This year proved to be quite a curious one for performer Mike Daisey. Not only did he unleash the soft-spoken fury of Ira Glass after admitting to exaggerating parts of his Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs monologue, but perhaps because of that controversy he's now more popular than ever. As the saying goes, all press is good press, right?

And while we admit we threw a bit of a Whatchu Talkin' Bout Willis side-eye at Daisey after he made Ira Glass NPR-angry (his voice inflections changed slightly), there's no denying that Daisey is one of the most talented storytellers of our generation, maybe of any generation. We're pretty sure he could make a story about watching a puddle of water evaporate interesting.

Well, if he could make that interesting, imagine now what he can do with a performance entitled, The Orient Express (Or, the Value of Failure), a new monologue he'll be workshopping FOR FREE this Sunday, July 29, at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company at 7 p.m. The monologue, inspired by his own scandal, has him contemplating failure and how stories, myths, lies and legends weave their way into our consciousness to mingle with truth and facts.

Intrigued? We are. Reserve your tickets now (space is very limited), by calling (202) 393-3939, checking online at Woolly's site or stopping by in person. The box office is located at the performance site at 641 D St., NW.