EST's "Truth Be Told"

Truth Be Told

Season 1: "Love and Monsters" TRUTH BE TOLD is an ongoing series of true story nights — each centered on a theme — told by members of the Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York City as well the larger community that EST sustains. Held several times a year, TBT features 6-8 storytellers who each share a 10-minute absolutely true story that's  bold, vulnerable, full of insight, and (almost always!) raucous humor.  Season 1 features 14 stories over 7 weeks, all from our first two evenings: "First Love/First Lust" (released  Mondays) and "Scary Monsters!" (released Thursdays).  TRUTH BE TOLD was created by Susan Kim and David Zellnik. Each episode was produced and scored by Eric Svejcar. Logo design by Joseph Zellnik. 

Episodes

  1. 17H AGO

    “That Time Hannibal Lecter Ruined My Dad's Filmmaking Dreams” by Fernando Buzhar Segall

    From TRUTH BE TOLD's September 25th, 2025 show ("Scary Monsters!") Fernando Buzhar Segall's "That Time Hannibal Lecter Ruined My Dad's Filmmaking Dream" tells the story of the collapse of one movie director's ambitions after an on set encounter with a genuine monster... Fernando is a Brazilian born writer based in NYC for 10 years. He is a recent recipient of the Sloan commission and a proud member of the Youngblood writers group. He writes plays in NYC, movies in Brazil, and is mostly just having a good time. TRUTH BE TOLD was created by Susan Kim and David Zellnik and each episode was produced and scored by Eric Svejcar. Logo designed by Joseph Zellnik.

    13 min

  2. 3D AGO

    “Brian Kinney” by Michael Walek

    From TRUTH BE TOLD's June 10th, 2025 show ("First Love/First Lust") Michael Walek's "Brian Kinney" tells how a secret late-night TV show changed one boy's life.   Michael Walek is a director, producer, and writer based in New York City.  TRUTH BE TOLD was created by Susan Kim and David Zellnik and each episode was produced and scored by Eric Svejcar. Logo designed by Joseph Zellnik.

    9 min

  3. MAY 14

    "Count Yorga, Vampire" by Laura Maria Censabella

    From TRUTH BE TOLD's September 25th, 2025 show ("Scary Monsters!") Laura Maria Censabella's "Count Yorga, Vampire" tells the story of a  campy movie monster who teaches a child her first lessons in human betrayal. Laura has received three grants from the New York Foundation for the Arts in Playwriting and Screenwriting, and her play Carla Cooks The War won the Saroyan/Paul Human Rights Playwriting Prize. Her play Paradise was produced by Viola Davis and Julius Tennon, and Beyond Words was a recent Boston Globe Critic’s Pick. TRUTH BE TOLD was created by Susan Kim and David Zellnik and each episode was produced and scored by Eric Svejcar. Logo designed by Joseph Zellnik.

    17 min

  4. MAY 11

    "Untitled Typewriter Story" by David Zellnik

    From TRUTH BE TOLD's June 10th, 2025 show ("First Love/First Lust") David Zellik's  "Untitled Typewriter Story" tells of what happens when David's mom discovers a porn he has written on her hand-me-down typewriter. He is 12 years old.  DAVID ZELLNIK is a playwright, lyricist, and monologist based in NYC and Vienna. Also he was once a nerdy gay kid in 1980’s South Jersey in love with musicals. He and his brother Joseph wrote the WW2 love story Yank!, and with composer Eric Svejcar, the serial musical podcast Loveville High. For more, check out davidzellnik.net. TRUTH BE TOLD was created by Susan Kim and David Zellnik and each episode was produced and scored by Eric Svejcar. Logo designed by Joseph Zellnik.

