If there’s one thing we like to do at Rochester Spoken Word, it’s to welcome people from all backgrounds to our stage. Getting to hear works from people with different life experiences than our own helps us to better understand others, which in turn makes our time together on this big blue marble even better. On Sunday April 8th, Speak Easy celebrated diversity with Colorful Voices: Readings by People of Color, LGBTQ, and Other Under-Represented Writers. It was a fantastic program across the board, and so very popular that it sold out a week in advance!
We had 9 wonderful readers — eight of which graced our stage for the first time. We hope they’ll come visit us again. Check out the pictures below.
Next Up: Celebrate the cocktail with us at Speak Easy: Stories with Cocktails. Again this year we’ll be part of the Rochester Cocktail Revival, so all our readings will reference a cocktail. This is such a popular event that we’re doing two shows, and no matter which show you attend, you’re ticket is good for two cocktails. Get your tickets before they’re gone: Noon Show – 3:00 pm Show.
Lineup for Speak Easy No. 16, Sunday 4/8/2018, at Cheshire:
Generations in One Short Lifetime — Denise Lippa One True Season (A Poem for Z.Q. who has Dissociative Identity Disorder with 16 Identities in All) — Joel Lesses
Excerpt from The Annulment — Ashwin Manthripragada Pat the Bunny — Linda Lowen
Excerpt from No Other World — Rahul Mehta
Excerpt from Beach Country — Francesca Padilla A Queer at Latin Mass — Bridget Connolly Where there is Water from Remember the Earth — Angelique Stevens Eulogy for Mother — Katherine Gale DaCosta
Special thanks to Martin Petrella for photography and Rebecca Haskins for keeping the corn popping.
Speak Easy No. 16!
Like the 15 prior, this one sold out — but in record time!
The stairs up to Cheshire — where the magic happens.
Linda Lowen finds her place in the lineup.
It’s always nice to see familiar faces in the crowd — especially when they’re past readers.
A nice hand-crafted cocktail will settle the nerves.
A man of many talents, David Holloway works his magic behind the bar.
RocSpoke co-founder and MC, Scott Seifritz, gets the show started.
First up is Denise Lippa.
Denise reading Generations in One Short Lifetime.
The audience approves.
First-time reader Joel Lesses takes the stage.
All eyes and ears on Joel.
Joel reading One True Season.
It’s helpful to take notes for the Q&A.
Next up, Ashwin Manthripragada.
Ashwin reading an excerpt from The Annulment.
Ashwin has the crowd’s attention.
Visiting Speak Easy from Syracuse is first-time reader, Linda Lowen.
Linda reading Pat the Bunny.
Linda gets applause.
Another traveler, Rahul Mehta stopped in on his way back to Philly.
Rahul reading an excerpt from his book, No Other World.
Intermission! Time for another delicious cocktail!
Intermission is a great time to mingle with the readers…
Or chat about the show so far.
Joel chats with past reader, Lise Kunkel.
Scott catches up with Bridget Connolly.
We’re always happy to see new faces in the crowd!
Act II kicks off with Francesca Padilla.
Francesca reading an excerpt from Beach Country.
Francesca gets a round of applause.
Our only veteran of the day, Bridget Connolly.
Bridget reading her poem, A Queer at Latin Mass.
Next up, Angelique Stevens.
Angelique reading Where there is Water from her book Remember the Earth.
We wrap up the show with Katherine Gale DaCosta.
Katherine reading Eulogy for Mother, who also made an appearance.
