BAR HARBOR — An island-wide live storytelling competition around the theme “Dark & Stormy” will kick off with a preliminary contest this Friday, Sept. 16, at the Lompoc Cafe in Bar Harbor at 10 p.m.
The kickoff will be followed by a contest at Coda Restaurant in Southwest Harbor on Monday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. and one at the Asticou Inn in Northeast Harbor on Wednesday, Sept. 28, at 7 p.m.
The story slam is modeled after the popular podcast and live event program “The Moth.” Storytellers have six minutes to tell a true story in front of a community audience and panel of judges. The “dark & stormy” theme is up for interpretation.
Any adult may enter at one of the three preliminary events with a $5 entry fee. A panel of judges will choose winners from each location, who will then move on to the Island Story Slam Championship at The Criterion Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m., where storytellers will compete for a prize valued at $500.
The event is being organized and sponsored by representatives of Anchorspace, Jack Russell’s Steak House, Jesup Memorial Library and the Criterion Theatre.
“I’m a middle child and a former bartender, so there’s nothing I love more than getting people together and hearing a good story,” said Nina St. Germain, co-host of the “My Desert Island Podcast” and owner of Jack Russell’s Steak House. “I love the concept of our towns doing something fun together.”
The Island Story Slam: Dark & Stormy Kids Edition will be held at the Jesup Memorial Library on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 1 p.m. Selected winners will open the championship at the Criterion.
Visit www.criteriontheatre.org, follow “Criterion Theatre” on Facebook or email Kristin Leffler at kristin@criteriontheatre.org.
