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ČERVENÁ BARVA PRESS NEWSLETTER

Gloria Mindock, Editor   Issue No. 11   May, 2006



POETRY READINGS


THEATRE


EDITORIAL

Welcome to the May Newsletter! April's fund-raiser turned out to be great. Thank you to everyone who donated to the press. I would also like to thank all of you who have ordered chapbooks and postcards. Your support is much appreciated. By your generosity, it helps keep the press alive. Those of you that have missed it, well you can donate at anytime.

The Červená Barva Press Anniversary Reading was wonderful. I would like to thank again, Rebecca Seiferle, Diane Wald, Dzvinia Orlowsky, Jennifer Barber and Victor Pavenkov. You made the one year anniversary of the press very special. All of you read amazing work. Thank you!!!!!

Thanks to Mary Curtin, the events coordinator, at McIntyre & Moore Booksellers who hosted the reading.

There are a few people I must thank again for all their help, suggestions, and support of the press. They are Catherine Sasanov, William Kelle, Doug Holder, and Gian Lombardo. It's going to be a great second year.

The fiction contest starts May 1st. Information about it is in this newsletter as well as under the submissions page on the website. The judge will be announced next week. Check it out.

We have two interviews in this newsletter. One by Doug Holder, and the other by Simon Perchik. Readings are listed as well as my rants and raves about things and what's coming up for these summer months. Enjoy!


Červená Barva Press announces The Lost Bookshelf

The Lost Bookshelf is a new bookstore where poets, fiction and non-fiction writers, and playwrights can sell their chapbooks and books. Details about this will be in June's Newsletter. Please don't query until you read the June Newsletter. It will address the many questions I'm sure you might have. This will be so exciting. There will be a different e-mail address listed also for The Lost Bookshelf. So as you can see, the press is trying to be a supportive place for writers. Červená Barva Press will also be setting up a Pay Pal account in the future to help make ordering books from the press easier as well as from The Lost Bookshelf.


An Homage to Vaclav Havel: A Benefit for Human Rights and the Arts

As you know, Vaclav Havel is my hero. I admire all he's done for Human Rights and freedom. He is an amazing writer/playwright. I highly recommend going to this. I cannot say enough about this man! He is worth celebrating. His plays are among my favorite. He helped change the course of the Czech Republic.

Reprinted from the Harvard University Calander, Cambridge, MA

Mon., May 8-"An Homage to Vaclav Havel: A Benefit for Human Rights and the Arts." (American Repertory Theatre/Physicans for Human Rights) An evening celebration of Havel's life, including a reading of his play "Protest," with Robert Brustein and Paul Benedict, directed by Carol Rocamora. The reading is preceded by a PowerPoint slide presentation by Rocamora on Havel's life, and followed by a discussion. Zero Arrow Theatre, intersection of Arrow St. and Mass. Ave., 8 p.m. Tickets are $25, available at the A.R.T. InfoLine (617) 547-8300 or at http://www.amrep.org.


RANTS AND RAVES…

RAVES for Flavia Cosma. Her new book, Leaves of a Diary was just published by Korean-Canadian Literary Forum-21 Press. Visit her website http://www.flaviacosma.com/ to order and read a review of this book.

RAVES for Rane Arroyo. How To Name A Hurricane, has been nominated for the 2006 Independent Press Awards in the Gay and Lesbian category. The Portable Famine, is up for Forward magazine's Poetry Book of the Year prize. The Portable Famine was published by BkMk Press. How to Name a Hurricane was published by The University of Arizona Press.
To order and read reviews visit
http://www.umkc.edu/bkmk/index.html
http://www.uapress.arizona.edu/BOOKS/bid1619.html

RAVES for Mark Pawlak. His book, Official Versions, has just been published by Hanging Loose Press. Visit Hanging Loose Press at: http://www.hangingloosepress.com to order and read reviews.

RAVES for Irene Koronas. Her chapbook, Flat House, was just published by ORDINARY PRESS. For ordering information, e-mail: erinikor@hotmail.com
Contact: ORDINARY PRESS, 12 Sycamore St., Cambridge, MA 02140

RAVES for Rinde Eckert. He is my favorite performance artist. When he tours here, I make it a point to go see his show. Rinde was just here performing Orpheus X. I have followed his career since the 1980's. His voice is just amazing! I get chills when he sings. The sets, scripts, music, singing etc….in his shows are always brilliant. If he tours to your area, go see him!!!!!

RANTS from Gloria. It's been awhile since I ranted. I only have one thing to go nuts about right now. Last April, I sent out to numerous literary magazines so that my poems could be considered for publication. In reviewing my records, most all the magazines replied. There were eight magazines I never heard from. One year is too long to make anyone wait whether a poem is rejected or accepted. It makes me insane. If I hear from any of these places, I will die of shock! I expect to wait a long time if something is accepted. That is totally understandable. I know this from editing BLuR for 10 years. Most magazines are backlogged. Since a year has gone by, those poems are going to be sent out elsewhere. Hard to believe eight magazines lost my work!!!! Needless to say, it will be a cold day in hell before I send to them again. On the defense of most magazine editors, they do a great job and should be commended for all their hard work. It's just frustrating when you find the few who lack in what it takes to be a good editor and a good magazine. I think everyone who sends out should be able to relate to this. So please, appreciate the good literary and on-line magazines. They work hard for the love of publishing. They care about what they do. This makes sending out worth it. I really believe those who never reply or take ages, won't be around long.


What's coming out next by Cervena Barva Press

The Whole Enchilada, by the chapbook poetry prize winner, Ed Miller. An interview will accompany his chapbook.

What's coming out this summer

Chapbooks by Susan Tepper, Susanne Morning, Ian Randall Wilson, Ed McManis and Flavia Cosma...

