Just south of the Deer District, the storied Turner Hall stands in High Victorian style. It is a massive brick link to Milwaukee’s German past, filled with old wood, murals and stained glass. Through the heavy doors, up the steps and in front of Turning Tables Tavern’s big bar, a greeter points right. In the high-ceilinged room, Ex Fabula volunteers are setting the stage for the final competitive StorySlam of 2023.
The room is impossibly bright, as if the sun has decided, before setting, to turn the room and everyone inside into gold! It’s another full house. Chairs are being slid and shifted to accommodate the crowd. A few minutes past 7PM co-hosts Elaine Maly and Laura Nicolaisen welcome everyone and remind us of the evening’s theme; It’s About Time!
The evening began with a story about time both standing still and racing forward. Dennis Oulahan recalled his daughter Maggie’s 8th grade completion ceremony when he and his wife were brought to tears hearing a solo voice that opened the choir’s program. It was their daughter. She’d practiced in private so the performance would be a surprise. Thinking back, Dennis reflected on the joy and concern he felt as a parent and marvels watching his daughter’s daughter playing school and preparing for the day when she’ll start that journey.
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The second storyteller of the evening was a two-fer. Joel Dresang and Peter May took the stage together to talk about bow ties. Joel and Peter had different feelings about how the ties looked and felt, but their narratives converged with the untying. Joel called it “pulling your own ripcord.” For him, the unfurling represented removing the disguise and appreciating the fact that though the tie might have gotten him to the dance floor, he was the one who was doing the twist.
Peter’s story involved trading one disguise for another; following the flow of a party from the buttoned-up early evening formality of a tuxedo to the after-hours, hair down, “secret agenty” look of the loosened bow tie, the look that says, “I’ve got good manners and a license to kill.” He still likes his martinis shaken, not stirred!
Tom Kertscher’s story took us back to when he was just out of college and looking for love. A video dating service matched him with Patty. After just one date, Tom was astonished to find out that when Patty learned her schedule wouldn’t allow her to chaperone an annual student history tour to Europe, she recommended him to take her place! Then, when Tom found out they needed another chaperone, he recommended his best buddy.
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Bottom line, Tom and his friend spent twenty-five days escorting teenagers across the continent from Russia to England. Thirty years later, memories of that life-changing summer are still strong. When he thought of telling this story, he felt compelled to contact Patty and again express his gratitude. Sadly, a quick search revealed Patty had passed away. Though he missed the opportunity to thank her in person, Tom expressed his appreciation to her in front of his Ex Fabula audience.
Alondra Garcia was just a child when her family left Mexico and arrived in Milwaukee with nothing but hope. Her voice cracked as she fought back tears and talked of the sacrifices her parents made working long hours at several jobs. That work ethic and drive to succeed rubbed off. Alondra earned her way into college but even with scholarships, she had to work three part-time jobs in addition to her schoolwork!
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But, she did it. When Alondra shared that she graduated with a degree in Elementary Education, the audience roared!
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However, her struggles didn’t end with graduation. Because she was a child when brought to America, she was eligible to register for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). She was able to buy into the American Dream but … only in a limited way. She lives in a kind of legal limbo, reregistering every two years, buffeted by political winds; an American who supports a family, serves the community, pays taxes but isn’t allowed to vote.
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Alondra’s message? It’s about time we recognized the value and importance of immigrants and allowed Dreamers to live without limits!
Meaghan Heinrich, like Alondra before her, is a proud MPS educator. Meaghan teaches music. Her story involved one harrowing afternoon concert as a member of the West Virginia Youth Symphony! In 1993, at age thirteen, Meaghan was an oboe player in that orchestra. She was excited when the woodwind section was tapped to perform as a quintet at a Sunday symphony concert in the capital, Charleston. She and her music teacher make the hour-long drive to the city, where Meaghan discovers she’s left the music for the special presentation back home in her bedroom. The conductor rearranges the program to give her time to recover, but her parents have already left for the concert, and her teacher can’t find a copy of the music locally.
