Live Readings / Kelsey McGrath: Multi-Hyphenated Creative ✨

Live Readings

Live storytelling is an active, important component of my own expression. I believe story sharing is necessary to cultivate empathy, especially in such a divisive time. I've had the honor and privilege to storytell with a number of groups and events in Chicago. ✨

Write Club | Miss Spoken | Loose Chicks | Pour One Out | Am I Man Enough? | Red Tape Theatre

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Voice Box • March 25th, 2026

Voice Box Stories & Serenade: Dirty Little Secret

I was a featured reader with Voice Box, hosted by Maureen Muldoon at Fitzgerald's Pub in Berwyn. I was so stoked to read along side Cathy Richardson of Jefferson Starship!

The Newness • July 15th, 2025

Yearning to Love a Poet

In this essay, I weave memoir, music, and poetry to relay my experience of falling in love for the first time with my undergraduate poetry professor.

Miss Spoken • June 23rd, 2025

My Brain’s Real Time Pinball-esque Meditations on “Book”

An essay weaving memoir and poetry that travels along my brain synapses when prompted with the word, "book."

Write Club • June 10th, 2025

In Advocation of TIME and The Way My Dad Sings

Write Club Nation is a monthly competitive essay series with the tagline "Literature as Bloodsport." My topic was TIME, vs. MONEY. I did not win, but it was an excellent experience and I can't wait to return! I wrote my essay about my tumultuous relationship with my dad using Joni Mitchell's "Carousel of Time."

The Newness • May 20th, 2025

The Little Things

For The Newness Chicago's comeback show, I wrote an essay that weaves memoir and poetry to reflect on the small things we pick up from those we care about thoughout our lives.

Pour One Out • August 14th, 2024

Pour One Out: Daniel Radcliffe

I had the honor of hosting and reading for August 2024's Pour One Out. This piece is about my teenage obsession with Daniel Radcliffe.

Pour One Out • May 12th, 2022

Pour One Out: An Ocean Apart

Pour One Out is a live storytelling series curated by Ada Cheng. In "An Ocean Apart," I told a story about childhood memories using a hybrid of Poetry and Prose.

Am I Man Enough? • October 29th, 2020

Am I Man Enough?: Toxic Masculinity

"Am I Man Enough?" is a live story telling series hosted by Ada Cheng. In this story, I discuss my Grandfather. I act as an observer of how he lived his life, mourning who he could have been without societal narratives and expectations.

Pour One Out • June 10th, 2020

Pour One Out: It's Not Too Late Dad

Pour One Out is a live storytelling series curated by Ada Cheng. In "Not Too Late, Dad" I told a story about the ghost of my alcoholic father, weaving together poetry and prose.

Red Talk • October 25th, 2019

Red Tape Theatre's Red Talk: Scary Stories

"Red Talks" is a live performance supplement to what's on the stage at Red Tape Theater. This event's theme was "Scary Stories." I wrote about longing and falling in love.

Pour One Out • August 14th, 2019

Pour One Out: Against All Odds I Dared To...

"Pour One Out" is a live storytelling event curated by Ada Cheng. "Against All Odds, I Dared to" tells my story of moving to Chicago from Joliet, IL to pursue theater.

Live Event • July 28th, 2019

This Is Not My America

"This Is Not My America" was a live indie event curated and produced by Donyae Asante. This performance poem discusses the myth of the American Dream within the metaphor of my father and a scratch off lottery ticket.

Red Talk • June 23rd, 2019

Red Tape Theatre's Red Talk: Riot

In Red Tape Theater's inaugural "Red Talk," I told a story about my jr. high self and my since experience of coming into my power.

Live Event • January 10th, 2019

Underworld Homecoming Bash

"Underworld Homecoming Bash" was a live fundraising event to promote Violet Eye Theater's adaptation of "Underworld Anthem." I performed a poem that discusses the power of the nonbinary gender identity.