A night of true, 5-minute stories featuring open-mic storytellers plus a special guest.

Life is a story and storytelling is a means for sharing and interpreting experiences. It is in our nature to tell stories and inform others of our life events. Storytelling is an intrinsic human characteristic. However, the way we communicate with others has changed drastically over time. Storytelling originated with visual stories, such as cave drawings, and then shifted to oral traditions, in which stories were passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. Technology has allowed humans to utilize all forms of storytelling through the years: visual stories in photographs, spoken stories in videos and recordings and written words on blogs and statuses.

Throughout history, cultures have honored skilled storytellers and people have used stories to promote cooperation and influence social behaviors. Listening to stories also engages different parts of the brain than data does and engages our emotions.

For this show the stories will focus on a theme: Green

Green is a color but it conjures up so many other images: Green with envy; Green as the color of money; Green in nature. Turning green when ill. Beng naive. Being green from a climate perspective, or showing your Irish pride. So come on out and see what Green means.

Come tell us your true story of Green. Any way you want to interpret the theme is fine with us.

Or just listen and laugh. (Caveat: not all stories may be funny.)

Rules: For a chance to tell your true story on the theme, "Green," put your name in the hat.

Stories must be true, about you (not someone else), and 5 minutes or less. No notes or reading allowed. We will have a timer to keep you on track. We usually have time for 8 to 10 storytellers.

Suggested minimum is $10 per person worth of food or drink purchased at The Sound Room to support our venue sponsor, The Sound Room.

Doors open at 5:30. Stories begin around 6:30. Seating is first-come, first serve. Order at the bar and be served at your table. We recommend you arrive early enough to pick your seats and get your beverages and food. There will be one intermission.

The venue and stage are wheelchair-accessible..

StorySlam Oakland is not responsible for the content of the open-mic stories. For this reason, younger children are not advised to come.

StorySlam Oakland is Oakland's longest-running true storytelling show, started by Julie Soller in 2013. It is hosted by Julie Soller and Inanc Karakaylac -- the Bay Area comic, kite surfing instructor, and painter.

The Sound Room is a Bay Area nonprofit dedicated to jazz, music and art. Across from Sprouts on upper Broadway, Oakland.

Thanks for supporting independent events in the Bay Area!

Tickets at StorySlam