Miami, Feb. 19, 2016- Miami Dade College’s acclaimed Miami Book Fair (MBF) will become the new producer of the popular live reading series Lip Service: True Stories Out Loud. The MBF will host its first Lip Service event– a family storytelling open mic night– at 7 p.m., Saturday, March 26. The event is free and open to the public with RSVP.
Founded in 2006 by Miami-based writer Andrea Askowitz, Lip Service is dedicated to presenting the smartest, hottest, and most honest storytelling event in South Florida. Askowitz has stepped aside to pursue other projects and approached MBF to take over her beloved program. The stories are hilarious, heartbreaking, poignant, embarrassing, inspiring, and all true. Lip Service began as an intimate gathering of storytellers and story lovers, which grew into a literary happening that regularly draws more than 500 people. Lip Service joins the MBF’s roster of ongoing year-round programs that nurture the literary community of South Florida.
“Not only is Lip Service a great event, it’s a great fit for us. We’re thrilled to welcome Lip Service to our family,” said Delia Lopez, MBF director of operations.
Upcoming Lip Service events will include a show on May 7 (as part of the Writers Institute writers’ conference), and the 2016 MBF in November. The first event of the year, Storypallooza: The Big Read Edition, is an American Idol-style open mic were participants will have three minutes to tell a true story about their families in front of a panel of Lip Service editors. The feedback from these pros will help writers sharpen their ideas and pieces prior to the opening of the submission period for the May show.
“We are going to continue the tradition of presenting entertaining, smart shows that really highlight Miami’s writers, and provide a great gathering place for people who enjoy stories,” said Lissette Mendez, MBF program director. “And, of course, we plan some twists. Andrea is a great friend and we are really honored that she thought of us.”
Miami Book Fair
Miami Book Fair, widely considered the largest and finest literary event in the U.S., is part of MDCulture, the Cultural Affairs Department of Miami Dade College. In addition to the annual, eight-day festival that takes place on the Wolfson Campus of the College in Downtown Miami, Miami Book Fair presents literary programs throughout Miami all year long. Miami Book Fair is made possible through the generous support of the State of Florida and the National Endowment for the Arts; the City of Miami; Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; Miami-Dade County Public Schools; the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau; the Miami Downtown Development; and the Friends of the Fair; as well as many corporate partners.
Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College has a long and rich history of involvement in the cultural arts, providing South Florida with a vast array of artistic and literary offerings, including the Miami Book Fair International, the Center @ MDC, the Miami International Film Festival, MDC Live Arts performing arts series, the Cuban Cinema Series, the Miami Leadership Roundtable speakers’ series, numerous renowned campus art galleries and theaters, and the nationally recognized School of Entertainment and Design Technology. With an enrollment of more than 175,000 students, MDC is the largest institution of higher education in the country and is a national model for many of its programs. The college’s eight campuses and outreach centers offer more than 300 distinct degree programs including baccalaureate, associate in arts and science degrees and numerous career training certificates leading to in-demand jobs. MDC has served more than 2,000,000 students since it opened its doors in 1960.