On Tuesday at The Marsh in Berkeley last month. Storytelling in the oral tradition. No notes, no text.
Closed captions available. Just click on CC near the bottom of the player.
. . . CONTINUE READING: Video: Telling ‘The Elevator in Rome’
By Bill Zarchy, on July 25th, 2018 
I gave a talk on Storytelling at my 50th Dartmouth College Reunion last month. Following is the text of my ten-minute introduction. If you want to see the whole, one-hour presentation, including video clips and stories, click on the video player below. Closed Captions (CC) available.
I never wanted to be a performer … until I discovered storytelling.
About two-and-a-half years ago, a friend of mine had a gig playing classical guitar at The Marsh, a club in Berkeley that was hosting a monthly storytelling night called Tell It On Tuesday. She urged me to come along. After she finished playing, five people, all roughly my age, stood up in turn and told stories. . . . CONTINUE READING: A Storytelling Journey
By Bill Zarchy, on April 25th, 2018 
One-Man Solo Storytelling Soirée Salon
4/20/18 at Silk Road House, Berkeley, California
I guess gratuitous self-promotion pays off, eh? Every single chair was in use. I was so pleased with the turnout and the enthusiasm of the audience, even if most of them were friends!
They laughed a lot, usually at appropriate moments, and applauded each story. What fun!
Part 2 includes these stories:
- “FDR: Fear Itself”
- “Evelyn’s Story: Alex and the Cole Porter Show”
- “Mendocino: The Essence of Nature”
- “Snow Story: The Moon and Dr. Zhivago”
. . . CONTINUE READING: BILLY SOLO Video — Part 2
By Bill Zarchy, on April 25th, 2018 
One-Man Solo Storytelling Soirée Salon
4/20/18 at Silk Road House, Berkeley, California
My solo storytelling show last Friday was amazing, a real peak experience!
What a fun evening! I had a terrific time and feel wonderful about having challenged myself like that. I did eight stories, about 75-80 minutes of material in all.
The place was packed. About 48 people in a medium-smallish room.
Part 1 includes these stories:
- “Anansi”
- “Dog Years: Pop, Sophie, and the West Wing”
- “The Seven Lies”
- “Chartres: Ecstasy at the Altar”
. . . CONTINUE READING: BILLY SOLO Video — Part 1
By Bill Zarchy, on April 4th, 2018 
Friday, April 20th at 7 pm
Silk Road House, 1944 University Avenue #107, Berkeley (6-minute walk from Downtown Berkeley BART)
Tickets are ON SALE NOW: http://bit.ly/billysolo
OR Go to zarchy.eventbrite.com . . . CONTINUE READING: BILLY SOLO: One-man, One-hour Storytelling Soirée Salon with BILL ZARCHY
By Bill Zarchy, on January 19th, 2018 
(Loosely inspired by a tall and nearly true tale)
Jake rushed through the door—sweaty and disheveled—to find Al playing solitaire in the main lodge.
“Al! I just had a moose encounter,” said Jake. “Up on Bacon Ridge. It was pretty great, dude. Wait’ll I tell the guys at home about this.”
“Was it sweet and chocolatey?”
“No, dipshit! Not that kind of moose, with a U! Moose with two O’s, like Bullwinkle. Huge, with antlers. I just saw one.”
“Tell me.”
“I grabbed my camera, hiked to the top, then took a few snaps, looking down at the ranch in the fall foliage. It was right purdy, pardner.” . . . CONTINUE READING: Moose Encounter
By Bill Zarchy, on March 19th, 2017 
About two years ago, I went to a storytelling event at The Marsh in Berkeley and watched six people tell six very different stories. Some personal, some historical, all about 10-15 minutes long.
My first reaction: I can do that.
Little did I know.
The tellers were all from Stagebridge, a Senior Theatre Company housed in an old church in Oakland, so I started taking storytelling classes there. Stagebridge also offers courses in acting, directing, singing, dancing, and many other kinds of performance. It’s the only “senior” thing I’ve ever done. But close friends, both recently retired psychologists, have found new passions in performance at Stagebridge, and, so I dove in.
. . . CONTINUE READING: A Writer’s Debut As a Storyteller
|
Written, Designed and Produced by Bill Zarchy -