Storytelling Sunday is proud to present our final event “Lit after Lunch” where we are featuring the award-winning author and slam poet from Oakland, Jonathan Rice who recently released his new book titled Broken Pencils, along with the acclaimed poet Raggedy Andey from Santa Cruz who is releasing a new book titled Slaughterhouse Ballroom.
Our special guests are poet and published author H.J. Sandigo, performer Alisyn Gularte, and published poet and author Jen Vernon. We have debute memoir storytelling performance written and created by Malika Noreen titled "Chosen". Our honored musical guest is the talented Americana artist, J.B. Barton.
Our regular open mic will follow, but be sure to sign up early as spots fill up fast. We are very excited for this final showcase and look forward to seeing you there!
When: Sunday, April 13th from 1:00pm-4:00 pm
Storytelling Sunday is hosted by Rina Wakefield and Mae Flores.
Spoken word poetry, short stories, and narratives are welcome!
This is an inclusive, welcoming, and supportive gathering.
What is Storytelling?
“Storytelling uses words to create new worlds and experiences in a reader or listener’s imagination. Storytelling can impact human emotions. It can also lead people to accept original ideas or encourage them to take action.”
Storytelling is one of the oldest, purest art forms. It is also a beautiful exchange and passing on of stories from generation to generation.
More on the Featured Artists and Musical Guest:
Jonathan Rice, aka (J.R.), had always been captivated by the power of words and their ability to inspire, motivate and transform lives. As a young man, he knew that he wanted to make a difference in the world through his writing and his ability to connect with people. J.R.’s novella, Broken Pencils was the recipient of the 2024 Literary Titan Gold Book Award, Literary Global Gold Award, Hawthorne Prize shortlist, and earned Third Place in Best African-American Fiction and Best New Fiction in the 2024 Speak Up Radio International Firebird Book Award Contest, Third place in Best African-American Literature and an Honorable Mention in Best Quote for the 2023 Outstanding Creator Award, an Honorable Mention in both the 2023 San Francisco Book Festival Award and New York Book Festival Award for Best Wild Card entry, and was a top finalist for Hidden River Arts’ 2023 Blue Mountain Award. His poetry collection, I WAS, AM, WILL BE was a semifinalist for the 2023 St. Lawrence Book Award through Black Lawrence Press. His short story, “Depends (Good Night)” made the shortlist for the 2023 Letter Review Prize for Short Stories. His travel essays, “No Pasa Nada” earned Third place in the 16th Annual Solas Award for Best Men’s Travel Story. His poem, “Righteous Rage (P.T.S.D)” was published in the poetry collection, The Town: An Anthology of Oakland Poets by Nomadic Press. In addition to his writing accolades, he earned the Rookie of the Year award at the 2005 National Collegiate Poetry Slam in Philadelphia. He was a Semi-Finalist in the 2023 Berkeley Poetry Slam Finals. He is also the author of I WAS, AM, WILL BE #1 and I WAS, AM, WILL BE #2.
Raggedy Andey is an abandoned house obsessed poet and mentor from Santa Cruz. Her highly anticipated new book, Slaughterhouse Ballroom, follows a string of celebrated publications; Portrait of an Infection, The Powder Room, and My Body That Comes Off in Pieces. This latest book is a veneration of her muse, the body and spirit of abandoned houses, and the secrets they protect. In addition to her written works, she was grand-slam champion of Santa Cruz in 2015, joining her team at the National Poetry Slam in Oakland where they placed in the top 5 overall. She went on to sweep the Southwest Shootout in 2018, winning the individual competition, as well as the group competition alongside her fellow Santa Cruz teammates. Today, she organizes an exclusive poetry series celebrating the craft of writing, and spends her days basking in the sun with her little dog Frank. Her favorite word is avid,
HJ Sandigo explores the pilgrimage of the heart, drawing from the well of Christian mysticism, venerating the vagabond saints, and evoking the beauty of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in his verse. His travels abroad and life on the road in Scarlet, a camper van turned hermitage, have fueled many of his stories. Like the writers who crossed America in search of her spirit, Sandigo seeks the quiet places where grace and gratitude ambush unsuspecting wayfarers. His poetic reflections, Tears of the Theotokos, delve into themes of sorrow, renewal, and the light that emerges in the darkest nights of the soul.
Alisyn Gularte is no stranger to the stage, performing since an early age in theatre productions, television, and film. Her passion for storytelling extends to creative writing, which has been published in various formats. Her creativity flows into her work where by day you can find her as a marketing maven specializing in branding and content creation. In addition to her other creative pursuits, she has also directed a couple of theatrical productions to include Vanities at Imagination Theater. Alisyn attended San Jose State University where she majored in Theatre Arts and Communications. She received the distinct honor of being named fellow for the Kaucher Mitchell Event in Excellence in Oral Interpretation as well as placing first as a finalist. As an actress, some of her favorite roles include Sybil Chase (Private Lives), Rosie Alvarez (Bye Bye Birdie), and Melissa Gardner (Love Letters).
Jen Vernon is a poet who creates through performance, production, and on the page. Her book, Rock Candy, West End press won a “Tillie Olsen” award for its insightful representation of working-class life. She hails from Washington where her relatives followed logging work to land and some of their true stories find home in her book. She's a first-generation college grad with a phd and for her day job now, she teaches communication and journalism at Sierra College. She lives in Folsom with her family and plants and does poetry with Placerville's Red Fox Poets Underground. She's happy to be here!
Malika Noreen is a lesbian identifying cis-female that uses the "she/her" pronouns. She became very active in the Drag community of Fairbanks, AK, in her early 20s. They had a small theater company (Klondykes, Queens, & Co.). They produced quality drag performances that raised a fair amount of money to support local nonprofits (i.,e. Interior Aid Association & also the Breast Cancer Detection Center, as well as PFLAG & our local Planned Parenthood). Her drag character (Earnest Lee Cummings) is an Oscar Wilde reference (The Importance of Being Earnest). She has tried her hand at writing, producing, and stage-managing a series of children's Shakespeare plays that were a part of the Fairbanks Shakespeare Company's summer youth camp for three consecutive seasons. Her performance at the Green Room will be unlike her previous experiences. She will be debuting a personal memoir story that offers a unique and authentic perspective on what it means to be adopted, but through the lens of being “Chosen”. This is sure to be moving, empowering, and a one of a kind experience and we are honored that she is sharing this with us.
J.B. Barton is a versatile Americana artist with roots across California, including Southern California, Humboldt County, and Oakland. Currently based in Sacramento, his music seamlessly blends country, folk, blues, rock, and jazz. Having opened for legends like David Grisman, Sam Bush, Greensky Bluegrass and the Devil Makes Three, J.B. Barton showcases his versatility and musicianship. He draws inspiration from icons like Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Bob Dylan, and others, infusing his own music with a contemporary twist. J.B. Barton has also been a key member of bands like Ol' Silver Tongue, Bucky Walters, T Sisters, and Brothers Comatose, enriching their musical journey. J.B. Barton's debut full length The Always Friendly Outlaw is set to make a mark in the Americana world. His evocative lyrics and soulful melodies captivate audiences. Get ready to experience J.B. Barton's exceptional live performances at music festivals and join him on a genre-bending musical journey.
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Join us for an intimate evening of music and please respect the artists while performing by keeping table talk to a minimum.
Unlike our normal GA shows, your ticket is included with your table price. Parties of 3 may purchase a 2 top and add a 3rd guest at the door.
Tables for seated shows must be purchased at full price. Your membership includes complimentary GA access but seating is not guaranteed.
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