2025 Showcase Application Review

Imagine if Mr. Rogers hosted Double Dare, The Campfireball is a one-of-a-kind live show created spontaneously out of the stories and experiences of the people in the audience, or, 'reverse-storytelling'. Workshopped and developed in the storytelling master's program at East Tennessee University, what separates The Campfireball from traditional storytelling or even story slams (eg. the Moth), is that instead of asking an audience to sit and watch passively, as the host of The Campfireball I explore different ways to spark and incentivize both audience sharing and listening, generating connection, surprise and a little tiny community. By the end, we've met at the intersection of intimacy and absurdity to build a brand new story -- the story of this audience, in this place and time. Oh, and introverts: fear not! Participation is always voluntary and it is just as much fun (and important, and validating, etc, etc...) to hear to someone's story as it is to share.