The Sofia Presents
IN A NUTSHELL: Storytelling Series
other series - IN A NUTSHELL: Storytelling Series - 08/28/2026 at 7:00 pm, 09/25/2026 at 7:00 pm, 10/16/2026 at 7:00 pm, 12/11/2026 at 7:00 pm
IN A NUTSHELL: Storytelling Series
If you love The Moth, solo theater, stand-up, or just great storytelling, this is your new favorite night out.
Each performance features four different storytellers sharing carefully curated stories that are memorized, thoughtfully crafted, and performed live. With a new theme every month, no two shows are ever the same, making each evening a fresh and unique experience. It’s the perfect choice for a night out with friends, a memorable date, or even the whole family, depending on the theme. Best of all, attending supports local artists and helps strengthen Sacramento’s vibrant storytelling community.
In a Nutshell is hosted and curated by storytelling comedian Keith Lowell Jensen, book editor Amy Bee, and author Aaron Carnes, three friends who want nothing more than to give humans laughter, insight, and the full spectrum of emotion from the absolute best live storytellers in the universe — that’s all. Come and get what you need, human! You deserve to connect, reflect, and celebrate the power of live storytelling. You are welcome here!
2026 STORYTELLING THEMES:
AUG: "EPIC FAILS"SEP: "THE LONG WAY HOME"
OCT: "DARK HEARTS"
DEC: "UNRESOLUTE"
AUGUST FEATURED STORYTELLERS: "EPIC FAILS"
Hello, Story Friends! WOW, what an excellent July show! Shall we do it again for August? I hope you’re feeling as psyched as I am, because we have one of my favorite subjects coming up: failure. Our four esteemed storytellers are gonna take us on a ride of EPIC proportions, airing out their embarrassing, jaw-dropping, and disappointing losses, plans gone wrong, and lessons learned—if any WERE learned, that is!TOM DARCI
Tom is the cofounder and cohost of Pretty Good Stories, a long-form storytelling showcase in Oakland. He’s also been featured at Simply Said, Conundrum Chronicles, StorySlam Oakland, Alameda StorySlam, and more. Tom thinks telling the same story over and over again in front of an audience just might be more therapeutic than actual therapy. When he’s not telling stories, you’ll find him on the pickleball court, knees permitting.His Story: After surviving five days in the wilderness, the drive home seemed like the easy part. But that would not be the case for Tom and his family, nestled in their camper van, speeding down the freeway. What could go wrong, you ask? Well, how about everything?
SILVANA CLARK
Silvana began telling innovative stories to get a hall pass out of boring high school classes. Since then, she’s told stories to audiences ranging from the Canadian Llama Association to the Nude Recreation Association. She’s written twelve books, appeared on Fox’s Trading Spouses, and considers one of her greatest achievements to be training her dog to star in TV commercials and print ads.Her story: Silvana and her husband are international house/pet sitters who always get five-star reviews because they do a great job taking care of pets. On a housesit in Portugal, the pet owner asked them to do an impossible task with one of her pets. They tried everything imaginable and still FAILED!
MAX HOUGHTON
Max is a writer, editor, human rights activist and multi-award-winning storyteller. He has won The Moth GrandSlam in San Francisco and has appeared on The Moth MainStage. His stories of learning through waves of epic failures entertain and inspire crowds of all ages. Follow him on Instagram @storiesToTheMaxHis story: A therapist suggested Max start a new hobby to get outside and socialize. He wondered whether middle age was too late to start to learn how to skateboard, and spoiler: the answer was YES.
KARI KIERNAN
Kari is a writer, storyteller, and Bay Area native. She has worked in both nonprofit theatre and high school administration and holds a Masters Degree she did not need and does not use. Over the past 20 years, she’s been onstage at Porchlight, the Throckmorton, The Vent!, and Literary Death Match, among others. She is a returning performer at Naked Truth and Redwood Nights.Her story: It was just supposed to be a relaxing day at the spa. A rejuvenating act of self-care, nothing to see here, right? WRONG! (Cue the dramatic music!) Buh-bum-bummmmmmm!
Photography credit: Elle Jaye
Please Note: On the day of the show, ticket prices increase to $30 (+$10 fee). Buy your tickets early to save!
Doors open 1 hour prior to showtime. This show is All Ages
Read about our Health & Safety protocols HERE