First Person Arts Festival 2014 Lineup Announced


A word cloud created by FPA's programming intern Ria Fulton.

Image by Ria Fulton.

It’s the city’s only arts festival based solely around real-life stories and events, and this year, it plans to be better than ever: First Person Arts and PNC Arts Alive have announced the lineup for the 13th annual First Person Arts Festival this November, and Philly will be getting star talent from around the country.

“There’s no other festival out there quite like it,” says First Person Arts’ Executive Director Jamie J. Brunson. “It’s truly amazing to witness the powerful dialogue, individual empowerment, and amazingly strong sense of community that naturally follows when we have the courage to share about our experiences.”

The festival, which takes places in various venues throughout Philadelphia, runs November 4th to 15th (and Uber has even teamed up to provide a discounted ride for festival attendees—all new users get a free ride, up to $20, using the promotional code FPA2014.) Tickets and more detailed information,including dates/times, will be available in September.  However, we have the scoop on some of the signature events of the fest:

  • The Good Wife star Zach Greniere and Law and Order: Criminal Intent actress Kathryn Erbe will be starring in a reading of Long Day’s Journey into Night by Eugene O’Neil, produced by Outside the Wire.
  • Celebrity chef and regular Food Network judge Marcus Samuelsson, author of the New York Times bestselling book Yes, Chefwill host an intimate dinner featuring recipes from his upcoming book Marcus Off Duty.
  • Pulitzer Prize finalist Dael Orlandersmith will present a staged reading of her work Forever, a memoir-driven drama.
  • Performer Ruby Wax will bring her one-woman show, Sane New World, to the festival, along with her signature comedic style.
  • One of the 10 Best Storytelling Shows by Time Out Los AngelesStripped Stories returns to the festival for another triumphant run.
  • First Person Arts: RAW, now in its fifth season, and produced by Philly journalist and This American Life’s Yowei Shaw, will present a groundbreaking fusion of documentary art and memoir.
  • Beth Nixon, also known as Ramshackle Enterprises, will present her newest theatrical experience, Lava Fossil.
  • And, of course, one of First Person Arts’ most popular events, the Grand Slam, where the “Best Storyteller in Philadelphia” will be crowned, runs during the festival.

For more information, visit the First Person Arts website.