We all have them – Tales from times when things didn’t look likely; when chances seemed slim at best and all hope was hanging by a thread. At last night’s StorySlam we heard from ten storytellers who carried that thread and shared personal stories in response to the theme “Against the Odds.”

Death defying Donald told about how he miraculously brought a zombie dog back from the other side. Erin refused to give up her hopes of recovering her long lost hat – even if getting it back meant she’d have to snatch it off a stranger’s head. And Joli braved the bowels of a pink Chinatown Bus to dig for an abandoned burrito and a prized journal.

Our winning and Audience Favorite story came from beloved First Person Arts storyteller, Bernardo. Perhaps the odds were in Bernardo’s favor last night. As a frequent First Person Arts storyteller and two-time Grand Slam competitor, Bernardo’s candid spirit and storytelling prowess quickly won over the audience judges. Travel to Bogota, Columbia with Bernardo and witness how he turns a terrifying experience into a touching tale in the video of his winning performance below. Click here to see what our friends at Philebrity had to say about Bernardo’s story.


Winning Storyteller and Audience Favorite, Bernardo – “Against the Odds” StorySlam

Congratulations Bernardo! Stay tuned for more videos coming soon to the First Person Arts YouTube channel. Special thanks to all of our “Against the Odds” storytellers and to everyone who came out.

Join us for the next Slam:

Theme: The Ex-Files
Date: Tuesday, February 14
Location: World Cafe Live (3025 Walnut Street)
Time: Doors open at 7:30PM, Slam starts at 8:30PM
Price: $10, $8 for First Person Arts members
All-ages, $3 Yuengling draft specials

If you want to guarantee a table at the Slam, make a reservation with World Cafe Live! Call 215-222-1400 after 10:00 AM up until the Monday of the Slam.

-Becca Jennings

Happy New Year! Before we post 2012′s stories, let’s take a look back at some of 2011′s most watched videos from the First Person Arts YouTube channel.

#5 Janet, “Family Ties”
Buckle up and hit the road for a family trip with “Family Ties” Winner and Audience Favorite, Janet in our #5 most viewed story. After checking out her tale, you’ll be keeping on the sunny side with Janet all the way from St. Louis to Florida.


#4 Bernardo Strange Encounters
Tune into our #4 pick by Bernardo and follow the signs to experiencing how strange the everyday can be.


#3 Sarah, “The Ex-Files”
Load up your Uhaul and scavenge through the classified ads for a new home fitting for a recent divorcee in this our #3 most viewed story by Sarah. Oh, and be sure to steer clear of mobile homes rendered in brick where plumbing is irrelevant. But you probably knew that already.


#2 Marla, “Beasts”
Our #2 pick teaches us an important lesson about the economics of gravity. Skeptical about trickle down theory? Not in West Philadelphia. Check out the #2 most watched video by Marla and find out what crashes through her bathroom ceiling. (And no, it wasn’t a hallucination after not taking her anxiety meds for months.)


#1 Rodrick, “Do the Right Thing”
Unsurprisingly our #1 most viewed video of 2011 is a very special story that puts the “I do” in “Do the Right Thing.” Witness the first-ever First Person proposal in the video below.


-Becca Jennings

Last night we kicked off the 2011-2012 Slam season with ten audience storytellers who got into the spirit of the holidays with real life stories all inspired by the theme “Naughty or Nice.” Our winning story came from Marjorie, a first time StorySlammer whose story begins and ends with an image of hope: a naked man feeding her pie.

(It was cherry pie. Yeah…we asked.)

Marjorie’s story reminds us that when you’ve just witnessed your husband being taken away in handcuffs that jingle jangle jingle and you’re too sad to sing the blues, a naked man with a warm heart and a warm pie just might be right around your corner.

Congratulations to Majorie and last night’s Audience Favoite, Mega Matt! Don’t miss their winning performances in the videos below.


“Naughty or Nice” StorySlam. Storyteller, Majorie



“Naughty or Nice” StorySlam. Storyteller, Mega Matt


-Becca Jennings

Last night’s winning storyteller, Martha, is the kind of gal you want to keep around…and not just because she’s a great storyteller. At her first big win just a few of weeks ago, she told a story about how she escaped arrest in Ireland at the “Weird Trips” Slam. This time she showed her tough side again with a story that packs a punch. Check out Martha’s winning story in the video below! Don’t miss what Philebrity had to say about her story.

As a tribute to Martha I typed this with one finger.

Congratulations Martha! Congratulations also to last night’s Audience Favorite, Nathan! See them both compete for the title of “Best Storyteller in Philadelphia” at the 2011 Fall Grand Slam.


“After Hours” Overall Winner, Martha


“After Hours” Audience Favorite, Nathan

Next StorySlam:
Date: Monday, September 12
Location: World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.
Theme: Back to School
Doors at 7:30, Slam starts at 8:30
$10, $8 for First Person Members
All ages, $3 Yuengling Draft Specials

-Becca Jennings

At the “Weird Trips” StorySlam last Monday our stories took us from a family vaca with sitcom parents, to witnessing stabbings in the Amazon rain-forest, to discovering manhood in the motherland.

Our winning and Audience Favorite story from first time StorySlammer, Martha, showed us what happens when you overstay your welcome and leave your immigration status up to the luck of the Irish. Pack your bags and try to get around the system with Martha and check out the video of her winning performance below!

