In case you’re just getting back from a three-month stint in Siberia or are just generally unaware of the Philly arts scene (though how could that be the case, if you’re a fan of First Person?!), then let me tell you about this little thing called the Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe. It’s just your run-of-the-mill two-week long extravaganza of theater, music, dance and just about every combination of multi-media, interdisciplinary collaboration you can think of that features some of the best performers from Philly and around the world. Yeah, it’s very ho hum.
And this year features some very first person-y projects. Here are our picks for pieces featuring documentary and memoir. But I want to hear what YOU’RE going to see, memoir, documentary, real life, fake life, whatever. Tell me in the comments.
Cankerblossom- Ok, it’s totally not memoir but it does feature former First Person Arts Artist-in-Residence Beth Nixon, so we can’t wait. (Beth is awesome! And she rocks cardboard like nobody’s business.)
Cedric Andrieux- Biography by way of dance. Plus, he’s one beautiful man. (See photo above) Even better, mention First Person and get 20% off your tickets.*
Journey to the West- Avant-garde first person storytelling based on the experiences of Chinese opera artists in the West.
Let’s Face It! Self Portraits and Life Stories- Helmed by FPA’s own Linda Dubin Garfield, this free event lets you tell your story via self-portraiture. Don’t just take my word for it… it was just pulled out as a City Paper fest pick.
No One Else Could Love You More- This documentary film provides a behind-the-scenes look at Philly’s own Headlong Dance Company and the making of their piece more.
Polaroid Stories- Based on Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the UArts Theater Department show centers around a story slam like you’ve never seen before.
What are you going to see? Tell me in the comments!
*Cannot be combined with other offers. Not valid on student or 25 and under tickets.
Photo by Jaime Roque de la Cruz

The first round of this summer’s First Person Museum StoryCircles is well underway. Over the last two weeks, we have made some fantastic visits to our community partners, and started doing one of the most rewarding things we can do:  listen.

So far, the stories that have been shared by participants have been electrifying. Each account comes from a different place in the city: Norris Square, Germantown Avenue and Hunting Park. Each storyteller comes from a different generation; from proud grandmothers to our youngest participant so far- just eight years old!

Members at Village Of The Arts & Humanities swap stories.

But in all, each story has so greatly reminded us of our many connections to one another on our day to day adventures in Philadelphia.

The objects that have been shared have emphasized the importance of noticing what the small things in life mean to us when we take a bigger look.

Serena holds a photo of a participant's 40 year-old portrait.

Hopefully, The First Person Museum will display these community stories as small but intricate pieces of  the  huge and dynamic story of what makes Philadelphia so vibrant.

Over the next few weeks, I will be visiting upcoming StoryCircles to bring photos and video from our visits. As a storyteller behind the lens, I invite you to come on the journey of these community visits with me and not just explore the art of storytelling, but the art of community building.

Artifacts at the Village For Arts & Humanities

Village Artist and StoryCircle member Jon Kaufman.

Art found in Norris Square Project's learning center.

Our next Story Circle is TONIGHT, hosted by First Person Arts.

Upcoming StoryCircles

• Thursday, August 5 hosted by the Coffee Cup
• Thursday, August 5 hosted by the Philadelphia Young Playwrights
• Wednesday, August 11 hosted by the Art Sanctuary

All events are FREE.

Bring yourselves and your story!
- Maya Shipman, Museum Marketing Intern

Like StorySlams? Think the themes could be even better? Wanna win free tickets? Check out our StorySlam theme contest, running till August 27.

UPDATED 8/27: This contest is now closed. Stay tuned for a fall announcement of our next season of StorySlam themes!

During our First Person Museum Planning Meeting in May, participants -including Lise Funderberg, author and FPA writing workshop leader- went around the room and shared stories about objects that have resonated with them. Samara Freemark from Radio Diaries shared the story of a well-worn atlas, Iris from Norris Square opened up about the handmade straw dolls she grew up with in Puerto Rico.

