"Horrified" slam

Michael Anderson, Diana Wiesner and Chief Justice, Adrian Spunt

Some of the slammers: Hal, Robert, Michael, Larry, Robert, Diana, Chris, Esther

A stunning night of stars came out to shine at Johnny D's Story Slam Tuesday evening. massmouth's own Bruce Marcus shared the stage with two incredible storyteller/musicians, Deborah Henson Conant with her electric harp and Jim Infantino with his electric wit. Bruce also chose an eclectic selection of judges representing stories from all walks of life including a juvenile Court Judge, The Hon. Jose Sanchez, a Globe correspondent Robin Abrahams aka as Miss Conduct, Adriane Spunt stepped in as chief justice, Slam winner Katie Liesner, and Dermott Whitaker who helped crunch the figures to come up with the scores.

Co-host: Jim Infantino

The horrifying stories I include here are but a tease of the evening such as: body parts in an airfield, flying in planes with no brakes, a bus ride from hell, nuns and misbehavior, uncomfortably stuck in a construction site (literally stuck), a witch up to no good and the theory of woodchuck elimination as seen through the eyes of Quakers and Monks. Diana Wiesner came in second making us giggle as she answered the door with an entourage of naked boys and a hunky pizza delivery man waiting on the other side winning second place and Michael Anderson winning first made telling the audience how he was fired in a most horrifying way. Thank you to all who stayed behind to choose your "audience choice" last night it happened to be Chris Osborne who was an audience choice last year telling the stories appealing to large audiences is not a coincidence, it's talent.

Co-host: Deborah Henson Conant

Speaking of audiences more than half the 85 people attending raised their hand when asked if this was their first time at a slam which continues to confirm our belief that people are hungry for story. Congratulations to all who told your horrifying tales and most of all congratulations to Bruce Marcus for pulling together a truly remarkable slam at Johnny D's

The evening's tellers were Hal Miller-Jacobs, Molly Cosgrove, Christopher Osborne, Aarin Murrdy, Robert Smith, Michael Anderson, Larry Schworer, Esther Piszczek, Diana Weisner, and Robert Isenberg and from last the "transported" slam, Ben Stump, told in the winner circle.

massmouth thanks Johnny D's for the support, the prize,Johnny D's sound man "Dana" and the atmosphere as well as Chipotle Grill and JP Licks who donated the second place prizes,most of all thanks to all our volunteers.

Dana Westover, the sound man, listening in

-- by Andrea Lovett

Since January, massmouth has been donating 10% of the gate to Partners in Health for relief work in Haiti. See the box on upper right of this blog to make your own contribution...