Congratulations Martha! Special thanks to all of our “Weird Trips” storytellers and everyone who came out last Monday.


Winning Storyteller and Audience Favorite, Martha

Last night’s “Small World” StorySlam winner and Audience Favorite, Deniz, reminded us all that sitting next to a drunk Russian on an airplane is definitely funnier in retrospect. (Now it makes sense that he’s so scared to fly.) Cheers, Deniz! At least you got a story out of it!

Because Deniz has already won a StorySlam this season and is scheduled to compete in the Grand Slam, last night’s second place winner, Kate, was awarded the Golden Ticket and the chance to compete for the title of “Best Storyteller in Philadelphia” at this year’s Fall Grand Slam at the First Person Festival in November.

Check out video from Deniz’s winning performances below! Don’t miss what Philebrity had to say about Deniz’s story. Stay tuned for more videos from Kate and all of our “Small World” storytellers coming soon to the First Person Arts YouTube Channel.


Winning Storyteller and Audience Favorite, Deniz

Next First Person Arts StorySlam
Date: Monday, August 8
Location: World Cafe Live
3025 Walnut Street
Theme: Weird Trips
Time: Doors at 7:30pm, Slam starts at 8:30pm
Price: $10 at the door, $8 for First Person members
All-ages, $3 Yuengling Draft Specials

What makes a better neighbor? Shared fences or language barriers? Private driveways or privacy blinds? Homemade wine or store bought I’m sorry I almost lit the house on fire gifts?

It was all up in the hood at last night’s “Neighbors” StorySlam. Join last night’s winning storyteller and Audience Favorite, Andrew, for a solo dance rendition inspired by Itsy Bitsy Spider in the video below.

Congratulations Andrew! Stay tuned for more stories from all of our storytellers coming soon to our YouTube channel.


Andrew, “Neighbors” Overall winner and Audience Favorite

-Becca Jennings

Didn’t get it quite right the first time? Neither did our ten storytellers at Tuesday night’s “Do Overs” StorySlam. We loved and lost a cartoon soul mate, declined the DMV worker’s fig newtons, and reclaimed “Jewessness” in Moscow. But it was our winning storyteller who sent us strutting across the dance floor towards reunion redemption.

Nothing says “Do Over” like a high school reunion. When you find yourself swallowing your sixth grade pride, surrounded by all the people who witnessed the most awkward years of your life, there’s only one thing left to do: ask to see baby pictures. Don’t miss the winning story behind Kevin’s high school reunion redemption in the video below.

P.S. Kevin, I think everybody liked you…

Congratulations Kevin! Congratulations also to Audience Favorite, R. Eric Thomas. Stay tuned for more videos from all over our storytellers coming soon to the First Person Arts YouTube channel.


Kevin, Do Overs Winning Storyteller


R. Eric Thomas, Do Overs Audience Favorite

Next First Person StorySlam:
FRIDAY, JULY 8
Location: Venetian Social Club (8030 Germantown Ave.)
Theme: Firsts
Time: Slam starts at 7:30pm
Price: $10 at the door. $8 for First Person members.

-Becca Jennings

All of our “Do the Right Thing” StorySlammers were on fire Monday night, but there was one storyteller who really got down. That is…on one knee. Witness the first-ever First Person proposal in the video below.

Congratulations to Roderick and Kendra! We wish you the best as you write a new chapter in your story together. We’re looking forward to the wedding invitations.

While one of our storytellers tied the knot in the first half, two storytellers were breaking ties in the second. Two of our students from R. Eric Thomas’ The Shape of the Story class, Michael and Deniz, slammed it neck and neck into a final tie breaker. A very proud R. Eric Thomas was beaming somewhere between elbows and large hair-do’s in the standing room only audience. Our newly engaged couple Roderick and Kendra picked the tie-break theme, “Between a Rock and a Hard Place.”

Deniz walked away the overall winner and Audience Favorite, but I have a feeling this isn’t the last we will be hearing from Michael.

Check out videos of Roderick’s and Deniz’s performances below. Stay tuned for videos from all of our storytellers coming soon to our YouTube channel.





Are you ready for a summer vacation? We are! Join us this Saturday, June 18 for a Slam at the Kimmel Center Solstice Celebration. The theme is Summer Vacation. Slam starts at 7:30pm. Free with Solstice admission.

-Becca Jennings

It’s Summer Grand Slam time again and we want you to meet this year’s contestants so you’ll be in the know when we crown the best storyteller in Philadelphia on Wednesday, May 25!

Todd won our Holiday Spirit Slam when he told a touching story about helping one of his students design art for an upstart skateboard company that ends with him defecating into a gift bag on the Main Line! (Of course it does!) Watch the video of the story below!

Name: Todd Marrone
Current Location: Belmont Hills, PA
Slam won: December at L’Etage (Holiday Spirit)
Favorite Philly summer activity: Waiting for the fall
What’s your dream StorySlam theme? What I Like About Todd Marrone
Tell us a summer story in 10 words: I once got my face caught in a hot tub.
What’s the best story you ever heard? My childhood best friend told me that Gene Simmons’s tongue was originally 20 feet long and he had to have it shortened to fit in his mouth.
What makes a great story? What makes a great storyteller? A point. Sincerity.
Why should your competitors watch their backs? They should backup their watches.



Look for more slammers over the next few days and don’t miss the Grand Slam!

- Laura Reeve