Diane Kastiel’s efforts to bring “Moth-style” storytelling for adults to the suburbs in a monthly venue took two years to accomplish, but paid off with a standing-room-only show that will now become a monthly event.
First Person Live made its debut Jan. 19 at the Two-Nine Martini Lounge in Naperville.
“This is a fantastic form of entertainment but also a tremendous opportunity to build community,” said Kastiel, who is a writer, storyteller and First Person Live’s director. “When we turn off our devices and really listen to each other, we realize that what unites us is far greater than what divides us. Understanding leads to compassion, which naturally builds community.”
Kastiel’s co-producer in the venture is Rachna Prasad, of Naperville, who started hosting an informal storytelling circle in her home in 2015. After the women met through a mutual friend, Prasad came to see Kastiel perform at a storytelling event in Chicago in 2016.
“(We wanted) to create a storytelling show in the suburbs with a strong community focus,” Kastiel said. “We decided that very night to make our dream a reality.”
Mission accomplished.
Kastiel and Prasad assembled a team of creative women, including Kat Gilbert, Claire Dee and Manvee Vaid, to help organize it. They secured storytellers – real people telling real stories without notes or props – and a venue to share their craft.
The program is modeled after events held by The Moth, a story-telling group based in New York, which started holding live events in 1997 and launched a national public radio show and podcast. Moth StorySlams are now held all over the country, Canada, Europe and Australia. Typically, each has a broad theme provided for the storytellers.
“I’m so excited that something like this is coming to Naperville because not only will it be a burst of new culture to our city, but it will hopefully lift up your average person who attends,” said Gilbert, an art director and Naperville resident. “This provides a new creative community platform for us to come together.”
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That the event would pack the house reaffirmed the appetite for this type of entertainment, Kastiel said.
“All this confirms our belief that the suburbs are ready for this kind of live entertainment and community building,” she said. “We are ready to bring it.”
A themed show will take place the third Thursday of each month throughout 2017, and tickets are currently on sale for upcoming shows.
“Obviously, we hope people have a good time at the show, but also leave feeling a bit changed,” Kastiel said. “We strive for a variety of stories to make the audience laugh, cry, and think, and to stay with them well after the show.”
First Person Live – Storytelling in the Suburbs
“In the name of Love”
When: Feb. 16 (doors open at 7 p.m., show runs from 8 to 10 p.m.)
Where: Two-Nine Martini Lounge, 29 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville
Tickets: $10 (www.firstpersonlivepremiere.ticketbud.com/first-person-live-february)
Information: Shows are held the third Thursday of each month. To learn more, go to www.firstpersonlive.com.