Live lit—a contemporary art that mixes the unpredictability of an open mic, the energy of live theater, and the authenticity of personal storytelling—has long been a staple in cities like New York and Chicago, blending everything from heartwarming stories to poetry slams to sketch comedy.
In Cleveland, that same energy thrives at Story Club, a monthly nonfiction storytelling event that returns to The Brownhoist at 4403 St. Clair Ave. this Friday, Oct. 4.
“I think we offer a kick-ass night of entertainment, and more importantly, connection— this is real people telling their actual stories from their own mouths,” says Story Club founder Dana Norris. “You leave feeling like you understand something more about humanity than you did when you got there.”
This month’s Story Club will feature a combination of featured storytellers, including Matt Weinkam, executive director of Literary Cleveland, Michelle Smith, Literary Cleveland programming director, and Meredith Webb, a spiritual director at Nebula Spiritual Companionship. There are also three open mic slots, with narratives inspired by the theme “Substitute.” Doors open at 7 p.m. for open mic sign-ups, with the show beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Dana Norris at Story ClubStory Club’s story
Cleveland transplant Dana Norris first founded Story Club in Chicago in 2009, driven by both frustration and inspiration. Originally from Indianapolis, Norris studied religion at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio before discovering her passion for creative nonfiction during graduate school at Northwestern University.
Her interest in live performance grew from attending open mics, where she felt a mix of admiration and envy watching others take the stage.
“I don’t come off well in the anecdote,” she laughs. “But I would go to live storytelling shows, and if [the storyteller] did really well, I’d get almost sick with jealousy. I took that as an indication—am I a monster, or is it just that I should be doing this too?”
To get past her self-doubt, Norris took improv classes. “They were really helpful in getting over that barrier of thinking, ‘Who am I? I have nothing to say,’” she recalls. “The answer is you are just you, and opening your mouth can be interesting.”
Around the same time, Norris says she grew frustrated with the disorganization of the open mic scene. “I kept going to open mics where things were chaotic, shows started late, and no one knew what was going on,” she recalls. “I thought, ‘I can do better than this.’”
So, Norris launched Story Club in a 20-seat backroom of a Chicago coffee shop known for its live performances in Wrigleyville. “For the first few shows, maybe even the first year, no one came,” she says. “But eventually, a community of storytellers formed.”
Applying her theater and improv background, she created the kind of polished event she had hoped to perform at herself. “I wanted shows that started on time, demanded attention, and made the audience feel comfortable,” she explains.
When Norris moved to Cleveland in 2015, she brought Story Club with her. “It took off so much faster here than in Chicago,” she recalls. “Cleveland has so many talented, dynamic people and the more exposure people get, the more they realize they can tell a story, too.”
Over the past nine years, Story Club has outgrown several venues around Cleveland and since September 2023 the club has called The Brownhoist location home. The historic building serves as the professional and inviting platform Norris initially envisioned for both new and seasoned storytellers.
Norris encourages newcomers to attend a show to experience the supportive atmosphere. She says the audience is welcoming and supportive of the storytellers.
“They just want to see everyone succeed,” she says. “It’s nice because after you watch a few people get up there and tell their stories—no one explodes, no one dies, and no one throws rocks—you start to think, ‘Maybe I could do that too!’ Some of my favorite stories come from people who spontaneously decide, mid-show, to get up and share their own.”
Reading the room
The growth of Story Club in Cleveland is partly thanks to its partnership with The Reading Room CLE, a nonprofit bookstore also based in The Brownhoist. Founded by L.S. Quinn, The Reading Room operates as an anti-segregation nonprofit, using book sales and partnerships to fund local literacy programs.
Meredith Webb, October featured performer at Story ClubQuinn, who was also involved in Chicago’s spoken word and live lit scenes, surprisingly never crossed paths with Norris until attending a Story Club performance in Cleveland.
“When I came to Cleveland, I noticed there were two spoken word scenes, which didn’t make sense to me," Quinn explains. She asserts that storytelling is traditionally an inclusive art and activity.
“I knew I wanted to be involved because the human appetite for story is limitless, and the shows here were powerful, especially those led by Black leaders in the spoken word community,” says Quinn. “I saw Story Club and thought, ‘This is amazing.’”
Quinn approached Norris about bringing Story Club under The Reading Room’s fiscal sponsorship, which allows the group to operate as a nonprofit, sell tickets, fairly compensate performers, cover production costs, and support The Reading Room’s literacy programs.
“Too many shows operate on exposure. But exposure is not a form of payment; it’s a cause of death,” says Norris. “We’re trying to show that these performers have value—monetary value.”
Quinn agrees, calling the relationship a source of strength. “I’m so glad to be doing this project the way we are,” she says, “supporting art and making sure that it’s sustainable for the artists.”
The Brownhoist
The Brownhoist was built in 1880 in what is known today as the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood. Originally a hub for shipping industry technology, it now serves as a creative space for artists, and small businesses.
Norris says they have plenty of room, whether 30 people come for an event or 100 attend.
She notes that the building’s industrial charm adds to the atmosphere. “It’s just so cool to sit in a place that’s old, historic,” she says. “When the sun sets, I like to pull up the shades and you can see the outline of Cleveland through the windows.”
From Quinn’s perspective, she says she feels allied with Cleveland's industrial past and uses the alliance to build Cleveland's future.
Story Club at The BrownhoistMore than just a show
For both Norris and Quinn, success at Story Club is measured by more than just the stories told on stage—it’s about creating a space for courage and connection.
“What I look for is whether people are being brave,” says Quinn. “Did they step out of their comfort zone to come to a new space on a Friday night? Did someone new take the stage and share their story for the first time? It’s not about being perfect—it’s about showing up and participating.”
But Norris stresses that the atmosphere after a show is just as important as the performances.
"When the show ends, and people stay around to talk instead of rushing out, that’s a sign of success," she explains. “The room is buzzing, people who were sitting next to each other but not making eye contact at the start are now talking, connecting. That’s when you know something special happened.
“It’s not just about the performance,” Norris continues, “it’s about what comes after, the conversations and connections.”
Both women say Story Club is really about building a community.
“We believe storytelling has the power to bridge divides,” says Quinn. “By supporting Story Club, we’re not just hosting an event—we’re supporting a movement to bring people together through the stories they share."
This season of Story Club Cleveland runs the first Friday of every month now through May 2. Doors open at 7 p.m. for open mic sign-ups, with the show starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door, and include light appetizers. Drink tickets are also available. Proceeds from the event help fund performers’ compensations and support The Reading Room CLE’s literacy programs.