The oldest human art form comes to the stage for the Detroit Story Fest – live journalism that celebrates our city. Real stories, real stakes, told equally by journalists that have spent their lives covering Detroit, and your neighbors who call it home. Story Fest showcases the city’s best storytellers alongside comedians, filmmakers, dancers, and musicians for a performance that’s second to none.

Michigan Public's April Baer will share a behind the scenes look into reporting of the Gordie Howe International Bridge. She'll revisit why the Detroit-Windsor crossing is key to the economic lives of both countries, and how Canada - the perennial good neighbor - got stuck footing the bill for the new bridge, and how the Moroun family made repeated attempts to stop the project. April Baer will be joined by journalist Andrew Lapin, who reported and produced an episode about the bridges for the podcast 99% Invisible.

This year’s theme is: Villains, featuring stories about what we fear, what we misunderstand, and what we become. What might you encounter? Inquiring minds would like to know.

Detroit Story Fest is presented by the Detroit Opera and Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. And is sponsored by the Knight Foundation, with Supporting Sponsor Knight-Wallace Fellowship.