Exhibits & Events

Hip Hop. What’s it like today? What was it like back in the day? How did it change you? Rearrange you? Or does Hip Hop of today seem strange to you?

Come out and tell a story, reminisce, or just bust high praise for Hip Hop and how it shaped your life. Talk about back in the day or what’s happenin’ today. StorySlam is shouting come one, come all…because it’s like that, y’all!

Join Lamarr Todd as he hosts Philly’s original (and best!) hip hop storytelling competition, while FPA’s own Rahnda Rize keeps score.

Our local celebrity guest judges Fatin and Aja of Kindred the Family Soul, and Kai Davis, 2024-2025 Poet Laureate of Philadelphia, plus an audience judge will score the stories and give our storytellers helpful hints to improve their tales.

The winner takes home $100 and bragging rights until next year’s slam.

Come to the Free Library of Philadelphia Parkway Central Branch on 11/21 for a fun-filled night with stories told by you–our audience–live on stage. The show starts at 7:00 pm. Tickets are FREE.

Already got an idea brewing and want a guaranteed spot on stage? Pitch us your story at stories@firstpersonarts.org. Please limit your pitch to no more than 100 words.

We choose 4 lucky featured storytellers about one week before the show. Each storyteller gets a complimentary 30-minute story coaching session with our expert storytelling coaches. The remaining 3 slots are up to fate on the night of the StorySlam.Never been to a First Person Arts StorySlam storytelling competition before? No problem. First Person Arts StorySlams are like open mic nights for people who love stories. We provide a theme, and you provide a 100% true, personal story. You’ve got 5 minutes on stage to entertain the “most engaged audience in Philly.” No notes or props allowed.

Join us for Philly’s ORIGINAL StorySlam when audience members become on-stage storytellers, telling true, personal stories.

Get your tickets early! StorySlams fill up fast. After all, everybody’s got a story to tell.