massmouth
the living art of storytelling in Massachusetts
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Mike Sweeney
- Male
- Somerville, MA
- United States
- Blog Posts (1)
- Discussions
- Events
- Groups
- Photos (3)
- Photo Albums
- Videos (2)
Mike Sweeney's Page
Latest Activity
Mike Sweeney updated an event
Comedy Studio Performance at The Comedy Studio @ The Hong Kong, Cambridge MA
July 22, 2010 from 8pm to 10pm
From stand-up to stories to characters, The Comedy Studio features the brightest and most original comedians from one of America's foremost comedy cities.I've had the pleasure of performing here for the last fifteen years. I hope you'll join me!See More
Mike Sweeney posted a blog postThe Onion Lampoons "This American Life"
This is great; a sly send-up of the star machine that got me into storytelling:http://www.theonion.com/articles/this-american-life-completes-documentation-of-libe,2188/See More
Mike Sweeney's event was featuredComedy Studio Performance at The Comedy Studio @ The Hong Kong, Cambridge MA
June 30, 2010 from 8pm to 10pm
From stand-up to stories to characters, The Comedy Studio features the brightest and most original comedians from one of America's foremost comedy cities.I've had the pleasure of performing here for the last fifteen years. I hope you'll join me!See More
Mike Sweeney posted an eventComedy Studio Performance at The Comedy Studio @ The Hong Kong, Cambridge MA
June 30, 2010 from 8pm to 10pm
From stand-up to stories to characters, The Comedy Studio features the brightest and most original comedians from one of America's foremost comedy cities.I've had the pleasure of performing here for the last fifteen years. I hope you'll join me!See More
Mike Sweeney is attending Norah Dooley's event
Nerdnite SUNDAY edition - storytelling at Middlesex Lounge.
June 27, 2010 from 8pm to 10pm
The next Nerdnite will be a special SUNDAY edition, June 27 (8pm) at Middlesex Lounge. There’s no better way to finish off your weekend than with a little bit o’ nerdery…so we hope you’ll join us nextSunday for some edutainment and beer. As always, DJ Claude Money will provide nerd-appropriate tunes. The lineup:Talk 1:"That’s What She Said: Creating and Using Personal Narratives”by Jessica BitelyHistory is made by the winners, but sometimes the losers have a lot to say. This talk will explain…See More
Mike Sweeney might attend Norah Dooley's event
massmouth StoryWorkShop and Open Mic Series at kennedysmidtown.com
May 10, 2010 at 6:30pm to September 13, 2010 at 9:30pm
How to Tell a Kick Butt 5 minute story.Come and enjoy a 1.5 hour workshop on finding a story from your life experience with coaching and pointers on performance. Storytelling is a whole performance art unto itself.Each workshop is one time/ free standing event and taught by professional teaching artists. The workshops may be different in flavor and perhaps worth taking twice BUT are meant to be a jump start, all-in-one experience. The cost is $20 for each session/workshop and, if you stay for…See More
Daniel Gewertz left a comment for Mike Sweeney"Hi Mike. Great chattying with you, and a wonderful tale the other night. We should talk about the art of editing and shortening someday, in relation to your desire to re-route your tale for commercial and/or radio purposes. Maybe coffee in…"
Mike Sweeney posted a videoPomp And Circumstance
07:03
The first part of "Walk Like The Rest", the story of my last few minutes of high school, trimmed to the bone for the MassMouth Story Slam on January 10th, 2010.
Mike Sweeney is attending Norah Dooley's event
story slam "so embarrassing" at Kennedy's
January 11, 2010 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm
"so embarassing"fourth in a series of 6 slams in 2009-2010 -look here for details on theme and more on slams...http://massmouth.ning.com/forum/topics/story-slam-rules-pr-forWhat is a story slam ? Based on a poetry slam format and similar to American Idol, a story slam is a contest of wit, words and in this case, story by known and undiscovered talent. massmouth posts a theme on it's blogspot and story slammers sign up on the night to tell a 5-minute short story on the evening's theme . Ten…See More
Mike Sweeney is attending Norah Dooley's event
story slam! "scared to death' at Kennedy's Midtown, 42 Province Street
October 26, 2009 from 6:30pm to 9pm
next slam is NOV 23 rdRoom opens at 6:30PM 2nd in a series of 6 slams in 2009-2010This month's theme is dinner disasters. Could be meals gone awry, cooking disasters, blind dates and food, break ups over dinner, family feuds at meal times,an eating out adventure? a restaurant story, wait staff story ? Its a theme to be explored and savored - bring us something delicious,chewy,raw or cooked to perfectionBUT it is a story !http://massmouth.ning.com/forum/topics/story-slam-rules-pr-forWhat is a…See More
Profile Information
- What is your outside web or blog site URL ? Please post at your page - this helps connect you to the world looking for story!
- http://www.improvisedconnections.com
- What is your preferred email address for contact?
- msweeneyr34@comcast.net
- Are you a performer of story or listener, both, other? Tell us a bit about yourself...
- story performer and writer
"So, what do you want to get out of storytelling?"
I've already gotten so much! What more could I ask for?
"How did you get started?"
By the most random of chances. As near as I can tell it, this started when I was a teenager. Through a show called "Alive From Off Center" that aired on PBS, I was exposed to two very different performance artists that I would appreciate and want to emulate: They were Eric Bogosian, who does character monologues that are hilarious but dark and uncompromising; and Spalding Gray, who did long, autobiographical monologues.