What's coming out in August

Postcard Series: Two

What's coming out in the Fall

Chapbooks by Richard Kostelanetz, George Held, and Ioan Tepelea

What's coming out in January, 2007

Chapbooks by Martin Burke, Lucille Lang Day


EVENTS

THOMAS CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Memoir Seminar at the Crane Library
Two Sessions for Readers and Writers

Whether you are a fascinated reader of the recent spate of memoirs and personal stories, or thinking of writing your own memoir or family history, you will enjoy this two-part series presented by writer Mary Bonina on Tuesday, May 9 and Tuesday, May 16 at 7:00 p.m. at the Thomas Crane Public Library, 40 Washington St., Quincy.

At the first session, Ms. Bonina will talk about memoir and other forms of personal writing from the perspective of one who has written a literary family memoir with general appeal. Well-written examples of personal writing will be introduced for readers and anyone considering a writing project in the genre. The talk will be followed by a question and answer period. At the second session, Ms. Bonina will present a short reading from her own memoir and take a closer look at other examples of memoir writing. Issues that will be considered include: readership, techniques for the telling, and strategies for beginning. Participants will be supplied with paper and pencils to create maps, lists, sketches and timelines, which might be used as blueprints for a future personal history writing project.

A recipient of numerous grants and awards for her writing, Mary Bonina studied with the late poets Denise Levertov and Ken Smith. Her poem "Drift", was selected for Boston Contemporary Authors, a public art project, and is inscribed on a granite column permanently placed outside Boston's Green Street MBTA Station. She earned her MFA degree in the Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College, where her mentors were some of the best known and appreciated American contemporary prose writers and poets. She has also studied with memoirist Richard Hoffman (Half the House). Her poems have appeared in the anthologies City River of Voices (1992) and Voices of the City (2004), as well as in many other publications including Red Brick Review, Hanging Loose Magazine and English Journal. An excerpt ("The Wanderer, 1962") from her memoir, My Father's Eyes, is online in Gulfstreaming magazine published at Florida International University.

This free program for adults is one of a series of programs highlighting the library's collections by its classification system, the Dewey Decimal System. Discover It @your library--in the 800's section this month.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Thomas Crane Public Library.

For more information about this or other library events, call 617-376-1301 or visit http://thomascranelibrary.org.

ANN E. McLAUGHLIN
DIRECTOR OF LIBRARIES
THOMAS CRANE PUBLIC LIBRARY
40 WASHINGTON STREET
QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS 02169
TEL. 617-376-1301
mallen@ocln.org


Writing Aloud
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
2006-2007 Season

Program Description
Produced by InterAct Theatre Company in Philadelphia, Writing Aloud is a reading series that presents contemporary short fiction read on stage by professional actors. Writers featured in the series are from Pennsylvania and the greater Philadelphia area, or have a strong Philadelphia connection. Selected stories are read before a live audience at InterAct Theatre. Writers selected for inclusion in Writing Aloud receive:

  • performance of the story before a live theatre audience
  • three complimentary tickets to the performance
  • $50 for the reading

Submission Guidelines
You may submit up to three stories for consideration for the 2006-2007 season. There is no fee for submission. Stories submitted should be fiction and should convey especially well when read before a live audience. Factors for selection include:

  • Strong narrative voice (first-person is particularly effective in this format)
  • Compelling situation and sense of story (InterAct’s mainstage season will explore issues that include international and Washington politics, incarceration, and mental illness – stories that address these and related themes will be of particular interest)
  • Distinctive characters and setting
  • Accomplished prose
  • Desired length of 2,000 to 5,000 words (although shorter and longer stories have on occasion been accepted)

We will accept manuscripts during March and April, with a deadline of Monday, May 1, 2006, for receipt of submissions. Writers will be notified regarding decisions in July. Include a #10 SASE for notification. Manuscripts will be recycled and will not be returned. Please send to:

Submissions
Writing Aloud
InterAct Theatre Company
2030 Sansom Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103

For Information
Phone: 215-568-8077
E-mail: WritingAloud@InterActTheatre.org


What's coming in June's Newsletter

An interview with Rane Arroyo

The Lost Bookshelf information


INTERVIEW WITH DOUG HOLDER

Doug Holder

Write a bio about yourself.

I was born July 5 1955 in Manhattan. I graduated the State College at Buffalo in 1977 with a B.A. in History. Later, in 1997, I got an M.A. in American Literature and Language from Harvard University. I have worked at McLean Hospital since 1982, and for many of those years I have lead poetry workshops for inpatient psychiatric patients. I have been an editorial assistant for the Boston Review, assistant to the poetry editor at Spare Change News, and former president of Stone Soup Poets. I am currently the arts/editor for The Somerville News, director of the Newton Free Library Poetry Series, and host of the Somerville Community Access TV Show: "Poet to Poet/Writer to Writer." I founded the small independent poetry press "Ibbetson Street," in 1998. My poetry and articles have been widely published in the small press, and my books and taped interview with contemporary poets are archived at Buffalo, Brown, and Harvard University libraries.

Describe the room you write in.

I do a lot of my writing at Sherman's Cafe in Union Square, Somerville. I've written poems in many settings: from the comfort of my toilet seat to the back of a cab. Whenever the spirit moves me, as the saying goes.

What are you working on now?

I am working on promoting "Wrestling With My Father," a collection of my poetry, and "Inside the Outside," an anthology of American Avant-Garde poets released by the Presa Press that I am included in.

Your chapbook, Wrestling With My Father, was just published by Yellow Pepper Press. It is a beautifully written chapbook and tribute to your Father. Please talk about this chapbook.

"Wrestling With My father,"was compiled after my father's death in April 2003 at age 86. Before his death I had written a number of poems about our relationship. I also wrote a few after his death. I completed this collection first for myself. I wanted a sense of closure. I wanted to be honest ...I wanted to deal with the ying and yang of our relationship. I hope other fathers and sons can relate to this collection. I feel its themes of conflict and love are universal. Of course I wanted to pass this book on to my family in memory of my Dad.

I read that one of your biggest influences was Henry Roth. Explain why?