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The only solution is a logistical tour de force. Her music teacher’s husband performed a daring daylight breaking & entering at Meaghan’s home, avoided being arrested, grabbed the music, drove to Kinko’s, faxed the music to the Charleston Kinko’s where her father was waiting to drive it to the concert hall. Against all odds, the plan works and she triumphantly performs with her Woodwind Quintet!
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Not too long ago, karma came to call. One of Meaghan’s own students forgot his sheet music but, in the age of cell phones, his mother was able to take a picture and text it. In ten seconds the problem was solved!
It’s about time … and technology.
Ash Radonski then took the stage and told a story of time and perception. Hanging out at the first Pridefest after COVID, they were thrilled to see some friendly old faces and meet some friendly new faces. At some point, Ash was offered some delicious peanut butter and chocolate candy that concealed a secret – THC. In the past, Ash thought, “Puff, puff, pass. Cannabis ain’t no thing!,” and didn’t think twice about eating the entire brownie-sized bar. As the evening progressed, they were surprised to start “feeling something” but that “something” wasn’t intense enough to prompt second thoughts about driving home. No, those materialized on the approach to the Hoan Bridge!
Though it’s just under two miles in length, Ash reports that evening it took forever and ever and ever and ever to cross. Once safely home and out from behind the wheel, munchies led to the complete devastation of a pumpkin pie and their pledge to NEVER do that again; the driving high, not the pumpkin pie.
The final teller was Sarah Janicek, who began by saying, “I’m a lesbian.” She went on to say how deeply in love she is with her partner, now her wife. One evening Sara noticed a worrying lump on her girl friend’s neck and suggested getting it checked right away. But later, at the urgent care clinic they were told it’s nothing to worry about. Sara didn’t buy it. She summoned her mother, a registered nurse, and asked her opinion. Mom agreed with Sara and instructed them to head straight to an emergency room.
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In the ER Sara tells doctors and nurses that she’s quite sure her partner’s neck needs attention. But again, the staff is dismissive. Sara was not going to let this go. This time she calls her mom from the hospital. Sara gives her mom their room number and mom says, “Wait there.” Within what seems like seconds Sara’s mom has crossed town and arrives ready to do battle. Sara’s mom talks to the nurses and doctors and insists they take another look.
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They do, although Sara feels like now they’re getting some odd looks. Alone in the room again, Mom asks Sara if she’d revealed her and her partner’s relationship to the medical staff. Sara says yes, of course. Whoops! Apparently, unsure they’d revealed they were a loving couple, Sara’s mom explained Sara’s affection and concern by telling the staff they were cousins.
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Sara was very embarrassed but now understood the funny looks!
As the evening’s votes were being counted Ex Fabula’s executive director Megan McGee took to the stage and made a very personal plea for public support of schools and arts funding in Wisconsin. Megan is optimistic that enough people will contact their representatives often enough and loudly enough that our cries for change will finally be heard.
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A few final notes. First, you might notice this blog was written by Peter May. You might also notice that one of the storytellers was a guy named Peter May. Yep, same guy. Me.
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Unless I’m mistaken, with the exceptions of Ash, Joel and I, every teller who took the stage Thursday evening was a newbie – a first time teller. That is so gratifying because I truly believe that we all have stories to tell and telling stories – being heard, appreciated, understood and encouraged – is how Ex Fabula has been connecting community through the art of true, personal storytelling for fourteen years!
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Now, I’ll admit, there is some terror involved in stepping on stage, but that terror is replaced by personal satisfaction and self-confidence once your story has been shared. So do it. Be the next newbie! Share your story!
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Another note, as anyone who attended the event would agree, the deaf interpreters who assist at Ex Fabula events are amazing people who have developed astounding language skills! The brightness, understanding, and emotion they were able to bring to the interpretation of the stories certainly wowed the crowd. Well done!
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Finally, congratulations to Meaghan Heinrich who, when the votes were tallied, won the evening’s StorySlam. We’ll all look forward to hearing her at the All Star event May 11th at the Cooperage. I’m sure she’ll have an entertaining take of the evening’s theme “Forbidden Fruit.” Get your tickets here.