Mar. 16, 2007, 8:42 a.m. - Women's Month 07
“What are the words you do not yet have?” - Audre Lorde
“When you speak, let your words be flesh and bone.” – Akira Kesai Happy Women’s Month!!! Hope you are all reveling in this spectacular Spring weather. Breathe deep! Enjoy the sunshine! I know I am… MANY THANKS to those who came through to support me at the last couple of readings at JFK University (such a generous audience)…and the Speaking Fierce event on International Women’s Day! And speaking of the latter…some POWERFUL women in the house! Thanks for the love & gushing compliments. Big up to the speakers who talked about their experiences in the military, the drummers, the dancers, Aimee Allison, the WOMEN OF COLOR RESOURCE CENTER and all of the amazing organizations who put that event together. This past Sunday’s WOMEN OF COLOR workshop at Epic Arts was also inspiring…thank you for your courage, your words & your gestures! I’m looking forward to seeing some of you this Saturday at the Making Soul introductory workshop too! (There are a couple of spaces left, you can still sign up!) It’s looking like the 8-week series may be postponed until later summer…so email workshops@aimeesuzara.net if you’re interested in that or other workshops. This weekend: come support Aya’s show, and check out a tidbit of Pagbabalik as well as Ariel Lucky’s work, Saturday at Laney. And then save the date for April 1’s CHECK THE RHYME book release event at La Peña (SCROLL ALL THE WAY DOWN FOR PRESS RELEASE to send to your folks!). Haven’t peeped the book yet? It’s not to be missed…go to www.aimeesuzara.net, “words/work” and click on the book cover image to purchase or learn more! ‘K, that’s it for now…gotta catch the sun! See you soon…Aimee
SUMMARY
2 Events: March 17: “Pagbabalik” excerpt at Aya de Leon’s “Thieves in the Temple” movie
April 1: “Check the Rhyme” Book Release! And some updates: Call for production crew members for “Pagbabalik”
“Pagbabalik” SAVE THE DATES! May 25-26 and June 14-15-16 DETAILS This Saturday, MARCH 17: "Pagbabalik" excerpt at Aya's "Thieves" Movie!
If you missed "Pagbabalik" (Return) last October, you can catch a glimpse of it at the closing night of Aya de Leon's acclaimed "Thieves in the Temple...THE MOVIE!" Check out www.aimeesuzara.net to read more about Pagbabalik. And www.ayadeleon.com for info about Aya! In 2004, Aya de Leon produced a theater show about sexism in hip hop.
In 2007, get ready for...
Thieves in the Temple: The Reclaiming of Hip Hop - THE MOVIE!
Wanna see the show again? Missed the show live? Come see the video!
Written & performed by Aya de Leon
Directed by Ellen Sebastian-Chang
MARCH 2007
for info: www.ayadeleon.com or www.nurshaproject.com 510-273-2473 3/16 Fri - Galeria de La Raza 2857 24th St. @ Bryant SF 415.826.8009 galeriadelaraza.org [$10] 8pm with performances by Aya, Paul Flores & Maceo Cabrera Estevez
Post-show Q&A/discussion with Aya 3/17 Sat - Laney College Theater w/ closing night performances by Aya, Aimee Suzara & Ariel Luckey 900 Fallon St, Oak [$15/10 students] 8pm
Post-show Q&A/discussion with Aya About the show: Thieves in the Temple: The Reclaiming of Hip Hop is a battle cry for grassroots consumers and creators of hip hop, particularly women, to snatch back our generation’s culture. Aya explores a variety of characters, including a sex object emcee on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and a West Coast hardcore emcee with an unusual case of Tourettes Syndrome that makes him reveal his sensitive side. She also takes time to get in touch with the gangsta rapper within. At the center, however, is her personal journey from teenage fan to center stage, from victim to visionary for women in hip hop. The movie is a video shot in 2004 of the live show at the Oakland Box Theater by documentary filmmaker Paul Ginocchio.
APRIL 1st: Come help welcome the publishing of a unique book by women, “Check the Rhyme: An Anthology of Female Poets & Emcees”! Includes work by Aimee Suzara, Aya de Leon, DuEwa Frazier, Ellen Hagan and more! The book was recently nominated for the NAACP Image Awards! See http://www.naacpimageawards.net/!
