What began in 1999 as a small theater founded by a group of college friends has evolved into one of Chicago’s most celebrated and respected storytelling organizations.
2nd Story uses well-crafted, first-person stories told by the people who lived them to inspire change by producing storytelling events, facilitating classes and workshops, and leading professional development learning opportunities for individuals, students, families, educators, and professional artists. Today we continue to create spaces where people can share and listen to each other's stories and to date have shared over 1,500 world premiere stories.
WE BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY HAS A STORY TO TELL.
SEE A SHOW
2nd Story is producing events all over Chicago every month. From intimate pubs in Rogers Park to big venues in the West Loop, we have an event for you.
take a class
Be the storyteller of your own life. Geared towards individuals with no experience at all as well as artists/writers/performers seeking to hone their technique.
storybuilds
Organizations partner with us to help them build more empathetic cultures. The result? building stronger connections and developing new ways of working together.
Photography by Layne Dixon