First Person Arts » 2009

February 2009

I’m a little slower getting these together than I’d hoped thanks to some peculiar behavior on the part of YouTube, but here are three stories from Tuesday night:

I’m hoping to get the full slate posted on Monday, just in time for the next StorySlam on Tuesday, March 3rd. Thanks for coming out this week, and we hope to see you at World Cafe Live.

And the “Audience Favorite” winner…

…from Tuesday night’s StorySlam was also Amy Malissa, with a hilarious story set on a Wyoming dude ranch. Congratulations Amy, we’ll see you in the Grand Slam at the 2009 First Person Festival!

Hope you’ll all join us for March 3rd’s “Hidden Talents” StorySlam downstairs at World Cafe Live. We’re doing it in partnership with the Free Library for One Film and One Book, One Philadelphia, and it’s a great big space, so we really want to turn out a big crowd. There’s free parking! (turn right off of Chestnut St. at 31st and park under the Walnut St. bridge) and World Cafe will have drink specials and a nice modestly priced menu for dinner. The show starts at 8pm, but the doors open at 6pm, so you should come have dinner early and hang out with storytellers, First Person Arts staff and folks from the Free Library. Get your tickets here!

We were NOT alone last night!

You all are just the best story lovers in the world. Thanks for turning out in such great numbers last night! Here’s your winner, Amy Malissa. Videos and the Audience Favorite, coming soon!

Also coming soon? Another StorySlam–this one is on March 3rd at World Cafe Live. Not to be missed!

Buy your tickets here.

TONIGHT TONIGHT TONIGHT StorySlam at L’Etage

Remind yourself how much fun the StorySlams are by burning your lunch hour (if you take a late lunch) with the stories from last month’s “Bad Idea” StorySlam:

And then come on out tonight for “I Think We’re Alone.” It’ll be well worth the 8 bucks:

Theme: I Think We’re Alone
When: Tuesday, February 24th. Doors at 7:30. Slam begins at 8:30.
Where: L’Etage Cabaret at 6th and Bainbridge
Who: You, the terrified, the lover and the lovelorn. Michael McCarry will host!
Why: You’ll have recovered from Valentine’s Day
How much: $8 with $4 well drinks all night (6-pack of tix for $40)

StorySlam Tuesday Night: I Think We’re Alone

Come see Michael McCarry host, and tell a story about a time when you thought you were alone…

You can buy a 6-pack of tickets right here to use or give as a gift right here.

Winners of the 2008 First Person Impressions Competition

The winners of the 2008 First Person Impressions competition have been selected:

Memoir
1st place: Cushing’s Final Essay, Frances Grote
2nd place: The Wishing Chair, Sylvia M. DeSantis
3rd place: The Palazzo, Gail Wilkinson
Honorable Mention: Walled City, Ed Weinberg

Frank Sinatra at the First Person Salon

Okay, not THAT Frank Sinatra…

At the February 11th, 2009 First Person Salon, photographer Marianne Bernstein gave a sneak preview of her forthcoming book, Tatted, published through Grit City, Inc.

Frank Sinatra (yes, his real name), who will be featured on the cover of the book, was in the audience and gave us a live show.

The Salons continue every 2nd Wednesday of the month at The Laurie Beechman Cabaret at The Philadelphia Arts Bank, 601 S. Broad. Doors open at 7pm, and the Salon begins at 7:30. More info can be found at salons.firstpersonarts.org.

Tatted is due out in November, 2009. Contact Grit City, Inc. for further information.

“I Think We’re Alone” StorySlam Feb. 24th

Ticket 6-Packs available for $40 here

Here’s a nice “Awkward Pause” from Michael McCarry from last year:

And remember the Hidden Talents slam the following week, March 3rd, at World Cafe Live, part of One Book, One Philadelphia. Buy tickets here in advance!

You never know who harbors a Hidden Talent…