July 15

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As a biracial girl who grew up right off da’ Main Drag in small-town Wisconsin, Sorrina Bee has always stood out from the crowd. A fresh face on the scene, her storytelling and stand-up comedy cross-examine an idyllic suburban upbringing alongside her racial identity—and documented penchant for "making bad decisions." Sorrina Bee is a frequent performer at local open mics and showcases and an aspiring author, currently penning her debut novel and a collection of humorist essays. When she’s not on stage, Sorrina Bee earns her keep as a full-time writer and owner of Alter Ego Copy and The White Agency, a Brand Strategy consulting business. She lives in downtown Chicago with her fiancé and Newfydoodle, where she anxiously awaits for her human son to return home from college. Sorrina is a graduate of Marquette University. 

My name is Taylor Boyle and I have been married to my husband Mike for 20 years. We have three kids aged 22, 19 and 16.  I am a high school special education teacher and boys track and field coach. In my spare time I love to read, hike, crossfit and travel. We have one dog and 4 cats. I spend a lot of time volunteering at NAWS Mokena specifically fostering cats and kittens and assisting people in finding the perfect furry friend to adopt! I once thought I was going to have a public speaking career but now I get to speak to kids all day long so it worked out!  I am excited to begin my storytelling journey as I love to talk and enjoy listening to other people’s stories.

Lisa is excited to be a part of Stories R Us. Actually, she is excited to tell and listen to stories anytime and anywhere because of the magical way stories connect, inspire, and heal. Seldom does she make it through one story without interrupting herself with yet another story. 

Barbara Kirby spent many years as an elementary school teacher. Eventually, she transferred her teaching skills to become an editor for textbook publishing companies, such a McGraw Hill and Pearson. She also became a consultant for an educational testing company--a job that required quite a bit of travel to multiple states. A few years agoher children bought her a subscription to Storyworth. They asked her questions about her life, and she loved writing the answers. A book was published with her short stories. Now she enjoys telling these stories to the Stories R Us audiences. She wishes to thank Barbara Eberhard for mentoring her through storytelling workshops.

Laura Gillogly is a proud lifelong resident of Lockport, who is thrilled to share her story alongside so many other amazing storytellers. With a Master of Fine Arts in Performance, Laura is no stranger to the stage even though it’s been a couple of decades since her last performance! She is excited to bring those skills back to the stage as she connects with the audience in a whole new way. Laura also holds a Master’s degree in School Counseling and has spent the last 11 years helping high school students navigate their journeys. She is passionate about empowering young people to discover their true potential and thrive in all aspects of life. When she’s not working, Laura loves spending time with her husband, J.R., and their beautiful daughter, Norah. 

Mary Parkhurst claims to be a former teacher, retired dentist  forever grandmother and have had a long-time love of Stories I have been a fan of this group for many years, touched by the many stories of others’ lives.  I finally decided to jump in and share some of mine, a scary move but I have been supported every step of the way.