In the above video, Lise shares her ‘trash-picking find’ of a woman’s discarded sewing materials- and how her discovery of their shared hobby connected them, despite their many differences. She talks about how the objects in our lives connect us beyond the physical level- representing shared experiences that can transcend often daunting barriers. The lesson she takes away from this woman’s treasure, and one that we hope to expand upon in the First Person Museum, is learning how to appreciate each other. What might at first be considered life’s ‘mundane debris’ can also contain the transformative potential to unify and bond us to one another.

What objects have spoken to you? Tell us about them at next Wednesday’s First Person Museum StoryCircle. Get more details and RSVP here.
-Morgan Berman

Andrew Thompson may have lost his keys (and some dignity) when he was robbed on March 9th, but at least he didn’t lose that Red Bull. And thanks to his mugger, henceforth known as “Bartholomew,” Andrew also won both Overall Winner and Audience Favorite at Tuesday’s StorySlam at L’Etage.

See Andrew compete in our Fall Grand Slam on November 10th.

The First Person Museum is built upon the premise that everyone has a story to share and the objects we care about can become gateways for sharing some of our stories. In order to reach as wide of a group of storytellers as possible, First Person Arts has partnered with some amazing community organizations for StoryCircles. These are basically show and tells, where you can bring the stories and objects (if you still have them or they are easily transportable) that matter to you and share that story. Each one is facilitated by Dianna Marder of the Philadelphia Inquirer and either Katonya Mosley or Angel Hogan. Art Sanctuary and The Best Day of My Life (So Far) have already hosted StoryCircles but we have a bunch more coming up:

Saturday, July 24 hosted by the Norris Square Neighborhood Project
Tuesday, July 27 hosted by the Village of Arts and Humanities
Saturday, July 31 hosted by Ayuda Community Center
Wednesday, August 4 hosted by First Person Arts RSVP here.
Thrusday, August 5 hosted by the Coffee Cup
Wednesday, August 11 hosted by the Art Sanctuary
And there will be one more, date TBD, hosted by Philadelphia Young Playwrights.
All events are FREE.

If you’re interested in getting involved in any of these StoryCircles, write me with your questions or RSVP to the StoryCircle on August 4th.

They are an eclectic bunch this group… lawyers, actors, bloggers. They come from as far away as South Africa and as close as Delco. And they are bringing their best storytelling to Saturday’s Summer Grand Slam. Will you be there to cheer them on?

Wayne Brinkley
Naomi Brownstein
Natala Covert
Ben Drinen
Brenda G
Tremaine Johnson
Alex Kacala
Michael McCarry
Olga Schmutz
R. Eric Thomas
Leah Walton

I have to say, I was expecting a few more submissions to our “Tell a Story About the Storyteller” contest. I mean, come on, I know that anyone in the audience at our last StorySlam walked away with at least one story about host and Grand Slam contender Alex Kacala! The blue paper onesie, anyone? Don’t tell me that story didn’t affect you in some way!

That said, congratulations to Bill Tortorelli, Nake Haken and the mysterious, one name only Alexandra (Is she a rock star perhaps? In the mold of a Madonna or a Cher?). Each of them will get one free ticket to Saturday’s Summer Grand Slam and BBQ. Check out their tales below and you can still read the great Q & A answers from all of Saturday’s storytellers.

Nate on Ben
“Yeah, I know Ben. I didn’t know him when he got suspended from school for eating a mouse. I knew him later, after he got told by a football coach that he would never amount to beans. He and I hoofed it across the country, down into Mexico. We saw a goat down there.”

Bill on Alex
“I have noticed that Alex misattributed his childhood shames in his story at the January StorySlam. He claimed that his mother’s Armenian cookery led to his bad breath, flatulence, and excessive sweat; but I daresay that he continues to exhibit these traits to this very day, without daily doses of his mother’s delicious-sounding dishes.”

