MIRRORS OF EMPATHY
Sunday, February 23, 2025
DOORS @ 5:30PM CT, STORIES @ 6:00PM CT
Haymarket pub & Brewery (737 W Randolph St. Chicago, IL 60661)
Empathy (among other human experiences)often guides how we move through the world and interact with others. However, our capacity to access empathy is sometimes not innate but a mindful choice. Some use that brave choice to learn from the past to seek a love that mirrors their experience with family, friends, and lovers. Join our storytellers as they explore the unique magic that weaves together love and the African American experience.
About 2nd Story’s "Point of View'' Programming
This show is presented as part of 2nd Story's "Point of View" programming. Given the nature of 2nd Story's work and the diversity of artists we collaborate with, we have the unique opportunity to build community among and share the stories of marginalized groups by building teams for our shows that share a particular point of view. It is our honor to be a conduit for these collaborations. This show is led, produced, and performed by Black artists and will be focused around themes of Black love.
Download the program - text only.
PRODUCTION TEAM:
Curated by Earliana “Earl” McLaurin*
Directed by Devin Christor
Produced by Stacey Saunders
Music by Dionne Addai and Tracie Kunzika
FEATURING STORIES BY:
McKenzie Chinn + Mykele Deville, Kim Hunt, Darren Meyers.
*denotes 2nd Story company member.
SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 2025
8:00PM CST
ONLINE FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS
Wrap yourself in a blanket, brew a cup of tea (or make yourself a cocktail), and join us for three expertly crafted stories and some sing-a-long worthy music, all from the comfort of your own home. Inspired by the Danish concept of “hygge” (pronounced “HUE-gah”), this virtual-only show will celebrate the simple joys of connection, coziness, and community.
Don your favorite slippers, light a candle, cozy up under a blanket, and let the stories unfold. Together, let’s create a night to remember and a future with more stories, more empathy, and more light.
This special event isn’t just about sharing stories to warm your soul; it’s also about extending that warmth towards a future with more stories and more connection. Hygge Night is a fundraiser for 2nd Story to support our efforts around arts worker care and pay equity across the arts sector. Together, we can bring more light and comfort to others.
Here’s how you can support/join us
Attend the event: Your ticket purchase helps us sustain 2nd Story’s work around arts worker care.
Donate: Can’t make it? You can still contribute! Every dollar brings us closer to creating a world where love winds.
Share the love: Spread the word about 2nd Story and Hygge Night. Together we can create a more compassionate and empathetic world.
PRODUCTION TEAM
Curated by Amanda Delheimer*
Directed by CP Chang*
Produced by Ali Drumm*
Music by MG Green
FEATURING STORIES BY
jessica young chang*
Sheree Greer
Lauren Sivak
*denotes 2nd Story company member
A NOTE ABOUT TICKETS:
2nd Story offers tiered ticket prices. There are three ticket options available:
Treat Yourself - $125. Join the show AND receive a care package filled with cozy goodies hand picked by 2nd Story artists! Limited tickets available until Friday, February 21
Leader - $75
Standard - $50
Access - $5
YEAR 25: VII
Sunday, March 23, 2025
DOORS @ 5:30PM CT, STORIES @ 6:00PM CT
Haymarket pub & Brewery (737 W Randolph St. Chicago, IL 60661)
PRODUCTION TEAM:
Curated by CP Chang*
Directed by Aliza Feder
Produced by Julia Alvarez
Sound Designed by Michael Benedict
FEATURING STORIES BY:
Rukmini Girish, Jessica Kadish-Hernández*, Connie Shirakawa
*denotes 2nd Story company member.
SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2025
Doors @ 7:30pm CT, Stories @ 8:00pm
Great Central Brewing Company | 221 N Wood St, Chicago, IL 60612
PRODUCTION TEAM
Curated by Amanda Delheimer*
Directed by Dorothy Milne
Produced by Ali Drumm*
Sound Designed by Mikhail Fiksel*
FEATURING STORIES BY
Matthew Braun
LaTanya Lane*
Sarah Zematis*
*denotes 2nd Story company member
A NOTE ABOUT TICKETS:
2nd Story offers tiered ticket prices to increase financial accessibility. There are three ticket options available:
Leader - $100
Standard - $80
Access - $30
This show will not be live streamed or recorded. This particular party is in-person only.
YEAR 26: IX
Sunday, June 1, 2025
DOORS @ 5:30PM CT, STORIES @ 6:00PM CT
Haymarket pub & Brewery (737 W Randolph St. Chicago, IL 60661)
A Message from show Curator Aimy Tien
“I am obsessed with celebrating and sharing queer joy. It's why this is an annual show. Queer people and queerness can be found everywhere and in everything, and yet giving life to our queer selves and finding (or building) a queer community can still be incredibly difficult. We’ve been curating queer and queer joy shows for years now because queer joy is important and essential to celebrate.”
About 2nd Story’s "Point of View'' Programming
Given the nature of 2nd Story's work and the diversity of artists we collaborate with, we have the unique opportunity to build community among and share the stories of marginalized groups by building teams for our shows that share a particular point of view. It is our honor to be a conduit for these collaborations. Created and produced entirely by a team of LGBTQIA+ artists, this show our annual celebration of unbridled queer joy.
PRODUCTION TEAM:
Curated by Aimy Tien*
Directed by Christine Thoren
Produced by Stephen Patrick Bell
Sound designed by Yongwoo
FEATURING STORIES BY:
Kirsten Baity, Karla Rivera*, Mo Shipley
*denotes 2nd Story company member.
YEAR 26: X
Sunday, June 22, 2025
DOORS @ 5:30PM CT, STORIES @ 6:00PM CT
Haymarket pub & Brewery (737 W Randolph St. Chicago, IL 60661)
About 2nd Story’s "Point of View'' Programming
Given the nature of 2nd Story's work and the diversity of artists we collaborate with, we have the unique opportunity to build community among and share the stories of marginalized groups by building teams for our shows that share a particular point of view. It is our honor to be a conduit for these collaborations. This show is created and produced entirely by a team of artists with significant relationships to immigration, migration, and the complex idea of where we are “from.”
PRODUCTION TEAM:
Curated by Jim Lupo
Directed by RJ Silva
Produced by Julia Alvarez
Sound designed by Yongwoo
FEATURING STORIES BY:
Kimberly Acosta, Jenan Mohajir*, Coya Paz
*denotes 2nd Story company member.
““There is just something so humane about a 2nd Story show. The emotions from story to story run the gamut—fear, joy, grief, celebration, surprise, insight, irony, humor. But running through all of them is this endearing and enduring sense of humanity, unshaded by a commercial angle or necessity, just civil, thoughtful, and always memorable.””
““We know that 2nd Story events are always going to be good.””
“I don’t know the last time I didn’t look at my phone for two hours.”