At East Village's FRIGID, NYC's 15th Gotham Storytelling Festival Takes On "Stranger in a Strange Land"

The 15th Gotham Storytelling Festival opened Nov. 3 at FRIGID New York, the basement theater beneath St. Marks Theater at 94 St. Marks Place in the East Village. It runs through Nov. 15, and this year's theme is "stranger in a strange land."

The programming centers on people who find themselves somewhere they are not from: travelers, immigrants, emigrants, expats, displaced people, or anyone who simply moved to a big city or a small town. For Japanese-speaking New Yorkers who remember their own first months here, the subject will feel familiar.

The roster includes titles such as "Paris Syndrome," "Otto in Antarctica," "Learning to Speak" and "Jersey Girl. Strange World.," with roughly 17 productions listed on the festival page. Earlier editions have ranged from solo shows to talk-show-style evenings.

The venue is a basement black box reachable only by stairs, with general-admission seating for up to 45 people, a mix of cushioned theater chairs and freestanding plastic ones. A small bar serves wine, beer and cider, plus soda and water, though it is not a full-service bar.

Most FRIGID shows cost $7–$25, and some use a pay-what-you-can model with a $7 minimum. Online orders carry a $2.50 transaction fee; tickets bought at the door, by cash or card, do not. With only 45 seats, shows can sell out, so buying ahead is recommended. Latecomers arriving under 10 minutes behind may be admitted, but late arrival does not qualify for a refund.

Performers apply each year around June and July, with no application or participation fee. Submissions are 15- to 60-minute stories that fit the theme.