It was a hot time at Cheshire cocktail bar this past Sunday as we hosted our sixth(!) Speak Easy. Nine local writers took the stage to share their short works with us and then hung out for our Q&A. We had five first-timer readers this time around, which tells us that people are spreading the word. It was a fun afternoon, and included my first ever shout-out in someone else’s work! (Thanks, Lise!) When we started these back in January, we had no idea where we were headed. Six sell-outs later (seven if you include our youth event), and I think we know what we’ll be doing the 2nd Sunday of the month for the foreseeable future.
Next up on July 9, Speak Easy will be dedicated to the memoir. For this one, we’ll have 10 readers sharing stories form their lives. Why not come check it out? Tickets are already selling fast and can be purchased here.
Please be sure to check out the pictures from the June Speak Easy below, and don’t forget to sign up for our mailing list so you know what’s coming up!
Lineup for Speak Easy No. 6, Sunday 6/11/2017 at Cheshire: An excerpt from What Is Yours — Nadia Ghent Three Ringed Circus, Notes from the Airplane, A Prayer for First Pining — Lise Kunkel Correction — Evvy Fanning Calling Hours — Christine Lasher Florida Road Trip – Circa 1997 — Katy McNeill The Lilac Bush — Kelsey Peterson The Florida/Georgia Border — Kat Bakrania Peg — Michaela Chan Laburnum — Monica Gebell
Special Thanks To:
Julio Nieves — MC
Jamie McFarlin — Photography
Speak Easy No. 6!
The fans (both kinds) were out in full force.
Our MC, Julio Nieves, doing his MC thing.
RSW Co-Founder, Scott Seifritz, displays his shirt from Listening to the Future.
Second-time reader, Nadia Ghent, gets things started.
Nadia reading an excerpt from her story, What is Yours.
Nadia finishes to an appreciative crowd.
First time reader, Lise Kunkel, finally makes it to our stage!
Lise reading one of her poems.
Lise gives a poetic shout-out to RSW Co-Founder, Scott Seifritz.
All eyes are on Lise.
Next up: RSW Co-Founder and Cheshire proprietress, Evvy Fanning.
Evvy reading her story, Correction.
Evvy never disappoints!
Julio preps for the next reader.
First time reader, Christine Lasher, takes the stage.
Christine reading her work, Calling Hours.
Next up, a favorite from Speak Easy No. 1, Katy McNeill.
Katy regaling us with her story, Florida Road Trip — Circa 1997.
The crowd reacts to Katy’s humor.
Great job, Katy!
Intermission! Time to mingle and get some more drinks!
The readers weren’t the only things sparkling at Cheshire!
Past and future reader, Sejal Shaw, provides some info on the Writers & Books Gell Summer Intensive.
First-time reader, Kelsey Peterson, kicks off Act II.
Kelsey reading from her story, The Lilac Bush
The crowd is all ears.
Nice job, Kelsey!
Our favorite (male) bartender, Dr. Julius, awaits your order.
Rochester Spoken Word welcomes another first-time reader, Kat Bakrania.
Kat reading her story, The Florida/Georgia Border.
Kat shows us that your phone will work just fine when you don’t have a printout of your story.
The Cheshire staff will never let your thirst go unattended.
Our fifth first-timer of the day, Michaela Chan!
Michaela reading her work, Peg.
Michaela and the other first-time readers brought their A-games to the June Speak Easy!
The audience keeping their cool.
Our last reader of the day, Monica Gebell!
Monica reading her story, Laburnum.
Monica was our first-ever Speak Easy reader. Welcome back, Monica!!
Q&A time with our writers.
And that wraps up our 6th Speak Easy! See you in July!
