I was asked to photograph the Long Beach Storytellers finale. I was at an event before and really loved it. The competitors get 6 minutes to tell a story. Any story. The finale had the winners from prior events competing for the title and $100.
It was a full house at the Long Beach Playhouse. The place was beautiful, personal and simple. Loved the theater in the round aspect too.
The contestants were incredible – although two people didn’t show up (which is weird). One of the judges was the iconic actor/songwriter Paul Williams who told a tale of his antics with legendary Johnny Carson writer, Pat McCormick. Another judge, the hilarious David Letterman announcer Alan Kalter, told a Raquel Welch story that was hilarious.
My only issue is that I wish there were more stories! Mariana Williams was the host – she’s a great storyteller herself – and Hitoshi Hosoda Hosoda was the winner!