Past Awesome Storytelling Shows | OC Searches for Greatest Storyteller

Campus Jax, Newport Beach, CA (Orange County, CA)

Debra Ehrn​hardt and Mariana Williams, Producers

As producer, I make my own rules: audience votes, author judges, and $100 cash prize at every show.

2025 Finals | December 17th

The finals at Campus Jax were an amazing thing! There was a tie. Nick Bravo told a funny, true tale of being an inappropriate young guy, and Michelle Ordiway told a poignant story about loss and learning. Congrats to both on clinching the title and each taking home $200 because of the tie, and to the runner-up Beth Krom.

The below iPhone photos were taken by acclaimed photographer Yana Bridle.

L-R: Norm Leonard, Michelle Ordiway (Winner), Kevin Toft, Miyo Yamauchi, Dave La Ru, Beth Krom (Runner-Up), Nick Bravo (Winner), Mariana Williams (Producer), Debra Ehrhardt (Producer)

Judges vote counts for five points. L-R: Paul, Jim, Nancy, Patty, Larry, and Mariana (Producer)

Official storytelling headquarters. OK, the end of the bar. Story Assistant Marcia and Producer Debra tally the ballots. Each audience member gets a vote. Author/Judges have five votes each.

Debra Ehrhardt as a kid spent time in mango trees learning about the birds and the bees. The audience cheered.

2025

2024