I wrote my graduate thesis at Harvard on Roth. It was titled: "Food in the Fiction of Henry Roth..."You can find it at Harvard's Gutman Library. Roth wrote a classic novel: "Call It Sleep," that dealt with a Jewish boy, David Schearl's, assimilation into the New World of the Lower East Side of NYC in the early part of the 20th century. First off I have always loved writing about food. Food is very evocative, and I include it in a lot of my poetry. Second, Roth wrote about a milieu that my older relatives were part of, and would always talk about when I was a boy, often in Yiddish. I was always fascinated about what went on back then: the smells, the taste, the textures...

What writers do you read over and over?

I have so much new reading to do: poetry, books for reviews, etc...that I have very little time to read the same book over and over.

You founded Ibbetson Street Press in what year? Talk about your vision for the press. Have the other editors Diane Robitaille and Richard Wilhelm been involved from the beginning?

I founded the press in 1998, with Richard Wilhelm and my wife Dianne Robitaille. Richard and Dianne have been involved in one degree or the other since its inception. Richard and I are fond of saying we found the Press over "bagels." We had been discussing starting the press at our usual breakfast meeting at Breuger's Bagels in Porter Square, Cambridge.

What type of work do you look for as editor?

Any thing that hits me on an emotional or gut level.

You have done so much for the community of Somerville and the surrounding areas. I would like to start out this section of the interview asking you to talk about the Somerville Writer's Festival you founded.

I founded the festival with Tim Gager, a local writer and literary activist. We have put on three festivals so far. When The Somerville News was taken over by the Norton and Tauro families they wanted to improve the image of the paper.Tim and I thought holding a writers' festival would do just that. So for the past few years we have put on a festival held at Jimmy Tingle's Off- Broadway Theatre or The Somerville Theatre. We have had such readers as Franz Wright, Afaa Michael Weaver, and novelist Robert Olen Butler, to name a few.

For The Somerville News, you are the Arts Editor. How long have you been writing for them? Every week you interview a writer, this must be so rewarding and interesting. Talk about your experience so far. Adding to this also mention your Poet To Poet/Writer To Writer Program on the Somerville Community Access Program.

I have been writing for The Somerville news for about 5 years now. I love interviewing people. It gives me the opportunity to talk to people I normally wouldn't have the opportunity to. I have always loved interview shows. I grew up listening to Barry Farber, Long John Nebble, and other radio personalities on WOR radio in NYC. On TV I watched David Susskind, Dick Cavett, and Alan Berk. Now I have a chance to do what they did, granted, on a much smaller scale. I love to explore the creative process, and I love to be surrounded by interesting people who have something to say.

Every Saturday in Harvard Sq. (Cambridge, MA), downstairs at Finagle A Bagel, a group of writers from all over meet at 9:00AM, hence the name Bagel Bards. Since I have been attending this, I have met so many wonderful people. I look forward to going every week. Please talk about how you and Harris Gardner came up with this idea. Attendance Saturday morning has been growing and more people are becoming involved. This must be so exciting for you and Harris to see. What is this like for you?

My idea for "Bagels with the Bards" came from comedians. I was reading that for many years a group of comedians met informally at the "Stage Deli," in NYC for years. People would come and go, just shoot the breeze, talk shop, whatever. I thought this would be great for poets. A poet, Doug Worth, had written me about how cliquish he found the poetry scene in Boston and Cambridge. So I approached my friend Harris Gardner, and we came up with the name, and launched it in the basement of "Finagle-A-Bagel" in Harvard square, where we met for breakfast for awhile. I love it...its like having a secret club or something.

There are other magazines you are involved with. Discuss your role. You are also on the Board for The Wilderness Retreat in Littleton, MA. Discuss this.

I am the Boston editor for Poesy Magazine http://poesy.org, a regular contributor to the Small Press Review, on the advisory board of 'the new renaissance " literary magazine, http://tnrlitmag.net , a fairly regular contributor to "Spare Change News," and the book review editor for the online journal: The Wilderness House Literary Review http://whlreview.com

the Wilderness House Literary Retreat was started by Steve Glines on a nature reserve in Littleton, Mass....a short drive from Boston. Steve asked me to helpout with publicity and literary guests. We have had the late poet Robert Creeley, Atlantic fiction editor C. Michael Curtis, Hallie Ephron, Afaa Michael Weaver, Suzanne Berger, Lois Ames...to name a few.

I am amazed at all your energy. You have heard me say that a zillion times now. You have given so much to the writers and community. Would you like to mention anything else here.

I am blessed with an abundance of energy. I also don't have kids, so I have a lot more time to devote to this. I find by giving to the community you reap rewards too.

Thank you so much for the interview Doug.

Doug Holder
http://www.ibbetsonpress.com
http://dougholder.blogspot.com
http://authorsden.com/douglasholder
http://somervillenewswritersfestival.com


INTERVIEW WITH SIMON PERCHIK

Simon Perchik

Write a bio about yourself.

As for a bio perhaps this will do: I'm an attorney whose poems have appeared in Partisan Review, The New Yorker, and elsewhere. Readers interested in learning more are invited to read Magic, Illusion and Other Realities at http://www.geocities.com/simonthepoet which site lists a more complete biography.

Describe the space you write in.

I write in coffee shops.

Where do you find inspiration for writing?

For inspiration I confront an image in a photograph with a contradictory image or idea from science or mythology and then reconcile those disparate ideas. That's the short answer. Magic, Illusion and Other Realities (see above) sets forth the long answer.

What is the strangest thing you've done to find writing material?

I don't know if I've ever done anything to get ideas except to use photographs.

Talk about your books especially Hands Collected (Pavement Saw Press) and one of my favorites, Who Can Touch These Knots: New and Selected Poems (The Scarecrow Press), The Autochthon Poems (Split/Shift) and your more recent book Family of Man (Pavement Saw Press).

Not sure what I can say except once a poem is written, once a book comes out the last thing I want to do is re-read the work. I want to forget it completely.

Why do you use asterisks instead of titles in your poems?

Since my poetry makes its living in the unconscious I like to think there are many facets to the poem. A title might limit the poem by unduly calling attention, with a title, to just one facet. The asterisk solves that problem. It's like boarding a bus that has no destination sign posted.

Who are you reading now?

Neruda.

What writers do you read over and over?

