Thanks to performers and audience alike who made Monday night’s show, “I’m Only Popular at Summer Camp: Six-Word Memoirs on Camp, Summer Stock, and the Family Vacation,” a ball. Our storytellers included the likes of published authors such as Ann Leary, Abby Ellin, Josh Wolk, and Deborah Copaken Kogan; fabulous Broadway vets like Susan Blackwell and musician Joe Iconis; and rising stars like Gerald Hayes and Ed Boland.

As often happens when asked to define all or part of one’s life in exactly six words, many of our storytellers offered tales from their misguided youth. Blackwell, who’s delighted Broadway in such plays as her original musical [title of show], recalled her time performing theater on a cruise in a story she called, “The Curse of the Mississippi Showboat.” Ed Boland, a nonprofit communications and fundraising professional making his stage debut, held the crowd rapt (while a few parents covered a few young ears) with his pitch-perfect unravelling of his Six-Word Memoir ,”Deflowered by French mother on stretcher.” Musician Joe Iconis, already a theater vet at the age of 29, reworked a song he first wrote when he was six years old: “Muthers R Speshel (When Yer Sad).” Joe’s song was a heartwarming and hilarious approach to telling a backstory behind a Six-Word Memoir—and among the most memorable moments in what’s been nearly five-year journey for SMITH Magazine’s Six Words. Watch his performance on Vimeo.

We’ll post videos from the evening on this blog soon. Meanwhile, check out photos from the night on the 92YTribeca Facebook page. And break out your devices and book our next show, September 21, 2011. It’s called, “Oy! Only Six? Why Not More?”A Six-Word Story Show on the Jewish Life.” Same time (7pm), same place (92YTribeca in NYC). Thanks to all the performers, event co-producer Ashley van Buren, SMITH Magazine’s Meredith Sires and Linda Liu, and the whole crew at the 92YTribeca for making our summer show a truly storied night. 

Photos: Courtsey of 92YTribeca.