I was backstage at Vivarium minutes before stepping on stage for the premiere of my one-person show, Greg Marshall Pops Out of the Trees. Peaking through the curtain, I could see the room was full. I saw some family, friends, and people I didn’t recognize. My heart was pounding – I took a moment to breathe and receive the gift that was unfolding that night. But seriously, it was intense. When my daughters get nervous, I say things like, “This is pretty cool, isn’t it? Imagine how lame life would be if you never had a good reason to be nervous.” 

In that dimly lit corner of the universe, I smiled at the advice I had given to my daughters and applied it to my current situation. When it was time, I stepped onto the dark stage and into the light, and I knew I was exactly where I needed to be. My desire to write and perform this one-person show started growing a few years earlier. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I started a podcast to record stories that might encourage my daughters as they age. It was a chance to dig into my memories to unearth old stories and life lessons. It was wonderful. 

One day a thought appeared, “I wonder if I could turn these stories into a show?” That question came from a deeper place within myself. This wasn’t a flippant idea. It took a long time to bubble up to the surface and reveal itself, and when it did, I knew it was important. It was almost like a past version of me was saying, “Hey, remember when we started dreaming about being an actor as a little kid and never pursued it? What if we did that now?” 

Now, I get to be a storyteller every day. It’s what I do. I help businesses, nonprofits, schools, and individuals discover their story, and bring it to life. I’ve been doing that for a long time. But this was the first time I ever decided to use those skills for my own story. The time was right. 

The show itself is a mix of storytelling and music. Video and special audio moments are mixed in to bring it to life. I create music at pivotal moments in the show, using my voice, a guitar, and a looping pedal. It feels wonderful being able to weave together an experience that makes people laugh and feel deeply moved. 

A turning point in my decision to truly create this show and share it with people was at an Ex Fabula event.  The first time my wife and I attended an Ex Fabula StorySlam, I had no intention of telling a story. I just wanted to listen. But then I heard the topic. A story immediately came to my mind. I put my name in the hat… and I was selected to tell that story. Surprisingly, I won that night. Following the event, I was told I’d be invited to compete at the season finale, dubbed ALL STARS. Unbelievable. 

At ALL STARS, I told a story about a time when I was nineteen and at a party when the police came. The action that ensued was ridiculous and in some ways unbelievable. At the heart of that story was a moment in my life when I realized I might just exist to share stories with people. That night was pure joy for me. While I didn’t win the ALL STAR title, Nestor Gomez did! He was amazing, and I’m proud to have lost to him. Nestor told me about the show he was working on, a full hour-long story experience that would happen at a theater in Chicago. That confirmed the stirring I felt in myself. I wanted to do that, too. So I did. The show I’ve created – Greg Marshall Pops Out of the Trees – expands on the story I told at ALL STARS and the first story I told at Ex Fabula. Those two stories became the foundation for what is now an 80-minute show. 

I’m telling you… when I’m on stage telling these stories, and creating music, I feel like I’m caught up in a river that’s carrying me to exactly where I’m meant to be. But the reason I love doing this is not because I get to stand in front of people and share a story. I love it because every time I do it, more and more people tell me that my show caused them to think about their own stories in ways they never had before. 

That inspires me. Through my show, I get to introduce people to themselves. And I’ve realized, that’s why I’m here. I guess that’s what I have in common with ExFabula. 

Thank you for reading. 

I’d be grateful if you’d consider coming to my show!

Saturday, February 15, 2025

At Vivarium

Doors open at 7 pm CST, the show starts at 8 pm CST

If you’re curious, check out this link: https://www.pabsttheatergroup.com/events/detail/greg-marshall-2025