Lit Noire Publishing
presents a Signing and Poetry event for
Check the Rhyme: An Anthology of Female Poets & Emcees Edited by DuEwa M. Frazier Sunday, April 1, 2007, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
$8 at the door
La Peña Cultural Center
3105 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94705 Join us for an uplifting literary event featuring:
DuEwa M. Frazier, Aimee Suzara, and Ellen Hagan The contributors of Check the Rhyme Anthology will perform and discuss on themes relating to: hip hop music, Hurricane Katrina, youth empowerment, performance art and more! Receive a FREE Lit Noire logo T-shirt with each book purchase (unisex style - sizes M, L, XL for men and women). About the Poets
DuEwa M. Frazier is a poet, performing artist, author, journalist, publisher, speaker and educator. She is CEO/Founder of Lit Noire Publishing and the author of two volumes of poetry: Shedding Light From My Journeys and Stardust Tracks on a Road. DuEwa earned the B.A. Degree in English from Hampton University and the M.S.Ed. Degree in Curriculum and Teaching from Fordham University. DuEwa’s poetry has featured in publications including: Essence Magazine, Black Arts Quarterly, Poetry Ink
Anthology, and Drumvoices Revue. She resides in New York. Ellen Hagan is a writer, actress and educator. Her poetry has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and can be seen in Failbetter, La Petite Zine, nervygirl and Monologues for Women by Women. Her performance work has been produced by Spokenworks for the ROAR Theatre Festival, New York International Fringe Festival and the American Living Room Festival. She recently performed for Season 5 of Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry Jam and is currently touring with a two-woman show, Becoming Woman. Ellen holds an MFA in fiction from The New School University, and is working on a full-length novel entitled The Kentucky Notes/Notes Home. Writer, performer, educator Aimee Suzara has performed her poetry throughout the Bay Area for the past 7 years. She received a Zellerbach Family Foundation grant to develop her current theatre work, "Pagbabalik” (Return), which will be shown at Bindlestiff Studios in May and La Peña Cultural Center in June. With a Mills College M.F.A., she teaches English at Las Positas College and workshops/classes for youth and adults at Epic Arts Center, Art in Action, and Aim High Academy. www.aimeesuzara.net
CALL FOR CREATIVE PRODUCTION CREW MEMBERS:
THEATRE AND DANCE STUDENTS!
Would you like to join a unique production fusing theatre, movement and music this Spring/Summer? This is a great opportunity to gain mentorship and experience with a skilled company working in multiple disciplines. You can receive class credit through your institution, or a small stipend for your participation (credit will be preferred/prioritized).
The “Pagbabalik” project is seeking the following for our PRODUCTION CREW: Stage Manager (1)
Stage support/hands (2 positions)
Lighting Designer and Assistant (2 positions)
Sound Designer or Assistant
Projection Operator (video, powerpoint)
Stage Designer
Costume Designer
Makeup Designer
You must be available for the Work in Progress showings at Bindlestiff May 25-27 and the full show June 14-16 at La Peña Cultural Center as well as rehearsals in May and June. There are also tentative additional workshop/works in progress dates in May and possibilities to tour the work beyond June if you are interested.
Are you interested? Email pagbabalik@aimeesuzara.net and describe your experience, why you’re interested, & availability March through June. You'll hear back soon about next steps. VISIT www.aimeesuzara.net and read description below for more information.
“Pagbabalik” (Return)
Written by Aimee Suzara | Directed by Alex Torres | Directorial Consultant (c/o Theatre Bay Area and Zellerbach Family Foundation) Ellen Sebastian Chang | Choreography and Dance by Frances Sedayao, Lisa Juachon & Aimee Suzara | Musical Composition by Ron Quesada, Jen Soriano, Juan Calaf | Acting and Choreography by Aimee Espiritu, Rose Almario & Aimee Suzara May 25-27, Work-in-Progress, Bindlestiff Theatre, SF
June 14-16, La Peña Cultural Center, Berkeley WHAT IS “Pagbabalik"?
