2nd Story

Revelations come in all shapes and sizes, from the slightly perplexing to the massively world-changing. This week, the 2nd Story Podcast explores four stories of those transformative and defining revelatory moments. From a woman trying to keep her New Years ...

Hopping from school to school, Denise struggles to understand her teachers and connect to her lessons, until she runs into an english teacher who shows her the spell-binding power that literature can hold. Denise Santina Ruiz is a Chicago-born poet ...

A sweaty concert proves the impetus for a life-changing epiphany, as Nick stumbles through the ups and downs of love in his early 20’s. Nick Ward has been a 2nd Story Company Member since 2007, and acts as an indispensable ...

Fantasies of revenge are all that are left for Kim and her bike-messenger family, as they fight to put the pieces back together.

He may have been done with the Chicago theatre scene, but Andy wasn’t done chasing glory. That could be why he didn’t say “no” when he stumbled on the strangest, most unlikely of career opportunities, and became the astrology columnist ...

Because nobody escapes 7th Grade gym class unscathed. Nobody. Jen Bosworth is a staple in the Chicago Theatre and Literary communities. You can find more information about her upcoming NYIFF show at her website, www.adamnnicelady.com

Pride can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. This June, 2nd Story explores what it means to be proud, to own who you are and who you want to be. This 2nd Story Pridecast brings together ...

When the hottest man in the bar invites Kareem over for a nightcap, how could he possibly say no? Kareem is a renowned writer and performer, currently pursuing his PhD in Philosophy at Northwestern University, where his work focuses on ...

Therapy sessions are supposed to be private, right? What happens when an uninvited eavesdropper enters into Sarah’s sacred psychotic space? Sarah Zematis has performed with 2nd Story for many years, in addition to performing in Listen To Your Mother at ...

When he first met her, Andrew couldn’t believe he’d found someone like Allison. After he lost her, all he wanted was to stop trying to find her again. Company Member Andrew Reilly’s work has appeared in The Angler, Concisely, The A.V. ...

Ina has been a Chicago inspiration for years, serving the city and listening to the stories of the town at Ina’s Kitchen. One night, Ina stumbles upon an opportunity to say thank you to the woman who inspired her, completing ...

The time has arrived. The time for the dreaded “sex talk.” But what happens when the talk amounts to only a handful of words? One daughter and her mother struggle to communicate, as Cyn realizes that growing into a young ...

Originally from Kent, Ohio, Matt is a Chicago based stage director, teacher, and long-suffering Indians fan. His stories have been heard at The Moth (Story Slam Winner, February 2010), Essay Fiesta, Write Club!, and 2nd Story where he is an ...

Robyn and Jim have been married for three days, but it feels like three hundred years already. How will they push through the post-proposal blues?   Robyn Okrant is an actress and author who teaches both writing and yoga. She ...

Our third long-form podcast episode is HERE! Featuring stories by: Jane DeLaubenfels, Nadine C. Warner, and Eric Hazen. Read more about this podcast in our blog.