EST's "Truth Be Told" cover art

EST's "Truth Be Told"

EST's "Truth Be Told"

By: Truth Be Told
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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.

© 2026 EST's "Truth Be Told" Art
Episodes
  • “That Time Hannibal Lecter Ruined My Dad's Filmmaking Dreams” by Fernando Buzhar Segall

    “That Time Hannibal Lecter Ruined My Dad's Filmmaking Dreams” by Fernando Buzhar Segall
    May 21 2026

    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.
    Show More Show Less
    13 mins
  • “Brian Kinney” by Michael Walek

    “Brian Kinney” by Michael Walek
    May 18 2026

    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.
    Show More Show Less
    9 mins
  • "Count Yorga, Vampire" by Laura Maria Censabella

    "Count Yorga, Vampire" by Laura Maria Censabella
    May 14 2026

    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.
    Show More Show Less
    17 mins
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