I'm ashamed to admit that I am a poor reader. I read very little and I can't recall reading any writer over and over. Though I find myself re-reading Neruda from time to time.

Any last comments?

Of course if I were to answer these same questions a month from now (or a month ago) the answers would surely be different. The truth is I have nothing but doubts about what it is I do or how I do it.


POETRY READINGS

(These readings current as of may 1st, go to the Readings page to see updated listings!)

MASSACHUSETTS READINGS:

 

Tue., May 2-"The Electric Life of Michael Faraday."

8 p.m., Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
(CfA) Alan Hirshfeld.
Phillips Auditorium, CfA
60 Garden St.,
Cambridge, MA.
(617) 495-7461
http://www.cfa.harvard.edu.


Stone Soup Poetry

Readings held at:
Out of the Blue Gallery
106 Prospect Street
Cambridge, MA

Stone Soup celebrating 35 years this month.
All readings 8:00-10:00 PM/ open mike sign-up at 7:30 PM

May 1st readers: Carol Weston, Nancy Dodson, and Valerie Jayne

May 8th: Marc Goldfinger and Linda Larsen

May 15th: Joanna Nealon and Walter Howard

May 22nd: Edward J. Carvalho, Simon Schattner, and Dan Shanahan

May 29th: Billy Barnum

Visit http://stonesouppoetry.blogspot.com/ for additional information.


Tribute to Harris Gardner

Chapter and Verse
St. Johns Church (corner of Roanoke and Revere Streets)
Jamaica Plain, MA

Wednesday, May 3, 2006 7:30-9:00 PM
Feature and open mike
Free


The Forest Hills Trust and Tapestry of Voices Present Poetry in the chapel

Forsyth Chapel/Forest Hills Cemetery
95 Forest Hills Avenue
Boston, MA

Sunday, May 21st at 2:00 PM
Admission: $5.00
http://www.foresthillstrust.org

Poems of reawakening

Readers: Rafael Campos, Sarah Hannah, Lainie Senechal, and Dan Sklar


Emack and Bolio

2 Belgrade Avenue,
Roslindale, MA
Thursday, May 25, 7:00-9:00 PM
Feature: Lisa Beatman. Open mic. Free.


Ibbetson Street Press announces a celebratory reading for
the release of their newest literary journal "Ibbetson Street" (19), at McIntyre and Moore Booksellers

255 Elm Street/Davis Sq.
Somerville, MA
Saturday, June 10 at 3:00 p.m.

Features: Doug Holder, Richard Wilhelm, Steve Glines, Robert K. Johnson, Lainie Senechal, Dorian Brooks and others...
http://ibbetsonpress.com


Porter square Books Poetry Readings

Monday, May 8, 2006
7:00 PM

Donald Hall

Wednesday, May 10, 2006
7:00 PM

David Barber

Wednesday, June 21st.
7:00 PM

Doug Holder, Harris Gardner, and Lainie Senechal will read.

Porter Square Books
25 White St.
Cambridge, MA.
Porter Sq. Mall
http://www.portersquarebooks.com


National Poetry Month

Gypsypashn's Poetry Caravan at Bestseller's Cafe

May 18th, 6:30 PM
Doug Bishop

June 15th, 6:30 PM
Valerie Lawson

July 20th, 6:30 PM
Sean Theall

September 21st, 6:30 PM
Jimmy Foritano

Bestseller's Cafe
24 High Street
Medford, MA. 02155

Refreshments will be served.


Jendi Reiter to Read at Forbes Library in Northampton, Mass.

Winning Writers editor Jendi Reiter will be reading her poetry on May 3rd at 7 p.m. at Forbes Library in Northampton, along with prizewinning poet Kevin Goodan, author of In the Ghost-House Acquainted (Alice James Books, 2004). Forbes Library is located at 20 West Street, Northampton, Mass.

Call 413-587-1011 or visit
http://www.forbeslibrary.org for details.


POETRIBE

The Community Room
East Bridgewater Library
32 Union St.
East Bridgewater, MA 02333
508-378-1616

7:30 p.m. Open Mic sign up
8:00 p.m. Open Mic
9:00 p.m. Featured Poet

Mar 25 Sarah Gridley
Apr 8 Renku Blues
Apr 22 Regie Gibson
May 6 Rebecca Seiferle
May 20 Prabakar T. Rajan
Jun 3 Franz Wright


The Fireside Reading Series

Formerly the Fireside Poetry Series, we have changed our name to recognize contributions from prose and memoir writers, though scheduling preference is still given to poets. Now in our seventh season, the Fireside Reading Series holds readings by local writers in the Cambridge Cohousing living room, usually on the last Tuesday of each month at 7:30 (there are occasional exceptions, but not this year).

Poets are encouraged to bring any published works they may have to sell after the readings.

Tuesday, February 28 7:30 p.m.

Phillip Burnham and Ann Carhart

Tuesday, March 28 7:30 p.m.

Wendy Sanford and Patricia Wild

Tuesday, April 25 7:30 p.m.

Kevin Bowen and Susan Donnelly

Tuesday, May 30 7:30 p.m.

Melissa Bates and David Johnson

Cambridge Cohousing living room
175 Richdale Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02140
(617) 661-1682

If you would like to join our mailing list, please send email to poetry-request@cambridgecohousing.org
If you would like to read in our series, please contact Molly Watt, 617-354-8242, mollywatt@comcast.net
For more information, send mail to jenise@alum.mit.edu


Amherst's Jones Library and jubilat announce the
4th annual jubilat/Jones Spring Reading Series
.

Readings will take place in the Trustees Room at the Jones Library, 43 Amity Street in Amherst, and will be followed by a Q & A session with both guest poets, during which visitors can meet the poets. All readings are free and open to the public.

