Sacramento Poetry Center Features Stories on Stage


PRESENTS

STORIES ON STAGE
with the work of
Jodi Angel and Naomi Williams

performed by
William Kay and Cynthia Mitchell Speakman,
filmed by Kirk Parker

Friday, January 29th, 2010 at 7:30PM (doors open 7PM)
Sacramento Poetry Center
1719 25th Street (Between Q & R)
suggested donation: $5
Host: Valerie Fioravanti

Jodi Angel

Jodi Angel’s collection of short stories, The History of Vegas, was published by Chronicle Books. The collection was named as a San Francisco Chronicle Best Book as well as a LA Times Book Review Discovery. Her short story “Portions” was selected for Special Mention for the 2007 Pushcart Prize and has also been adapted into an independent short film. Her work has appeared in Zoetrope: All-Story, Sycamore Review, and Carve Magazine, among other publications. She currently teaches literature and fiction writing at UC Davis and Sacramento City College. Jodi lives in Midtown Sacramento with her daughter.

Naomi Williams

Naomi Williams was born in Japan and spoke no English until she was 6 years old. A recent graduate of the MA program in Creative Writing at UC Davis, Naomi's short fiction has appeared or is forthcoming in The Southern Review, A Public Space, American Short Fiction, and One Story. She's received a Pushcart Prize and
Honorable Mention in Best American Short Stories 2009. For the last five years, she's been working on a collection of linked short stories about the La Pérouse expedition, an 18th-century French voyage of exploration. She lives in Davis with her husband and two sons. You can listen to Naomi reading her story "Sunday School" here.

William Kay

William Kay began acting in 2000 with Sacramento's Modern Theater Ensemble. He has appeared in several supporting roles at River Stage, including The Chicago Conspiracy Trial and Gun Fighter. He also appeared as Fortinbras in Hamlet at Capitol Opera. He has directed and appeared in several Christmas productions at SLC.
He is currently a member of the Midtown Players, where he works both on stage and behind the scenes.

Cynthia Mitchell Speakman has been performing on Sacramento stages since 1994 when she joined Ed Claudio's Actor's Workshop. She has played some of the great characters in American Theater, such as Linda Loman in Death of a Salesman, Veta Louise in Harvey and Amanda in The Glass Menagerie. She also performs
with StoryVoices, four spoken word artists that perform for benefits across the country, inspiring people to take on their lives with passion. Her 17 year old son keeps her thinking young and she thanks him for being an inspiration to her.

Kirk Parker

Kirk Parker is a local poet, publicist, screen printer, and budding documentary filmmaker. He regularly shares his time and talents with other emerging artists who have proven expertise in their field. Kirk's Stories on Stage t-shirts will benefit our "pay the artists" fund, and he will be filming the debut and interviewing the writers and performers involved. Kirk lives in West Sacramento. You can view some of Kirk's work here.

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