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10th Anniversary First Person Festival of Memoir and Documentary Art

Presented by First Person Arts at Christ Church Neighborhood House

November 10-November 20, 2011

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In celebration of its 10th anniversary, First Person Arts is extending the festival to 11 days of programs featuring local and nationally known artists in theater, film, literature, visual art, and storytelling -- all inspired by real life experience.

This year’s Festival features a surge of theater and storytelling. According to Founder and Executive Director Vicki Solot, “As our storytelling network grows, we are able to draw upon the vibrant community of artists in our midst. Given the success of last year’s one-man show, The Real Americans, and with more artists stretching the boundaries of solo work, we are putting live performance front and center at this year’s Festival.”

Two critically acclaimed one-woman shows have their Philadelphia premieres at the Festival: Liberty City, a multi-character, autobiographical piece about growing up in 1970’s Miami during the Black Power Movement, and Exit Cuckoo, a candid and sometimes critical look at motherhood and nannydom. Three Moth Grandslam winners bring their performance pieces, The Adam Wade from NH Show and Stripped Stories, to Philadelphia for the first time.

First Person RAW, First Person Arts’ showcase for emerging artists, features a second season of performances by artists who challenge traditional memoir and documentary forms. This year’s RAW series includes performances by the powerful spoken word poet Michelle Myers, innovative theater duo UnicornUnicorn (Thomas Choinacky and John Jarboe), and beloved Philadelphia storyteller R. Eric Thomas.

Other highlights include:

• the annual Festival prelude, the First Taste Fundraiser: Dinner and Silent Auction, this year honoring Steve Inskeep, host of NPR’s Morning Edition and author of a new book about his experiences in Pakistan.
• Sonia Sanchez returns to the First Person Festival for the kick-off of Peace is a Haiku Song, a new haiku and mural collaboration between First Person Arts and the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program.
• Fourth Wall Arts Salon curates the Festival finale, featuring dancers Makoto Hirano and Khalil Munir with musical performances by Lloyd Alexander, Monica McIntyre, and DJ Supreme.