Alexandra on Olga
“If you need to learn about life, Olga IS the best person to tell you about it. Regardless of what’s going on, she will have a story similar to yours that will not only make you grateful for whatever is happening to you, it will make you laugh like nothing else and I guarantee, you will even feel good about the situation. Her way of expressing herself is simply unique, it’s impossible to forget any of her stories!”

We want to hear from anyone and everyone that knows our contestants. Are you a Co-Worker? Best Friend? Second Cousin? Ex-lover? Or did you have a transcendent experience watching them tell a story at a Slam? Whoever you are we want your most joyful/hilarious/insane/petrifying story! Post it in the comments section for your chance to win one free ticket to our Summer Grand Slam Competition, July 24th at the Painted Bride. Winners will be chosen on July 19th.This contest is now closed but keep reading about our storytellers! See who won here.

Tre’s Life Story:
I was raised in Trenton, NJ after my original home, Krypton, was blown up. After attending private school from K-6, I enrolled in Ewing Public Schools from 7-12. I graduated, attended University of Maryland where I earned a degree in English and a hatred for Duke. After college I taught for 3 years, and have since remained in education working various positions in schools and community organizations. I’m recently married and live with my wife and two cats in Center City.

Tre’s Winning Story: Whoppers (April at L’Etage) (This was a three-way tie that Tre won after the audience tie-breaking choice theme of “Smells”)
Ever notice how old people have a funny smell? Tre certainly has- in fact he has had a lifelong battle with his uncontrollable impulse to hold his breath whenever he encounters it! This struggle came to a head when he, as a resume building senior in high school, volunteered at an assisted living community. We are all grateful that he survived the ordeal!

Storyteller Q and A

1) What was the last thing (contest, competition, etc.) you’ve won? (not counting our StorySlam)
I won 2 crappy video games at a Cherry Hill Mall video game contest back in like, 1992.

2) The theme is Show and Tell. What was the silliest/best/coolest object you took to Show and Tell in elementary school?
I went to a Lutheran private school from K-6 that didn’t have show-and-tell. If anything, we were all asked to bring in our sins.

3) What is unique about your storytelling style?
I think the most unique thing about my storytelling style is probably my sense of humor, which is pretty stream-of-consciousness-like.

4) Why should your Slam opponents be nervous about competing against you?
Because, as you can imagine based on my picture, I have Batman on my side.
 
5) Boring question double header- where do you live (neighborhood or town) and how old are you?
I live in Center City and I’m 32 years old.

Okay fans, here is where you get to have your say! Post away! And check out our other contestants by clicking here.

By now of course you know that First Person Arts’ Summer Grand Slam is coming up on Saturday, July 24th at the Painted Bride Art Center, and that the pre-Slam BBQ is going to feature barbecue from Sweet Lucy’s, Herr’s potato chips, Narraganset beer and tastings of ROOT liqueur.  You can buy your tickets here.

Or do you want to try and get FREE TICKETS? Win our “Tell a Story About the Storyteller” competition and you’ll receive a free ticket to the Grand Slam and BBQ. Here’s how it works:

We want to hear from anyone and everyone that knows our contestants. Are you a Co-Worker? Best Friend? Second Cousin? Ex-lover? Or did you have a transcendent experience watching them tell a story at a Slam? We want your most joyful/hilarious/insane/petrifying story about our storyteller!

This contest is now closed. See who won here.

Click on any Storyteller below and post a remarkable (but true) story about him or her in the comments section of their page! It can be any ‘theme’ you want, it just needs to knock our socks off! On July 19th we’ll pick the best submissions and the winners each get one free ticket to the Summer Grand Slam and BBQ on July 24th.*

Here are the Storytellers competing this year. Lets see what you got!!

Wayne Brinkley
Naomi Brownstein
Natala Covert
Ben Drinen
Brenda G
Tremaine Johnson
Alex Kacala
Michael McCarry
Olga Schmutz
R. Eric Thomas
Leah Walton

* One winner per storyteller. Please submit only one story per storyteller.