House of SpeakEasy: Seriously Entertaining

Seriously Entertaining is House of SpeakEasy's critically-acclaimed literary cabaret series. Each show brings together four incredible writers for a fast-paced, thought-provoking, and often surprising night of original storytelling, connected by a common theme. 

The New York Times calls it “a literary mixtape [with] perfect flow and variety."

Our November show is on the theme My Family and Other Tragedies. Hosted by the inimitable Isaac Mizrahi, this show will feature the writers Glory Edim, Peter Godwin, Boo Trundle, and Tyler Wetherall, with a special appearance from Ellen Hagan and David Flores. Join us for an evening of heartfelt storytelling and family drama—the deadpan, the devastating, and the everything-in-between.

In January, we kick off the Seriously Entertaining new year with the theme Sunny Side Up. Bright beginnings, fragile hopes, and the strange alchemy of optimism—this theme invites writers to explore the light and the cracks that let it in. From the innocence of childhood to the vulnerability of starting over, from literal eggs to metaphorical fresh starts, Sunny Side Up is about facing the new year with humor, honesty, and maybe a little yolk on your face.

It’s Not Me, It’s You will be the animating theme for our February show. Whether it’s a scathing farewell, a family reckoning, or a cultural call-out, this theme invites writers to share stories of conflict, clarity, and the moment they realized they weren’t the problem. Funny, fiery, or tender, these are tales of letting go, drawing lines, and saying what needed to be said.

Riffing on Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, the theme of our March show is Pleasure for Pleasure—inviting a celebration (or interrogation) of joy, indulgence, and desire. Think hedonism, the politics of pleasure, guilt and gratification, romantic love, art for art’s sake, the cost of pursuing pleasure in a constrained world… It’s fun and fertile ground.

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Photo Credit: Jasmina Tomic