On Sunday, May 6, for the second consecutive year, Rochester Spoken Word teamed up with the Rochester Cocktail Revival for Speak Easy: Stories with Cocktails. This year, our 10 readers — including four first-timers — participated in two back-to-back shows, sharing their short works that included references to cocktails or were cocktail themed. Both audiences enthusiastically showed their approval of the stories and the cocktails they were served as part of their admission.
Next up, we’re happy to be part of the inaugural Ladder Literary Conference weekend with Speak Easy: Open Topic when we’re scheduled to have 10 readers, including eight who will visit our stage for the first time. It should be a lively show, and we expect it to sell out early, so get your tickets now.
Lineup for Speak Easy No. 17, Sunday 5/6/2018, at Cheshire (multiple listings reflect the author reading different pieces at the two shows):
Just Ignore the Smoke and Smile — David Holloway A Brief (and Doubtful) History of the Cocktail — Scott Seifritz Once Upon a Time — Evvy Fanning One for the Road — Kevin Watt
Excerpt from Tears of the Assassin/Excerpt from Face of the Assassin— Bill Brewer Otherwise Forever — Doug Brooks
Excerpt from Under His Nose — Melissa Pheterson Ten Minutes — Jessica DiSalvo Hunter’s Moon/Privation and a Golden Dream — Robert Shelton Rough Air — Brian Wood
Special thanks to David Holloway for photography (among many other things) and Rebecca Haskins for making a day’s worth of popcorn.
Speak Easy No. 17!
The mimosas were flowing!
Kevin Watt and Evvy Fanning chat before the show.
Delicious cocktails and great writing make for a perfect Sunday.
Speak Easy is a good place to catch up with friends.
The room fills up…
And our MC, Rochester Spoken Word Co-Founder Evvy Fanning reminds everyone to silence their noisemakers.
RocSpoke favorite, David Holloway, kicks things off.
David reading Just Ignore the Smoke and Smile.
The other half of Rochester Spoken Word, Scott Seifritz, shares a story.
Scott reading A Brief (and Doubtful) History of the Cocktail.
She does it all! MC, bartender, and writer, Evvy Fanning!
Evvy reading Once Upon a Time.
Another RocSpoke fave, Kevin Watt, is up next.
Kevin reading One for the Road.
This one’s on us, Kevin!
First-time reader and published author, Bill Brewer, rounds out Act I.
Bill reading from his thriller, Tears of the Assassin.
Intermission! Time for another tasty cocktail!
Act II kicks off with another first time reader: Doug Brooks.
Doug reading from his novel Otherwise Forever.
Next up: Melissa Pheterson graces our stage for the first time
Melissa reading an excerpt from Under His Nose.
All eyes are on Melissa.
Another woman of many talents, Jessica DiSalvo, is up next.
Jessica reading her very new story, Ten Minutes.
Back to share more of his work is frequent guest, Robert Shelton.
Robert reading Hunter’s moon.
It’s always nice to see new faces in the crowd,
We finish up with another first-time reader, Brian Wood.
