What-are-you reading-Wednesday: You only get One Book

If you were on a desert island and could have only one book with you, what would it be?

For the past few months the Indy Fringe Festival and Storytelling Arts of Indiana have been partnering on creating “Jabberwocky” nights, named after the character from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Beware the Jabberwock!). Each month a group of creative and clever people share their stories about a slightly sideways topic. They’ve had writers tell stories about writers’ block, musicians tell stories about when they really shouldn’t have gone on stage, and lawyers tell stories about why they really aren’t horrible people, usually.

Each invited guest is given roughly 10 minutes to share their story, and then after they are done there is an open-mike opportunity for anyone else in the audience to share their story as well. A $10 admission also gets you hearty bread, soup and other goodies.  And, there is a cash bar.

Because of my work with Indy Reads, and also as the co-host of WFYI’s The Art of the Matter, I was asked earlier this year to MC a night when people were sharing their “Once Upon a Time” stories, but unfortunately couldn’t make it. So, Pauline at the Fringe and Ellen at Storytelling Arts kindly asked me to MC the March event with the musicians. We had such a great time, that they invited me back AND let me pick the theme, and the guests.

I really wanted to focus the night on reading and books, but from a bit of a different perspective. Most of us have great memories of reading our favorite books, and I wanted to touch on that idea, but push it a bit. I started thinking about some of my favorite books, and where and when I read them. And, one of those books actually did keep me company on a tropical island for a few weeks (which you’ll hear about at Jabberwocky), which is where I got the idea for our topic: One Book – If you were on a desert island and could have only one book with you, what would it be?

Once I had the topic, I needed some guests. I wanted creative and fun people who can tell great stories, but not necessarily writers or other people normally associated with books and reading. I am very fortunate to be joined for Jabberwocky by four very good friends who all will have great stories to share: Megan McKinney, the executive director of the Fine Arts Society (and a great actress), Steven Stolen, managing director of the Indiana Repertory Theatre (and a great singer), contemporary art curator Christopher West, and Chef Regina Mehallick of R. Bistro. I hope you are excited about hearing their stories as I am.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the Jabbering starts around 6:30 p.m. or so. The Indy Fringe building is located at 719 E. St. Clair, just east of the intersection at College and Mass Ave.

Written by M. Travis DiNicola, Executive Director  at Indy Reads