Stories on Stage to Feature Flash Fiction

Stories on Stage, which operates from mid-town Sacramento, continues to grow. Running every last Friday of the month, the series has featured writers from across the US and is preparing to feature African writers in June. The idea is brilliant: the stories are read by professional actors, and the events are well-attended.

On Friday, May 27th, Stories on Stage will present an evening of (very) short fiction, featuring the winners of Sacramento News & Review’s 2010 Flash Fiction Contest (these writers had a stingy 150 words to work with). Kent Gray will read Paul Mann’s"79 Miles," Cynthia Mitchell Speakman will read Peg Alford Pursell’s "Guardian," Ashley Lucas will read Jenni Wiltz’ “Letters,” Bonnie Antonini will read Peg Alford Pursell’s “This Guy,” and Pam Metzger will read William Doonan’s “Lady Anaconda.”

Sacramento Poetry Center
1719 25th Street (Between Q & R)
Donation: $5
Performance begins at 7:30PM. Doors open at 7PM

Peg Alford Pursell's fiction has received The S.C. State Fiction Award and been a short-list finalist for the Flannery O’Connor Short Fiction Award. She founded and curates Why There Are Words, a monthly literary reading series in Sausalito, and is fiction editor at Prick of the Spindle. She teaches fiction writing at the College of Marin, Book Passage, and in private workshops. She is currently at work on a novel. Please visit her website and blog to keep up with her news. http://www.pegalfordpursell.com

William Doonan is a writer and professor of anthropology and archaeology in Sacramento, CA, where he lives with his wife Carmen, and his sons Will and Huey. Doonan is the author of two mystery novels; Grave Passage and Mediterranean Grave, which recount the exploits of octogenarian cruise ship detective Henry Grave. For more information about Doonan and his writing, please visit www.williamdoonan.com. William's "Lady Anaconda" won first prize.

Jenni Wiltz’s short stories have appeared in The Portland Review and The Copperfield Review. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California at Davis with degrees in English and history; she's currently studying for a Master’s in English at Sacramento State University. Jenni lives in Folsom, California and blogs about her writing experiences at http://jenniwiltz.tumblr.com/. Jenni's "Letters" won second prize.

Paul Mann grew up around the beaches of the Gulf Coast in Sarasota, Florida. It is a region he often visits through his writing. His stories and photos have been published in Susurrus, Sacramento News & Review, The Farallon Review and Sunken Lines. When not hunched over his keyboard, he enjoys spending time at home in California with his attorney wife, his smart and beautiful daughter, and his loyal canine companion Bode. Visit Paul's website here. Paul's "79 Miles" won third prize.

Bonnie Antonini returned to acting six years ago after taking a long hiatus to raise her children. She hit the ground running and has been in 20 stage plays, numerous commercials, TV shows, and industrials. She also is a poet and has had three of her poems published in the Sacramento News and Review. Her most recent role was in The Mystery Spot, where she played poet Sylvia Plath. Bonnie will read Peg Alford Pursell’s “This Guy.”

Cynthia Mitchell Speakman has been performing on Sacramento stages since 1994 when she joined Ed Claudio's Actor's Workshop. She performs with Story Voices, four spoken word artists that perform for benefits across the country, inspiring people to take on their lives with passion. Her son keeps her thinking young and she thanks him for being an inspiration to her. Cynthia will read Peg Alford Pursell's "Guardian."

Kent Gray is a man of many interests. He returned to Sacramento after attending law school in Des Moines. Kent has been in the theatre for 20 years. He holds a master’s degree from Humboldt State University and has appeared in numerous productions including playing Bo Decker in Bus Stop and Horatio in Hamlet. His directing credits include An Act of the Imagination and No Exit. In addition, Kent spent 10 years as a radio announcer working in the Midwest and California. Kent will read Paul Mann’s “79 Miles.”

Ashley Lucas has been acting for over five years. She has performed with Runaway Stage, Thistledew, and is a regular at the Playwrights Collaborative Workshops. Her other acting ventures include volunteering with the West Sacramento CERT as their Fire Prevention Trailer Instructors. Ashley will read Jenni Wiltz’ “Letters.”

Pamela Metzger was a radio announcer in the Sacramento area for 20 years. She has always enjoyed a good read on road trips, with each passenger giving their interpretation as they read aloud. The second child of 9 brothers and sisters made storytelling a necessary element in her well rounded personality. She resides in Sacramento and is in the Television advertising business. Pam will read William Doonan’s “Lady Anaconda.”

Visit Stories on Stage's blog for more information about interviews and other events.