Spring 2012: Warning Signs

First Scranton StorySlam Winner - Amye Archer

First Scranton StorySlam Winner – Amye Archer

Our Spring 2012 StorySlam was held at the Vintage Theater. Our theme for the night was “Warning Signs.” Wow, did our storytellers deliver! This night was the first of its kind in NEPA. Story slam events are sweeping the country and now they have proven to be a hit in Scranton.

Our Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Conor McGuigan. We were uniquely privileged to have some of the Electric City’s most interesting characters in our premiere evening’s lineup of storytellers. Everyone was treated to both laughs and moving personal revelations by these writers, actors, and performers:

Four judges helped to determine the winner, including University of Scranton Professor Michael Friedman, NEPA Blogs’ Michelle Hryvnak Davies, and Abington Heights High School’s Mr. Zach Monahan and Mrs. Marilyn Pryle.

Although the competition was fierce, the judges performed their duties admirably. In the end, it was Amye Archer who walked away with the prize package, which included The Slammy, our trophy, a gift certificate to Library Express, and the honor of being our first ever winner!

We are especially grateful to Maureen McGuigan, Deputy Director of Arts and Culture for Lackawanna County, for acting as mentor on this Senior Project for Abington Heights Junior Madeline Zoe McNichols and for all she did to help make the dream of a story slam in Scranton a reality.

In addition to the storytellers, judges, and Master of Ceremonies, special thanks goes to the following people and organizations that helped bring this project to life.

We are proud to have been able to donate the net proceeds from this event to the Vintage Theater Project.

Zoe & Maureen, without whose help this could not be possible.

Maureen McGuigan, Deputy Director of
Arts and Culture for Lackawanna County

Lackawanna County Commissioners
Jim Wansacz, Chairman
Corey D. O’Brien, Vice-Chairman
Patrick M. O’Malley

Conor O’Brien and Theresa O’Connor of the Vintage Theater

AJ Matasavage for Promotional Artwork and Website Design

Mark Dennebaum Jr. and Tim McDermott
of TWENTYFIVEEIGHT Productions

Erika Funke of WVIA
Dave DiRienzo of Rock 107
Eric “The Prospector”Logan of Rock 107

Electric City/the570
The Times-Tribune
The Abington Journal

Julie Schumacher Cohen, Director of Community Relations
at the University of Scranton

Andrea Talarico of Library Express

Superior Trophy & Engraving Company Lackawanna County Logo

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