In August of 2008, I found out about an open-mike night at The Center for the Arts in Natick (TCAN), and thought it would be an ideal place to workshop a Bogosian-esque character monologue that was very confrontational, but not yet short enough or funny enough to satisfy the expectations of a comedy audience. On that particular summer night, the audience was uncomfortably small, and mostly women. There were barely enough people to make up a show. So, in the spirit of helping out, and not wasting my trip, I volunteered to tell a story I had been working on for several years as a written piece. I got halfway through it that night, and got encouraging feedback. I sought out some venues that were closer to home, and on my first night at the Lizard Lounge, I met Mike Cohen, and he invited me to Brother Blue's storytelling night.
I've already gotten so much! What more could I ask for?
"How did you get started?"
By the most random of chances. As near as I can tell it, this started when I was a teenager. Through a show called "Alive From Off Center" that aired on PBS, I was exposed to two very different performance artists that I would appreciate and want to emulate: They were Eric Bogosian, who does character monologues that are hilarious but dark and uncompromising; and Spalding Gray, who did long, autobiographical monologues.
In August of 2008, I found out about an open-mike night at The Center for the Arts in Natick (TCAN), and thought it would be an ideal place to workshop a Bogosian-esque character monologue that was very confrontational, but not yet short enough or funny enough to satisfy the expectations of a comedy audience. On that particular summer night, the audience was uncomfortably small, and mostly women. There were barely enough people to make up a show. So, in the spirit of helping out, and not wasting my trip, I volunteered to tell a story I had been working on for several years as a written piece. I got halfway through it that night, and got encouraging feedback. I sought out some venues that were closer to home, and on my first night at the Lizard Lounge, I met Mike Cohen, and he invited me to Brother Blue's storytelling night.
Mike Sweeney's Photos
Mike Sweeney's Videos
Mike Sweeney's Blog
The Onion Lampoons "This American Life"
This is great; a sly send-up of the star machine that got me into storytelling:
http://www.theonion.com/articles/this-american-life-completes-documentation-of-libe,2188/
Posted on June 30, 2010 at 4:00pm — 1 Comment
Comment Wall (5 comments)
- At 2:25am on January 31, 2010,
Kafunda Banks said… - Thanks,Mike!
- At 4:00pm on January 13, 2010, Daniel Gewertz said…
- Hi Mike. Great chattying with you, and a wonderful tale the other night. We should talk about the art of editing and shortening someday, in relation to your desire to re-route your tale for commercial and/or radio purposes. Maybe coffee in Somerville. -- Daniel
- At 4:03pm on October 8, 2009,
Norah Dooley said… - Why thanks MIke! Nice of you to say so.... I have a bunch of stories from that time that I want to work up.
*sigh*
Someday?
- At 3:54pm on October 8, 2009,
Doria Hughes said… - Hi Mike, I want to see that photo, where is it?? I'm so glad that Olga liked "Bess", that was really fun the other night. I've got to make it to Blue's more often!
- Doria
- At 9:11am on July 3, 2009, Norah Dooley said…
- Hey Mike - Welcome to story world come and mouthoff some time!
Finding ways to create larger more comfortable audiences is my passion
Norah
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Storytelling is front page news in Boston...12/22/12 2 Replies
Started by Norah Dooley in Sample Title. Last reply by Brendyn Schneider Dec 23, 2012.
Mother Africa on JAN 17, 2013 1 Reply
Started by friend massmouth in Sample Title. Last reply by friend massmouth Oct 26, 2012.
Use of Folklore - a few articles
Started by Norah Dooley in Sample Title Jul 9, 2012.
BMO 2013 Winners
Scott Schultz, 1st prize, Katie Liesener, 2nd and Rob Goldman, 3rd Prize
StoriesLive® Winners - 2012
StoriesLive® 2013:
Sophomores:
Annemarie DeMarco-Alfama - 1st place
Kenny Le & Moises Caraballo - Runner-ups
Juniors:
Latisha Joujute - 1st place
Stephen Carlin & Henry Chavez - Runner-Ups
Kristen Ruffin - Audience Choice
Seniors:
Nico Luisi - 1st Place
Moises Ramirez & Vance Crayton - Runner-ups
Theodore Biv - Audience Choice
__________________________
StoriesLive® 2012:
First place, and $1,000 prize
Junior Fernando Ortiz from Revere High School
Senior Amario Malcolm from Boston Latin Academy
Runners-up ($500 each)11th
Alan Estes from Newburyport,
AngelinaFerullo from Everett and
Runners-up ($500 each)12th Caylen Bryant (Andover)
Shavar Lazarus (Boston Latin Academy).
Audience Choice awards:
11th Justin Alexander
(South Community High)
12th Varvarra Valentin
(Lynn Classical High School)
massmouth choice awards:
Juniors
Jennifer MonJoie(Revere)
Bahiya Nasuuna (Chelsea)
Karen Hua (Andover)
Senior
Jason Hittinger (Revere)
___________
Last Year 2011: StoriesLive® first ever high school story slam. 1st place awarded a $2,000 scholarship Brianda Agramonte, Lynn Classical High School, senior
2 runners up received $1,000 scholarship each: junior Conor Miller Newburyport High School and Mathews DeSouza, Everett High School, Our "massmouth choice" was Sandy Fonseca, Boston Latin Academy, senior [below] She was awarded $500
Lexi Hernando Lynn Classical High School, senior was chosen by the attendees and awarded the Audience Choice prize of $500.
Congratulations all!
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