For Immediate Release (June 26, 2006)
Contact Person: Professor Sidney Homan (352-378-9166)
TWO EVENINGS OF UNUSUAL THEATRE, JULY 26 AND JULY 28
Well-known director and actor Sidney Homan stages two evenings of unusual theatre on July 26 and July 28 as part of the activities attending the tenth-annual conference "Writing the Region: A Writers Workshop Honoring Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings." Both productions, at the Thomas Center in downtown Gainesville, are free and open to the public.
On Wednesday, July 26, at 7 PM, at the Thomas Center a double-bill is offered. Act 1 features John Cech's stage adaptation of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’s story "The Secret River." The adventure of a young girl who in searching for a magical river, bursting with fish that she can then take back to her impoverished village, along the way encounters and charms three surreal creatures, The Secret River is a thinly disguised allegory of Ms. Rawlings's own life as a writer in Cross Creek. Having finished a tour funded by the State of Florida, Homan's production is highlighted by a cool musical score composed and performed by jazz singer Michelle Lamb. Act 2 offers Marjorie and Max, an insightful and often very emotional recreation by actors Mimi Carr and Homan of the letters exchanged between between Ms. Rawligns and her editor at Scribner's, Maxwell Perkins, as they move the novel The Yearling from conception to publication.
On Friday, July 28, again at 7 PM at the Thomas Center, Homan has assembled four of his favorite actors for Faculty Works Onstage, a theatrical reworking of the writings of the several distinguished writers on the Conference faculty. Among the selections are: scenes from Sarah Bewley’s uproarious comedy "Heaving Bosoms, Hairy Chests"; award-winning poet Peter Meinke’s "On Teaching Our Son to Tell Time"; local humorist and Public Radio personality Shelley Mickle’s "How I Achieved Moral Perfection, Last Thursday"; former Sun columnist Bill Maxwell’s tribute to his father, “A Simple Good Preacher,” and Gainesville Today editor Diana Tonnessen’s satire of erring husbands and churchgoers, "Giving Up Emily for Lent"; and a deeply moving portrait of AIDS patients by physician Robert Norman called "Blood Plague." By popular demand, Homan is repeating "School Children on Writers and Writing," surprising comments by elementary- and middle-school young people on the twin subjects.
For more information about these free public performances please call 352-378-9166.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Dr. William Eyerly
352-284-2495
Summer Shakespeare Film Festival at the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre
On Thursday, July 13th and Saturday July 15th at 7:30 PM, the Gainesville Association for the Creative Arts will present a collection of student-adapted films of five of William Shakespeare's plays. Area middle and high school students wrote, directed, and starred in these films which will be shown these two nights only on the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre main stage. Each film is approximately 20 minutes in length.
The titles include: Romeo & Juliet - The Music Video, Transvestite Twelthnight, Pyramus & Thisby, Shrews Gone Wild, and The Scottish President. The shows were produced as part of this year's annual Shakespeare, Summer, and Kids under the direction of GACA's program director, Dr. William Eyerly, with colleague and Summer Shakespeare founder, UF professor Sidney R. Homan. Dr. Eyerly enlisted the help of UF film student Mike McShane to produce the films for the program.
Don't miss this hilarious and innovative evening of Shakespeare on film presented by GACA at the Acrosstown Theatre. The films are rated between G and PG for mild teen humor, and are generally appropriate for the whole family. Tickets will be just $3 each with proceeds going to GACA's scholarship fund and will be available at the door beginning at about 7 PM. The first film shows at 7:30 sharp and there will be snacks (including fresh popcorn!) and drinks available during the show. For more information, call GACA at 352-378-9166.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: DR. WILLIAM EYERLY (352-284-2495) OR NORMA HOMAN (352-378-9166)
A double-feature evening of mayhem, mystery, music, and madness is brought to the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre Main Stage by the Gainesville Association for the Creative Arts. Beginning at 7 PM, two unique shows will take the stage. The 7 PM show, "MurderBy Bequest" is open and appropriate for all ages. The 8 PM presentation of Eddie's Teddy is an original musical sequel to Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show written by GACA program Director and Acrosstown Chairman of the Board, Dr. William Eyerly. This later show is rated PG-13 and no person under 13 will be admitted unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. Tickets are just $3 for one show and $5 for both for all seats and are available at the door. The following is a description of each show:
When: April 13-14 (no show April 15) and 20-22, 2006, 7pm
What: Performances of "Murder by Bequest"
Where: Produced by the Gainesville Association for the Creative Arts at the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre
GACA's Act Up! Middle school ensemble performs first with "Murder by Bequest",a hilarious murder-mystery farce. Join us for an evening of wacky characters and mayhem. This ensemble of crazy characters kicks off a double feature on the Acrosstown Theater main stage. Acrosstown Repertory Theatre (619 S. Main Street in Gainesville).Call (352) 378-9166 for more information.
