Pasadena offers free ArtTalk events March 14

The Playhouse District Association and Boston Court Performing Arts Center present ARTTalk showcasing the best in spoken word, music, theatre, dance, film, and literary arts on Saturday, March 14, 2009 from 11 am until 5 pm. ARTTalk is a free all-ages event.

The six-hour performance marathon will take place at the Boston Court Performing Arts Center at 70 N. Mentor Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91106. ARTTalk features some of Los Angeles most established and emerging performers.

“Boston Court Performing Arts Center is thrilled to co-present ARTTalk with its broad range of acts performing on our stage, allowing us to engage with a truly diverse audience,” says Boston Court Performing Arts Center Executive Director Michael Seel.

Dubbed as one of San Gabriel Valley’s largest spoken word events, ARTTalk is sure to rattle the literary senses. The diverse line up includes the hilarious and witty Michele Serros, a Chicana author, poet and screenwriter. Award winning poet, and author Jervey Tervalon who will be doing selected readings from some of his published works. The screening of “City of Angels 2008: An Echo Park Film Center Youth Documentary Project.” City of Angels 2008 focuses on the unique strengths, concerns and experiences that come together in 21st century Los Angeles. The films are unique examinations through the eyes of 13 and 19-year-olds that provide viewers with a glimpse of the celebrations of life in the City of Angels.

Also on the bill are Pasadena’s leading contemporary dance company, Lineage dance, Ina Buckner-Barnette, The Sunshine Storyteller who will share her African American historic stories, folktales, poetry and songs. In addition to these great performers attendees will also get to enjoy Japanese style drumming from the Taiko Center of Los Angeles and award winning flamenco dancing from Mojacar Flamenco among other performers.

In all, attendees will experience a day filled with diverse and top-notch programming that is accessible to all.

For more information on ARTTalk contact Josie Mora at 626.744.0340 ext. 13 or jmora@playhousedistrict.org

A complete performance schedule is below.


11:00am- Z. Clark Branson
Clark Branson, “Raconteur of Song and Story,” will kick-off ARTTalk with a celebration of words and music in a traditional storytelling style.

11:30am - Ina Buckner-Barnette, The Sunshine Storyteller
African and African American historical stories, folktales, poetry, and songs.

12:00pm- Taiko Center of Los Angeles
Performers from the Taiko Center of Los Angeles will share both traditional and contemporary Japanese pieces.

12:30 - Jervey Tervalon
Los Angeles Times bestselling author, award-winning poet, screenwriter, and dramatist will read stories from his celebrated books.

1:00pm- Nevenka
Los Angeles-based women’s folk chorus will be performing songs from Eastern Europe.

1:30pm- Jasmine Orpilla
The Life and Death of a Voice, a solo performance piece dedicated to the sensitivities of the human voice and the evolving language to which the voice constantly adapts.

2:00pm- Wicked Lit
Halloween Theatre readings focused on the adaptations of classic literary thrillers from readings to include The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving, The Monkey’s Paw by W.W. Jacobs, The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allen Poe and Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne

2:30pm- Mojácar Flamenco
Award winning Flamenco Group performs their energetic and rhythmic piece, Jaleo.

3:00pm- Michelle Serros
Michelle Serros will read selected experts from her best selling books Chicana Falsa, How to be a Chicana Role Model, Honey Blonde Chica and, her newest Young Adult novel, !Scandalosa! as well as share her experiences as a staff writer for the ABC sitcom, The George Lopez Show.

3:30pm- Lineage Dance - Healing Blue
Healing Blue tells the story of women in their courageous triumph over cancer. The piece deals with the reality of facing cancer in yourself, cancer in a loved one and the use of love and humor to cope and grow throughout the experience.

4-5pm- Echo Park Film Center
“Echo Park Film Center (EPFC) presents selections from City of Angels 2008: An EPFC Youth Documentary Project”

For Echo Park Film Center's 20th free youth filmmaking class, 23 students between the ages of 13 and 19 embarked on individual documentary journeys exploring personal, family and community stories. The films are unique examinations and celebrations of life in the City of Angels.