Dust off your childhood diary for 'Mortified'

Is there any contemporary art form that has taken off like the open-mic tell-all? From national public radio networks to our own popular Moth StorySlam at Cliff Bell's, people are more receptive than ever to the confessional tone of the average person telling cringe- or giggle-inducing tales. Narrative nonfiction has proven to be a very special kind of crowd-pleaser.

A special subgroup of that genre trades off the endearing foibles of childhood. It's a special show called "Mortified." Here's the setup: People find the now-hilarious diary entries, love letters, and notes passed in homeroom from their childhood. They then get up on stage and read these to an audience that's all too ready to laugh at and sympathize with those awkward years. Participants have included people from all walks of life, at events all over the country, and even in Europe. The only rules are you have to be 22 or older and willing to share those journals, letters, poems, lyrics, paintings, even home movies. 

Interested? Want to dust off that diary and become part of a national phenomenon? Your timing couldn't be better. A Detroit-based production team is all set to head up a local version of the show: Mortified Detroit Live. All you have to do is send an email, probably with some clips or photos of your material, to organizing producer Lesa Ferencz, at [email protected]. 

Would you rather know a little bit better what you're easing yourself into? Take a look at this trailer for the Mortified Nation Netflix documentary