Sunday, February 12th, 3:00 p.m.
Caroline Knox & Evelyn Shockley

Sunday, March 5th, 3:00 p.m.
Daisy Fried & Rynn Williams

Sunday, April 2nd, 3:00 p.m.
jubilat editors read, featuring
Jen Bervin & Terrance Hayes

Sunday, May 7th, 3:00 p.m.
Tom Thompson & Miranda Field

For more information call 413.577.1064 or email jubilat@english.umass.edu


NEW ENGLAND POETRY CLUB READINGS

ALL FREE

MONDAY, May 1st

Celebrating NEPC Members with New Releases!
AT: Yenching Library Common Room (Harvard), 1st floor, No. 2 Divinity Ave., Cambridge.
TIME: 7:00 p.m. Telephone contact: (781) 643-0029.

JOIN AFAA MICHAEL WEAVER writer, poet, translator, award-winning playwright ~
SARAH GETTY, fiction writer and award-winning poet. Her new book of poems is entitled Bring Me Her Heart ~
DIANALEE VELIE, playwright, award-winning poet and short-story writer, cat lover ~
and others, reading from their books. Book signings. Members, bring your books for sale!

***UPCOMING EVENTS***

Sunday, June 4th It's summertime and we return to the Longfellow House!
TIME: 2:00 p.m. BOARD MEETING.
3:00 p.m. FRANZ WRIGHT, winner of the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.
AT: Longfellow Historic Site (Carriage House), 105 Brattle Street, Cambridge.

Sunday, July 6, 2006 4:00 PM
Salute to Amy Lowell with Honor Moore
East Lawn National Historic Site
105 Brattle St.
Cambridge, MA

Sunday, July 23, 2006
Lonfellow Lawn
105 Brattle St.
Cambridge, MA
The Mission of Poetry in 21st Century
Poetry editor Christian Wiman and director John Barr will read

Sunday, August 6, 2006
Longfellow Lawn
105 Brattle St.
Cambridge, MA
Salute to Montale with Harry Thomas, David Ferry etc… and music

Sunday, August 20, 2006
Lonfellow Lawn
105 Brattle St.
Cambridge, MA
Diverse Voices


RHODE ISLAND READINGS:

Rhode Island Poetry Reading Thursday, May 4, 2006

The Pawtucket Foundation hosts an evening with the “poets from Pawtucket”.
Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Galway Kinnell and Norah Pollard, recipient of the Academy of American Poets Prize.

Blackstone Valley Visitor Center
Pawtucket, RI
Tickets can be reserved by calling 401-729-8300.


NEW YORK READINGS:

 

It's spring, and we just can't keep from bursting into verse and stories...

The Phoenix Reading Series

Sunday, May 7 @ 6pm

Susan Tepper, Eric Darton, Robert Viscusi, Michael Graves & Open Reading

The Sandwich Shoppe
58-A Greenwich Avenue
(between 6th & 7th Avenues)
NYC
212-255-2237
donation & one purchase


THE FOURTH PEOPLE'S POETRY GATHERING

Sponsored by City Lore and the Bowery Poetry Club in collaboration with the Division of Continuing Education & Public Programs, The Graduate Center, CUNY

Featuring

The Wor(l)d of New York!

and

Poems from the World's Endangered and Contested Languages
Read and performed in their Mother Tongues and English

including the
“Festival within a Festival”
Harpsong: Celtic Poetry and Music

and

The New
New York City Epic Poem
and Poems of our Fair (and sometimes Unfair) City
Read by Twenty Poets Laureate of New York

From May 3rd to 7th, 2006, the People's Poetry Gathering

A poetry festival in New York, Check it out at http://www.peoplespoetry.org for details


Poetry Society of America

Thursday, May 4th 7:00 P.M.
BRANCHING OUT HOUSTON

Paul Muldoon on Robert Frost

Paul Muldoon gives a close reading of Robert Frost's "Directive"
Admission is free.

McGovern-Stella Link Branch Library
7405 Stella Link
Houston, TX 77025

For more information please call 832-393-1313.


Wednesday, May 10th 7:00 P.M.
96TH ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY

A gala ceremony centered around the presentation of the Frost Medal to Maxine Kumin who will deliver the annual Frost Lecture. Winners of other important PSA Annual Awards will be officially announced, and a reception will follow the program.

Admission is $10 / $7 for PSA Members and Students.

To reserve tickets in advance, send a check to "Awards Ceremony" at the PSA, payable to the Poetry Society of America.

Co-sponsored by the New School Graduate Writing Program.

The New School
Tishman Auditorium
66 West 12th Street
New York, New York


Wednesday, May 17th 7:30 P.M.
A READING AND DISCUSSION OF WORKS BY 20TH C. WOMEN POETS WRITING IN GERMAN

The work of Rose Ausländer, Ingeborg Bachmann, Nelly Sachs, and others will be read and discussed by poets and critics including Peter Filkins, Edward Hirsch, Glyn Maxwell, and Marjorie Perloff.

Admission is $10 / $7 for PSA Members and Students.

Guest of Goethe/Goethe-Institut New York
1014 Fifth Avenue (between 82nd and 83rd Streets)
New York, New York


George Held May 21st, at 3:30 p.m.

Poetry Reading
May 21st, at 3:30 p.m.
The Back Fence, 155 Bleecker St., NYC


THE COMING OF FASCISM TO AMERICA

Norman MacAfee
The Bowery Poetry Club
Book party, reading and book signing
Monday, May 1, 2006
5:30-6:45 p.m. Free

In the tradition of Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s City Lights Books, which published Allen Ginsberg’s Howl, The Bowery Poetry Club and its new imprint BoweryInstabooks are committed to poetry that shakes things up.

THE COMING OF FASCISM TO AMERICA

Norman MacAfee
A BoweryInstabook

“The information we are receiving is all false.
Our country has betrayed us!”

Thus begins Norman MacAfee’s major new poem, The Coming of Fascism to America, written in February and March 2005, as Bush’s insane destruction of Iraq, and America, entered its third year. Trying to make sense of history, MacAfee invokes the ancient king Ashurbanipal, who ruled where Iraq is today, and the poets Pound and Pasolini, Joan of Arc, Susan Sontag, Juan Rulfo, Pete Seeger, a war photographer friend, a great Wagner singer—to understand what is happening here.

