You don’t say? Dallas Comedy Club’s storytelling show ‘I Told You So!’ hopes to grow its audience

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Dallas Comedy Club’s storytelling show “I Told You So!” just started its third year. 

The show is built on the idea that most real-life stories can be funny with the right lens. To illustrate this point, “I Told You So!” creator Dan Sturdivant sent a video of Susan Newton performing such a story. Despite not being able to play a musical instrument, she signed up for rock ’n’ roll fantasy camp so that she could give Steven Tyler a copy of her screenplay featuring Aerosmith’s music. 

Hilarity and secondhand embarrassment ensues. 

“There’s humor everywhere,” said Sturdivant, who also teaches a storytelling class at Dallas Comedy Club.

A typical “I Told You So!” show includes three performers sharing true and personal stories live, Sturdivant said. Then, an improv comedy group in the audience uses the stories, which they haven’t heard beforehand, to create scenes. Each show has new stories and improv scenes. 

The adult-centered show isn’t necessarily one to bring your kids to, but the stories are safe for the family and only use curse words when warranted by the narrative, Sturdivant said.

“One thing that I believe, and a lot of the clubs in the Dallas area believe, is you never punch down. You always punch up, and what I mean by that is you don’t make fun of people; you make fun of yourself,” he said. “The stories are typically something that you would tell anybody in your family.”

Storytelling comedy looks similar to stand-up, but a difference is the way these sometimes relatable stories endure in the memory as opposed to jokes alone, Sturdivant said.

“You can have somebody go to a stand-up show. When they come home, they may remember one or two jokes, but if you go to a storytelling show, you’re going to come home, you’re going to remember everything about each one of those stories because they’re presented in a way that makes it endearing to you,” he said. 

In year No. 3, Sturdivant hopes to grow the “I Told You So!” audience and usher in a younger crowd to join in on the fun. 

“Come see a show that will make you smile and laugh!” reads the description on Dallas Comedy Club’s website. “It will leave you feeling like you have a deeper appreciation for being human.”

“I Told You So!” shows are held monthly on the evenings of every fourth Sunday. Tickets are $14.99 each and can be bought here. Dallas Comedy Club is in Deep Ellum near the corner of Hall and Elm Streets.