    14 min
  5. "Evan; or, The Witch King of Belmont" by Chris Gonzalez

    MAY 7

    "Evan; or, The Witch King of Belmont" by Chris Gonzalez

    From TRUTH BE TOLD's September 25th, 2025 show ("Scary Monsters!") Chris Gonzalez's "Evan; or, The Witch King of Belmont" tells the story of a very damaged, very human monster stalking Portland, Oregon. Chris Gonzalez is a playwright based in Brooklyn, NY, and Portland, OR. He is the playwright for the Portland Experimental Theater Ensemble. Last year, with PETE, he wrote The Americans and Cardiac Organ: A Goth Cabaret. Chris has been an Artist in Residence at CoHo Theater, and has taught devised physical theater at the School of Dance and Contemporary Thought and Portland Playhouse. He has also taught writing for Devised Theater at the Institute of Contemporary Performance.  TRUTH BE TOLD was created by Susan Kim and David Zellnik and each episode was produced and scored by Eric Svejcar. Logo designed by Joseph Zellnik.

    10 min

  6. MAY 4

    "Storytime" by Akyiaa Wilson

    From TRUTH BE TOLD's June 10th, 2025 show ("First Love/First Lust") Akyiaa Wilson's "Storytime" tells of what happens when a potentially clueless girl finds herself alone with the cutest boy in class... who also happens to be the school's drug dealer.  Akyiaa Wilson is an actor, writer, comprehensive personal aesthetics professional and cardigan fetishist born and raised in Brooklyn. Cute baby pics at akyiaa-wilson.com. TRUTH BE TOLD was created by Susan Kim and David Zellnik and each episode was produced and scored by Eric Svejcar. Logo designed by Joseph Zellnik.

    15 min

  7. APR 30

    "Rex" by Susan Kim

    From TRUTH BE TOLD's September 25th, 2025 show ("Scary Monsters") Susan Kim's "Rex" tells of a very famous monster, backstage and on set. Susan writes plays, books, documentaries, and quite a bit of kids' TV. A flaneuse who fortunately lives in Manhattan, the best city for that kind of thing, she loves animals and funny people, and really wishes we could all just get along.  TRUTH BE TOLD was created by Susan Kim and David Zellnik and each episode was produced and scored by Eric Svejcar. Logo designed by Joseph Zellnik.

    13 min
  8. "Birthday" by Joe Gilford

    APR 27

    "Birthday" by Joe Gilford

    From TRUTH BE TOLD's June 10th, 2025 show ("First Love/First Lust") Joe Gilford's "Birthday" tells of the  eternal battle between love and fear... and about his very noisy first time in 1960's Greenwich Village. Joe Gilford is a playwright and screenwriter living in Brooklyn. His play "Finks" was a Drama Desk nominee and his new screenplay "Chiaroscuro" is in pre-preparation, for filming in 2027. He teaches screenwriting at NYU and spends most days gazing out his window hoping for the best. More at joegilford.com  TRUTH BE TOLD was created by Susan Kim and David Zellnik and each episode was produced and scored by Eric Svejcar. Logo designed by Joseph Zellnik.

    11 min

  9. SEASON 1 TRAILER

    Season 1 Teaser: "Love and Monsters"

    This podcast draws from a hit true story night created by Susan Kim and David Zellnik at Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York City. It features members of EST—and friends—who tell heartbreaking, embarrassing, hilarious, true stories based on a theme. This season draws from our first two sold-out evenings in 2025: “First Love, First Lust” and “Scary Monsters.” Each of these 14 episodes will feature one story, and was recorded, scored, and produced by Eric Svejcar. For seven-weeks, stories of love and lust will be released every Monday, and scary monsters every Thursday.

    2 min

Trailer

About

Season 1: "Love and Monsters" TRUTH BE TOLD is an ongoing series of true story nights — each centered on a theme — told by members of the Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York City as well the larger community that EST sustains. Held several times a year, TBT features 6-8 storytellers who each share a 10-minute absolutely true story that's  bold, vulnerable, full of insight, and (almost always!) raucous humor.  Season 1 features 14 stories over 7 weeks, all from our first two evenings: "First Love/First Lust" (released  Mondays) and "Scary Monsters!" (released Thursdays).  TRUTH BE TOLD was created by Susan Kim and David Zellnik. Each episode was produced and scored by Eric Svejcar. Logo design by Joseph Zellnik. 

Information

  • Creator
    Truth Be Told
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 EST's "Truth Be Told"
  • Show Website
    EST's "Truth Be Told"

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