Norman MacAfee’s most recent books are The Death of the Forest (Amsterdam: Blankert 2004), opera to music of Charles Ives; and The Gospel According to RFK: Why It Matters Now (New York: Basic Books/Westview 2004). MacAfee translated the poetry of Pier Paolo Pasolini (Farrar Straus Giroux 1996, Random House 1982) and the letters of Jean-Paul Sartre (Scribner, Penguin UK, 1993, 1994). His first book of poetry was A New Requiem (Cheap Review Press, 1988).

On Monday, May 1, 2006, Norman MacAfee will talk about The Coming of Fascism to America and then will read it and sign copies of the BoweryInstabook of The Coming of Fascism to America.

Book party, reading and book signing
Monday, May 1, 2006
5:30-6:45 p.m.
The Bowery Poetry Club
308 Bowery
NYC 10012
between Bleecker and Houston
F or V to 2nd Ave. / 6 to Bleecker St.
212-614-0505

Copies of The Coming of Fascism to America will be on sale for $5 at The Bowery Poetry Club. They may also be purchased after May 1 by emailing The Bowery Poetry Club (Bowerybob2006@aol.com) or Norman MacAfee (nsmacafee@earthlink.net)

For the Press: Interviews:
Bowerybob2006@aol.com
nsmacafee@earthlink.net

For the Press: For an advance email copy of the text of The Coming of Fascism to America, and for digital photos (JPEG) of the author and the book cover:
nsmacafee@earthlink.net


Thad Rutkowski will be the featured reader in all these readings:

UPCOMING READINGS

May 3, Wednesday, 6 p.m. Book party for Barbara Purcell's new book of poetry. Bowery Poetry Club, 308 The Bowery (at Bleecker Street). Manhattan. With Amy Ouzoonian, others. Info: http://www.bowerypoetry.com

May 16, Tuesday, all day. Poetry in Performance, Aaron Davis Hall, City College of New York, 133 Street and Convent Avenue. Hosted by Barry Wallenstein. I'll read at about 4 p.m. FREE

May 26, Friday, 10 p.m. Reading to celebrate Bonny Finberg's short-story collection from Sisyphus Press. Poetry Project at St. Mark's Church, 131 East 10th Street (at Second Avenue). Manhattan. With Regie Cabico, Joe Maynard, others. http://www.poetryproject.org

May 28, Sunday, 5-7 p.m. Reading with Cynthia Toronto. A Gathering of the Tribes. 285 East 3rd Street, 2nd floor. Manhattan. Info: http://www.tribes.org

June 8, Thursday, 6-8 p.m. Flash fiction reading. Cornelia Street Cafe, 29 Cornelia Street, Manhattan. Hosted by John McCaffrey. $6, includes drink. (212) 989-9319.

June 26, Monday, 7:30 p.m., Saturn Series, Nightingale Lounge, Second Avenue at East 13th Street, Manhattan. $3, plus one drink. With open mic.

July 7, Friday, 8 p.m., Feature before poetry slam, Juna's Cafe, 146 E. State Street, Ithaca Commons, Ithaca, N.Y. http://www.slamtractor.com or http://www.junascafe.com

July 27, Thursday evening, Word Thursdays reading, Bright Hill Center, Treadwell, N.Y. Hosted by Bertha Rogers.

August 11, Friday evening, Ka Huina Gallery, Hilo, Hawaii.

Hope to see you! --Thad Rutkowski


CHICAGO, ILLINOIS:

WED MAY 10th 6:30 PM

The Ballroom of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
112 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, Illinois 60603

$10 general admission, $8 students,
FREE for Poetry Center members and SAIC students, faculty and staff

Reader: Kay Ryan
Kay Ryan has published five collections of poetry, including Say Uncle; Elephant Rocks; Flamingo Watching, which was a finalist for both the Lamont Poetry Selection and the Lenore Marshall Prize; Strangely Marked Metal; and Dragon Acts to Dragon Ends. Her work has been published in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Paris Review, The New Republic, and The Best of the Best of American Poetry.

THUR MAY 18th 6:30-9:30 PM

The official book release of Stephany Rose's The Lion Speaks
The Center for Inner City Studies
(700 E. Oakwood which is 39th and Cottage Grove)

It is also a benefit so we are asking for $10.
It is an all ages reading/performance.


PORTLAND, OREGON:

Future Tense Books
Readings

Spork at Wordstock
A Spork reading at Portland's huge Wordstock Festival
Oregon Convention Center
Saturday, April 22nd 4 p.m.
with Kevin Sampsell, Ariel Gore, Frayn Masters, David Elsey and Adrian Shirk

Spork at Mississippi Pizza
3552 N Mississippi Avenue
Portland, OR Wednesday
May 24th, 7 p.m.
with Kevin Sampsell, David Barker, Monica Drake, Mike Daily, J. Peter Roth, Peter Sears, and Paul Tobin

Both readings are all-ages.


SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA:

Center for the art of Translation
Join us for
LIT&LUNCH

Lit&Lunch presents Iraqi writer and translator Saadi Simawe reading contemporary literature from Iraq Tuesday, May 9

Lit&Lunch presents translator Geoffrey Brock and actor Lorri Holt reading Italian literature brought into English Tuesday, June 13

A FREE lunchtime reading series
of great literature in translation

The second Tuesday of each month
Doors open at 12:00 noon; reading from 12:30-1:30 p.m.
In downtown San Francisco at 111 Minna Gallery
Minna St. and 2nd St.

Series Premiere April 11
With Pulitzer Prize Winner
Galway Kinnell

http://www.catranslation.org/News-Events/ne-events.htm#litsimawe


PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC:

The 2nd Triennial
PRAGUE INTERNATIONAL POETRY FESTIVAL
will take place in May, 2007.

For information about the Festival, or sponsorship proposals, please contact the organiser Louis Armand. c/- UAA FF UK, Nam. Jana Palacha 2, 116 38 Praha 1, CZECH REPUBLIC


THEATRE:

Mon., May 8th at 8 p.m. "An Homage to Vaclav Havel: A Benefit for Human Rights and the Arts."