“Pagbabalik” (“Return” in Tagalog, one of the main Filipino dialects), a multidisciplinary work merging tradition and innovation to examine the meanings of home and return. The play incorporates spoken word-theatre, dance, indigenous and contemporary music and explores themes of immigration, Filipino American identity, home, history, and language. Entitled “Pagbabalik” or “Return”, the play draws from Filipino mythology and traditions towards the prevailing theme of “return” in its various meanings. Visit www.aimeesuzara.net and click on “Pagbabalik” to read cast bios, see photos, and view a promotional video! What viewers have said about “Pagbabalik”:
“In the context of what’s going on for us socially and politically right now in our communities, with the issues around the right to return…immigration, and people finding home, this piece has vital importance.” – Alli Starr "This show is what Fil-Ams need to begin to dialogue about our experiences as visitors in our homeland and the similarities other immigrants in the U.S. share." – Audience member, October 1st Work-in-Progress I most appreciated…
“…the well developed characters and emotional images created through prose and movement and music.
I especially liked the fusion of contemporary arts with Pilipino culture.” – Audience member, October 1st Work-in-Progress “…the artistry of sound, music and movement.” – Audience member, October 1st Work-in-Progres
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 2007
Contact:
Lit Noire Publishing Events
800-796-4369
events@litnoirepublishing.com
Female Poets & Emcees to Kick-Off National Poetry Month in Berkeley
NEW YORK‹On Sunday, April 1, 2007 at 7pm, the editor and contributors of
Check the Rhyme: An Anthology of Female Poets & Emcees will perform at La
Pena Cultural Center, to kick-off National Poetry Month. The event will
feature the anthology¹s editor, DuEwa M. Frazier, Aimee Suzara (Berkeley)
and Ellen Hagan (New York City). Recently nominated for an NAACP Image
Award in the category of Outstanding Literary Work Poetry, Check the Rhyme
Anthology is a cross-generational compilation featuring the work of fifty
women poets from across the U.S. and Abroad. The anthology has received
rave reviews for its empowering content and themes and its representation of
women writers from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Editor of the
anthology, DuEwa M. Frazier, who is also a poet, performance artist and
Founder/CEO of Lit Noire Publishing states, ³I am proud to publish and
promote the work of women writers who are striving each day to maintain
their art and serve the world through their creative gifts.²
About the Poets:
Aimee Suzara is a Filipina-American poet/performer, cultural worker, and
arts educator. An M.F.A. graduate of Mills College, a college English
teacher and a youth and woman¹s advocate, Suzara has been featured as a
spoken word artist at venues throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and
beyond. Recently, her work was included in a CD release, ³Eye of the Storm,²
to benefit families affected by Hurricane Katrina, and she was invited to
perform part of her theatre work-in-progress, "Pagbabalik (return) which
explores the concept of returning ³home,² at CounterPULSE¹s STREAMfest and
APAture 2006. Her work features in Check the Rhyme Anthology and several
other publications. Check out ³Pagbabalik² May 26-27 at Bindlestiff Studio
and June 14-16 at La Peña Cultural Center, and visit her website at
aimeesuzara.net.
Ellen Hagan is a writer, actress and educator. Her poetry has been nominated
for a Pushcart Prize and can be seen in Failbetter, La Petite Zine,
nervygirl and Monologues for Women by Women. Her performance work has been
produced by Spokenworks for the ROAR Theatre Festival, New York
International Fringe Festival and the American Living Room Festival. She
performed for Season 5 of Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry Jam and is
currently touring with a two-woman show, Becoming Woman. Ellen holds an MFA
in fiction from The New School University, and is working on a full-length
novel entitled The Kentucky Notes/Notes Home. Her work features in Check
the Rhyme Anthology and many other publications. Visit her website at
ellenhagan.com.
Join us on for an uplifting poetry and book signing event for Check the
Rhyme: An Anthology of Female Poets & Emcees! Receive a free Lit Noire
Publishing logo t-shirt with each book purchase (sizes M, L, XL for men and
women, and limit one per customer)!
WHAT: Poetry Event and Book signing for Check the Rhyme Anthology
WHO: Featuring contributors DuEwa M. Frazier, Aimee Suzara and Ellen
Hagan
WHEN: Sunday, April 1, 2007 from 7-9pm
WHERE: La Pena Cultural Center 3105 Shattuck Avenue Berkeley, CA 94705
HOW MUCH: $8 cover fee
CONTACT: 510-849-2568 www.lapena.org
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