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Top: Morgan Claybourne, Jordan Stags, Anna Simpson, Jack Kirkendall Bottom: Deborah Smoots, Caitlyn Burrus, Lisa Marie Burwell, Anna Gilchrist, Katie Ogletree, Michaiah Smoots

La Scène: Emerald Coast Storytellers Third Anniversary Open Mic Night

August 2025

Photography by Hunter Burgtorf

Creatives, writers, and other storytellers of all kinds gathered by ambient lighting at the Emerald Coast Theatre Co. at Grand Boulevard on July 10, 2025, to celebrate the third anniversary of Emerald Coast Storytellers. A lineup of poetry, prose, and even a scripted skit—an ECS first—was enjoyed by a full house of guests alongside a beautiful spread from Charcuterie by Shelli. VIE’s editor-in-chief/CEO, Lisa Marie Burwell, took the stage as the evening’s featured storyteller. Congratulations to ECS founders Kristy Holditch and Ali Diamond, and to all who have bravely taken the mic at their events, on three years of beautiful stories and community!

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Kevin Elliott, Deborah Smoots, Jordan Staggs, Brittany Tucker, Lisa Marie Burwell, Michaiah Smoots

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Kristy Holditch, Lisa Marie Burwell, Jordan Staggs, Ali Diamond

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Lindsay Tobias

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Lucinda Bunn

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Top: Morgan Claybourne, Jordan Stags, Anna Simpson, Jack Kirkendall Bottom: Deborah Smoots, Caitlyn Burrus, Lisa Marie Burwell, Anna Gilchrist, Katie Ogletree, Michaiah Smoots