(American Repertory Theatre/Physicans for Human Rights) An evening celebration of Havel's life, including a reading of his play "Protest," with Robert Brustein and Paul Benedict, directed by Carol Rocamora. The reading is preceded by a PowerPoint slide presentation by Rocamora on Havel's life, and followed by a discussion.

Zero Arrow Theatre, intersection of Arrow St. and Mass. Ave.
Cambridge, MA.
Tickets are $25, available at the A.R.T.
InfoLine (617) 547-8300 or at http://www.amrep.org.


"Sur le quai," by Denis Emorine

Sur Le Quai "Sur le quai," by Denis Emorine a story of love and death which takes place in a railway station will be staged by Evgueny Chourchikov and Olga Riabova in France (Paris, Fiap Jean Monnet) May, 14th 2006 the plays starts at 20:00 (8:00 PM).



Beauty of the Father
New play by Nilo Cruz
Manhatten Theatre club production at City Center
131 W. 55th St.
NYC
212/581-1212


INTERACT THEATRE COMPANY UPCOMING EVENTS

WRITING ALOUD

Monday, May 8, 2006

Family Secrets

Secrets are spilled in the three stories featured in Writing Aloud’s May program, “Family Secrets” – stories that range from the 1940s to the present, from suburbia to the streets of Northeast Philadelphia, and from high comedy to tragic devastation.
Family Secrets will include the following stories:
"The Stoop Sitters" Written by Elise Juska
"The Divorce" Written by Jay Roth
"Pierced" Written by Linda K. Wright
"Real Time" Written by Robin Black

The Philadelphia Premiere of SINCE AFRICA

Written by Mia McCullough

May 26 – June 25, 2006

The fourth and final production of InterAct Theatre Company’s 2005/2006 Season will be the Philadelphia premiere of SINCE AFRICA by Mia McCullough, running May 26 - June 25, with the official Opening Night on Wednesday, May 31, 2006. When Diane, a recently widowed socialite, and Reggie, an African American clergyman, clash over how to help one of the "Lost Boys of Sudan" acclimate to life in urban America, a host of conflicts arise. Committed to replacing old patterns with new involvements, Diane tries to balance the responses of her semi-estranged daughter and the strong pull she feels toward the scarred refugee. Along the way, each character’s attitudes about art, marriage, initiation rites, inheritance and therapy are pitted against the others to reveal how fundamentally different, yet unexpectedly similar, we all can be. In the end, SINCE AFRICA shows how four extraordinary people grapple with loss, identity, and the challenges of creating a new home. The Chicago Sun-Times called SINCE AFRICA, "a sensitive and deeply thoughtful play with four rich characters…" InterAct Theatre’s production of SINCE AFRICA will be directed by Paul Meshejian and will feature Susan Wilder (as Diane), Johnnie Hobbs, Jr. (as Reggie), Lori McNally (as Eve) and Bowman Wright (as Ater).

WRITING ALOUD

Monday, June 12, 2006

Adrift

An American traveler caught in an African snowfall, a businesswoman at her great-grandmother’s deathbed, a young girl exploring an improbable friendship, a New Orleans woman who kills a sparrow, and an aging Holocaust survivor on a return visit to Europe – these are some of the characters who find themselves adrift in the five stories featured in Writing Aloud’s June program, “Adrift.”

Adrift will include the following stories:
"The Sound of Snow Not Falling" Written by William Winston
"The Sitting Tree" Written by Constance Garcia-Barrio
"Open Season" Written by Catherine Rios
"Clay Pigeons" by Denise Larabee
"The Wanderers" Written by Gunter David

InterAct Theatre Company
2030 Sansom Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215) 568-8077
Fax: (215) 568-8095
www.InterActTheatre.org

Join us at InterAct for these upcoming events:

The World Premiere of
REINVENTING EDEN by Seth Rozin
Running through May 7
A hard-hitting new drama from the author of MISSING LINK about an eminent scientist who must answer both to his family and the government for allegedly conducting unauthorized genetic experiments on his own son.

Writing Aloud: Family Secrets
Monday, May 8 at 7:00 p.m.
Four contemporary short fiction stories written by area writers read aloud by some of Philadelphia’s best actors.


INTERACT THEATRE COMPANY CONTEMPLATES
SECOND BITE OF EDEN’S APPLE IN WORLD PREMIERE
REINVENTING EDEN
A new drama by Seth Rozin
April 7 - May 7, 2006

Philadelphia, PA - On Wednesday, April 12, InterAct Theatre Company marks Opening Night of its World Premiere production of REINVENTING EDEN, by Seth Rozin, a hard-hitting new drama which tells of an eminent scientist who must answer both to his family and the government for allegedly conducting unauthorized genetic experiments on his own son.


ABOUT THE PLAY

As advancements in biotechnology race ahead of our legal and ethical understanding, REINVENTING EDEN balances the innate human desire to give our children a better future against the arrogance of creating the perfect baby. Science has drastically expanded our capacity to both heal and manipulate ourselves, however the rapid advancements raise a multitude of complex questions: Should a line be drawn between therapeutic alterations (i.e. fighting diseases) and those that are essentially cosmetic (i.e. increasing height, talent)? Do humans have the right to "tamper" with the natural evolution of our species? Should the scientific community concern itself with the moral implications of its research, or is the advancement of knowledge more important than all other goals? REINVENTING EDEN tackles this revolution both skillfully and respectfully by exploring the personal and political implications of genetically engineering humans.

REINVENTING EDEN follows the family of an eminent geneticist, Jonas Tuttle, who is being honored with a major science prize while simultaneously being investigated for allegedly unauthorized experiments he conducted some twenty years earlier. Jonas' older son, Paul, has a genetically based mental disability and lives at home at the age of 26. Jonas' younger son, Jason, is a normal, healthy college graduate returning from Peace Core work in East Africa to see his father honored. As the government's investigation begin to expose the secrets of Jonas' top secret experiments, Jonas and his wife, Lizzie, are forced to tell their sons that the allegations are true. Jason's healthy mental state is, indeed, a result of Jonas' intervention. As the future of Jonas’ career rests in the outcome of the investigation, the entire Tuttle family must come to terms with the implications of their life-altering decision.

