Conundrum Chronicles
(A StorySlam)
Hosted by Fred Brill
Where Stories are Told * Moral Dilemmas Unfold * Judgements are Bold!
In Person at The Marsh San Francisco Mainstage
Second Tuesdays at 7:00 pm
Upcoming Performances
May 12
Theme: Culture Clash
Featured Storyteller: Ruth Schwarz
June 9
Theme: Obsession
Featured Storyteller: Santosh Kumar
Throw your name in the hat for a chance to tell a true, 5-minute story, about you, or be the judge… or kick back and enjoy the transformational power of live storytelling!
Ticket Information
Tickets: $10 – $25 General Seating sliding scale | $50 & $100 Reserved Seating
Online ticket sales close 2 hours before each performance,
and additional tickets may be available for purchase at the door.
105 minutes | No Intermission | All Ages
Please do not bring infants to the show
Please read our
Health, Safety and COVID-19 Information
Our commitment to our patrons
Theme & Featured Storytellers
“Culture Clash!” Tell us about a moment when two worlds collided — and you were standing right in the middle. Was your sense of belonging compromised? Was something lost in translation? Culture Clash stories aren’t just about difference — they’re about the surprising, messy, beautiful things that happen when those differences meet. Lean into the awkward. Embrace the funny. Honor the hard. Your story matters.
Featured Storyteller: Ruth Schwarz
Ruth Schwarz retired from a long career as an engineer in the space program, and started storytelling shortly after the pandemic lockdown. She has shared stories on the Moth Stage in Berkeley, Madison Wisconsin, and San Francisco. She is thrilled to be a member of the Conundrum family. She believes storytelling is a way to create connections through empathy and shared experience. She lives in Sunnyvale, where she can usually be found practicing her stories as she walks her Great Pyrenees dog. He’s never judgmental.
How it Works
The Conundrum Chronicles uses a StorySlam format that challenges storytellers to share a five-minute story about a moral dilemma they have confronted. (First-time storytellers are especially welcome!) Audience members are then invited to discuss, and score each story based on the elements of the stories, giving meaningful feedback to the storytellers.
Guidelines:
- Seven storytellers are drawn from a hat on the night of the performance. There will also be a featured storyteller
- All stories must be true, about you, and connected to the theme.
- No notes are allowed.
- Stories must be respectful of individuals, avoiding disparagement based on culture, class, race, sex, religion, language, gender identity, sexual preference, age, and ability/disability.
- Stories must be five minutes long (with a one minute grade period).
- After each story is told, audience members will have the opportunity to discuss the qualities of the stories with their friends and elbow partners.
- Audience members will then score storytellers using a Google Survey based on:
- Authenticity
- Entertainment
- Stakes/Tension
- Heart-touching
- Reflection and Resolution
Through this unique scoring system, not only will the winning story be determined, but storytellers will receive real-time feedback on the impact of their narratives. Celebrate the power of storytelling to entertain, inspire reflection, and empathy.
Each year, the winning storyteller from each month will be invited to participate in THE STORYTELLING SUMMIT OF THE CONUNDRUM CHRONICLES!
Storytellers may purchase videos of their performances for $35.00