When: April 13-15 and 20-22, 2006, 8pm
What: Performances of "Eddie's Teddy: A Time-Warped Tale of Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show"
Where: Produced by the Gainesville Association for the Creative Arts at the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre
GACA's Act Up! High school ensemble performs at the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre with "Eddie's Teddy: A Time-Warped Tale of the Rocky Horror Show." Join the cast for an original sequel to Richard Brien's Rocky Horror Show written and directed by Dr. William Eyerly that features all the wacky characters from theoriginal, plus two brand new victims for Frankenfurter. Features five songs from the original show, including Time Warp. This show is rated PG-13: No person under 13 will be admitted without a parent or guardian. Acrosstown Repertory Theatre (619 S. Main Street in Gainesville). Call (352) 378-9166 for more information.
SF Writer Joe Haldeman Among Florida Authors Set For Book Fair
Inaugural Florida Voices Book Fair is March 4 at Santa Fe Community College Downtown Blount Center
February 3, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Norma Homan (888) 917-7001
Ed Hunter, (352) 379-5802
(352) 281-8564 (mobile)
Gainesville, FL -- SF scribe Joe Haldeman will be among a select group of authors participating in the first book fair dedicated to writers who call the Sunshine State home.
Along with notable writers such as Haldeman, organizers say The Florida Voices Book Fair set for March 4 at Gainesville's Santa Fe Community College downtown Blount Center has the goal of giving up and coming authors the same opportunity to meet their fans.
"We are focusing on Florida Writers, with books published within the last two years, to give new authors an opportunity which is mostly lacking in the book publishing world," says Norma Homan, executive director of the Gainesville Association for the Creative Arts, the fair's lead producer. "A book fair is the ideal venue for authors to meet their reading audience and for readers to be introduced to new authors."
The Fair runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., allowing plenty of time for readers and fans to meet their favorite authors, purchase books and even obtain a signature or two. Additionally, there will be two panels in which authors will discuss their writing and answer questions from the audience.
Along with Haldeman, better known authors expected to be in attendance are humor writer Shelley Fraser Mickle, Robert Mason, author of New York Times bestseller Chickenhawk and poet Peter Meinke. Haldeman says that even as a successful writer, he enjoys attending book fairs. "Book fairs are fun, meeting your readers and other writers," Haldeman says. "You meet a lot of book collectors, and they're an interesting breed."
The Florida Voices Book Fair is free of charge.
The Fair is produced by the Gainesville Association for the Creative Arts and sponsored by Santa Fe Community College, The Florida Writers Association, the Alachua County Library District, Santa Fe Community College, the Arts Association of Alachua County and Alachua County Friends of the Library and by a Tourist Development Tax grant from the Alachua County Board of Commissioners in conjunction with the Alachua County Tourist Development Council. www.VisitGainesville.com
Added: 4 February 2006
Writing Won't be a Mystery at Gainesville Workshop February 18
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Norma Homan, (888) 917-7001
Ed Hunter, (352) 379-5802
(352) 281-8564 (mobile)
January 19, 2006
Gainesville, FL -- The world is full of mysteries, but how to properly write a mystery novel needn't be one of them. A new workshop from the Gainesville Association for the Creative Arts will help writers solve that mystery in a friendly, supportive environment.
The Solving The Mystery Novel workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Gainesville's Acrosstown Repertory Theater. The workshop features two noted speakers, one an accomplished writer, the other a well-known private investigator.
Noted mystery writer Mary Anna Evans, an award-winning mystery novelist, will discuss setting, character, dialogue and plot in the special context of mystery novels. Her discussion will focus on ways to firmly root description and characterization in the real world, an element she says is especially important in mystery novels.
"We will teach writers how to integrate the principles of good writing into mysteries," Evans said. "For example, characterization and setting are important to any novelist, but mysteries require a writer to go a step beyond simply portraying an realistic setting or character."
On the other end of the spectrum, participants will have a chance to speak with Jack Smith, a twenty-five year law enforcement veteran.
Smith has served as a an expert witness in Circuit and Federal Court in fingerprint analysis and crime scene processing and will share his knowledge of evidence, procedure, and criminal investigation at the workshop.
Join us February 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for a day of valuable insight and education. Registration on the day of the workshop will run from 9:30 to 10 a.m. and cost to register will be $95. For more information or to register, call (888) 917-7001 or visit the GACA Web site at: http://www.artsgaca.org.
Added: 20 January 2006