In a recent interview with InterAct Dramaturg, Larry Loebell, playwright Seth Rozin described what inspired REINVENTING EDEN, “I am fascinated by how people come to believe what they believe and what would directly challenge, or topple those beliefs. Manipulating our genes seems to be a line that most people simply don't want to cross. The underlying fear, I think, is the slippery slope. Hardly anyone would object to using a new technology to eradicate a debilitating disease in a child. In fact, there is a moral imperative to do anything we can to relieve that suffering. How are we going to negotiate that line? I wanted to put a face to this issue. I wanted to show a family - in this case, the first family - who crosses that forbidden line."


ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT

Seth Rozin (Playwright) may be best known as the Barrymore Award-winning Producing Artistic Director of InterAct Theatre Company. His previous two plays, Men of Stone (produced by Theater Catalyst) and Missing Link (produced by InterAct), garnered Barrymore Award nominations for "Outstanding New Play" in 2001 and 2002, respectively. He is the recipient of two playwriting fellowships from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, as well as a grant award from the National Foundation for Jewish Culture. REINVENTING EDEN was featured in the National New Play Network's National Showcase of New Plays in June, 2005, as well as a public reading series at Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey in 2004.


ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Harriet Power (Director/Dramaturg), M.F.A., is a professor of theatre at Villanova University, where she teaches acting, dramaturgy, and solo performance. Directing credits include Syncopation (Act II Playhouse), Dinner With Friends (English language theatre in Rome, Italy), Missing Link at InterAct Theatre (2002 Barrymore nominee for Outstanding New Play) and Measure for Measure at Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival (2001 Barrymore nominee for Outstanding Direction of a Play). She also shared the 1997 Barrymore Award for Best Direction with James Christy for Villanova's production of Angels in America. From 1995-1998, as Artistic Director of Venture Theatre, Ms. Power directed Moon for the Misbegotten, Fires in the Mirror, Mad Forest, and two world premieres. Nationally, she has worked extensively with new plays and playwrights at Bay Area Playwrights Festival, West Coast Playwrights, and Iowa Playwrights Festival.


ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

InterAct Theatre's World Premiere production of REINVENTING EDEN will feature Tim Moyer (as Jonas Tuttle), Nancy Boykin (as Lizzie Tuttle), Matt Pfeiffer (as Paul Tuttle) and Ahren Potratz (as Jason Tuttle). Also featured will be John Morrison (as Boris), Seth Reichgott (as Robert) and Kevin Bergen (as Corey). The design team for REINVENTING EDEN will include sets by Daniel Boylen, lighting by Jerry Forsyth, costumes by Cloe Fox Wind and sound by Kevin Francis.

REINVENTING EDEN runs for 27 performances, April 7 - May 7, 2006, with Opening Night on Wednesday, April 12. Performances are Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m., Thursday through Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. Single tickets (previews - $15, weekdays - $22, weekends - $25) are available through InterAct's box office by phoning 215-568-8079, by emailing Tickets@InterActTheatre.org, or online at www.InterActTheatre.org. InterAct offers discounts for seniors, students (with valid I.D.), and groups. All performances take place at The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom Street, Philadelphia.


MORE ON THE ISSUES

During the run of REINVENTING EDEN, InterAct will host several post-performance talk-backs to encourage further discussion on the issues raised. Speaker Sundays, a series featuring invited scholars, community leaders and artists, are scheduled to follow matinee performances on April 16, April 23 and April 30. For a schedule of guest speakers, call InterAct at 215-568-8079. Coffee Conversations, an informal discussion with the production's artists and designers, sponsored by Whole Foods, are scheduled to follow performances on April 18, 19, 25 and 26.

In addition, The Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania and InterAct Theatre Company present a dialogue about human gene therapy and genetic engineering, incorporating perspectives from the scientific to the religious, from the ethical to the practical, from the creative to the corporate. "Where Are We?" and "Where Are We Going?" will be held at 2:00-3:30 pm and 4:00-5:30 pm, respectively, on Saturday, April 29, 2006, on the mainstage at The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom Street. Panelists will include: Art Caplan, Director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania; Seth Rozin, playwright of REINVENTING EDEN; Lee Silver, Professor of Molecular Biology and Public Affairs at Princeton University; Susan Lindee, Professor of History and Sociology of Science at University of Pennsylvania; and James Wilson, Director of the Gene Therapy Program at University of Pennsylvania. The discussions are free and open to the public.


COMING UP NEXT AT INTERACT

The fourth and final production of InterAct Theatre Company’s 2005/2006 Season will be the Philadelphia premiere of SINCE AFRICA by Mia McCullough, running May 26 - June 25, with the official Opening Night on Wednesday, May 31, 2006. When Diane, a recently widowed socialite, and Reggie, an African American clergyman, clash over how to help one of the "Lost Boys of Sudan" acclimate to life in urban America, a host of conflicts arise. Committed to replacing old patterns with new involvements, Diane tries to balance the responses of her semi-estranged daughter and the strong pull she feels toward the scarred refugee. Along the way, each character’s attitudes about art, marriage, initiation rites, inheritance and therapy are pitted against the others to reveal how fundamentally different, yet unexpectedly similar, we all can be. In the end, SINCE AFRICA shows how four extraordinary people grapple with loss, identity, and the challenges of creating a new home. The Chicago Sun-Times called SINCE AFRICA, "a sensitive and deeply thoughtful play with four rich characters… " InterAct Theatre’s production of SINCE AFRICA will be directed by Paul Meshejian and will feature Susan Wilder (as Diane), Johnnie Hobbs, Jr. (as Reggie), Lori McNally (as Eve) and Bowman Wright (as Ater).

Due to the nature of live theatre, play selection, performance and casting are subject to change.

InterAct Theatre Company
2030 Sansom Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215) 568-8077
http://www.interacttheatre.org/

Now in its 18th Season, InterAct Theatre Company is a theatre for today's world, producing new and contemporary plays that explore the social, political and cultural issues of our time.


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