Inspired by the weekly NPR “Moth Radio Hour,” storytellers tell a 5 to 7 minute true story about themselves without prompts or notes. Each personal story defines an event or series of united events where something could be gained or lost . Their stories tell tales of love, midnight adventure, childhood misconception, teenage thugs, and more. The storyteller’s perception of reality, themselves, or their relationships is altered in unexpected ways as is our own. Expect to be intrigued, amused and moved by these very personal stories, and don’t be surprised if you find yourself bursting out with laughter or holding back tears. The performance will be held Thursday, May 14th from 7-8:30pm. Tickets are $20, available on Eventbrite.com.
The evening is hosted by the celebrated musician, composer, and theatre producer, Mark Governor, who returns to Carmel for this one night event. Among the storytellers are Moth regulars, Mindy Meyers and JP Frary; Henry Miller Library executive director Magnus Toren; actor, singer, and storyteller, Michael Lojkovic; 93-year-old German immigrant and author, Hans Lehmann; prize winning artist and architect, Polly Osborne; and painter, photographer, Elizabeth Murray.
The event is produced by the Carl Cherry PorchLight Committee which includes Carl Cherry Center Executive Director, Robert Reese; Board Members: Ellen Osborne, Jim Dultz, Anne Mitchell, Kris Swanson, Camille D’Avenas, and Robin Mckee. This is the first show of a planned 3 part series.
Participants
Host:
Mark Governor is a composer, songwriter, playwright and record producer most well known for his work on films like “The Hobbit” and “Pet Sematary 2”, the ubiquitous SpongeBob SquarePants track “Jellyfish Jam”, and his rock musical “shAme”. A former Carmel resident, he now lives In San Francisco where he continues to create and produce music and theater.
Storytellers:
JP Frary designs and builds furniture and sculptures in a wood shop on the old Alameda Naval Base. He specializes in using recycled materials in ways that make them look new. He is the Resident Storyteller at Redwood Nights in Fairfax, CA. Otherwise, his stories can be heard in hardware stores and lumber yards.
Hans Lehmann, 93, was born in Germany, and immigrated to the United States in 1939. He graduated from the Webb Schools. Received degrees from the University of Colorado, Harvard, and an honorary discharge from the US Army. Worked at Macy’s for 28 years, has published 3 books, and lives in Carmel. He writes a blog twice a week.
First appearing on-stage as ‘Rumpelstiltskin’ in grade school, Michael Lojkovic has performed many staged readings at the Cherry. As a community songleader, he’s taught songs from Orcas Island to Soledad Prison to Big Sur and founded Vocal Activists Monterey Peninsula (VAMP) in 2025. Acting every fall at Colton Hall’s California Constitutional Reenactment, Michael is currently writing a musical ‘TrumpelThinSkin: Gagging on Gold Amidst Samsara Beds of Straw.’
For over 50 years Elizabeth Murray’s passion for nature and spirit has inspired her dedication to cultivating beauty through painting, writing and diverse projects around the world. Her work has shown around the world in Museums with Monet, permanent installments in corporate collections and in her historic Bohemian Artist home and Gardens in Monterey, California.
Mix 2 cups humor and word-smithing, with 1 cup New York wise-crackings. Sift through a lens of creativity. Add a dash of nightly story telling practice from her childhood dinner table, with peppery sarcasm. Stir well and you have the unique stylings of Mindy Myers. Mindy is a playwright, storyteller, young adult book author, and culinary educator.
Polly Osborne is an artist and architect living in Monterey, California. She was mentored by her uncle in art, her stepfather in architecture, and her parents in humor and good sportsmanship. She shows her work at the Carmel Art Association. Her pesky little sister made her tell this story.
Magnus Toren is Executive Director of the Henry Miller Memorial Library in Big Sur, a Swedish-born former sailor whose life spans ocean crossings, remote islands, and cultural curation. A storyteller, musician, and podcaster, he blends adventure with stewardship, sustaining a unique literary haven while exploring ideas, places, and people through conversation and art.
This event was sponsored, in part, through funding from:
Arts Council for Monterey County,
Carmel Woman’s Club
Carmel-by-the-Sea Rotary
Community Foundation for Monterey County
Monterey County Board of Supervisors
Gibson Family Foundation
Monterey Peninsula Foundation
Monterey Peninsula Volunteer Services
Pebble Beach Company Foundation
Yellow Brick Road Benefit Store
