this week in literature

DO THIS PLAY: EXPAND THE CANON VIRTUAL READING SERIES & LIST DROP

Expand the Canon will feature annual list of nine works by women playwrights

Who: Hedgepig Ensemble Theatre, Ma-Yi Theater Company, the Classical Theatre of Harlem, American Players Theatre
What: Inaugural curated list of classic plays written by women
Where: Hedgepig Ensemble Theatre online
When: Tuesdays & Thursdays, September 21 – October 1, suggested donation $15, 8:00
Why: On Monday, September 21, at 8:00, in “The Matchlorette: Meet Your Classical Play Match!,” Brooklyn-based Hedgepig Ensemble Theatre, in conjunction with Ma-Yi Theater Company and the Classical Theatre of Harlem, will drop its inaugural annual curated list of nine classic and classical plays by a diverse group of women. The works, selected by an international committee of eleven women from American Shakespeare Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Texas, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and other organizations, will kick off “Do This Play: Expand the Canon Virtual Reading Series,” with several of the plays, including two new translations, being performed online Tuesday and Thursday nights through October 1. The cast features Hedgepig ensemble members Madeline Egan Addis, Desirée Baxter, Fara Faidzan, Jamal James, Kubbi, Andrew Hutcheson, Sara Hymes, Jory Murphy, Skye Pagon, Gregory Jon Phelps, Basil Rodericks, Rachel Schmeling, and Olivia Williamson, in addition to actors from partner companies. The suggested donation for this inclusive call to action, which focuses on timely, relevant works, is $15; we will add the full schedule below following the official announcement. [Ed. note: The selected plays are House of Desires by Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, A Bold Stroke for a Husband by Hannah Cowley, A Bold Stroke for a Wife by Susanna Centilivre, Her Soul by Amelia P. Roselli, Rachel by Angelina W. Grimke, Restless Night in Late Spring by Fumiko Enchi, Spunk by Zora Neale Hurston, The Drag by Mae West, and Wedding Band by Alice Childress.]

Tuesday, September 22, 8:00
Bold Stroke for a Husband, by Hannah Cowley, directed by Emily Lyon, and featuring Skye Pagon, Shannon Corenthin, David Huynh, Basil Rodericks, Sara Hymes, Rachel Schmeling, Jory Murphy, Andrew Hutcheson, Gregory Jon Phelps, Marcus D. Johnson, and Madeline Addis

Sunday, September 27, 8:00
House of Desires, by Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, directed by Melisa Pereyra, produced in partnership with American Players Theatre, featuring Cher Alvarez, Eduardo Xavier Curley-Carillo, Triney Sandoval, Alejandro Cordova, Sebastian Arboleda, Basil Rodericks, Jamal James, Olivia Williamson, and Desiree Baxter

Tuesday, September 29, 8:00
Restless Night in Late Spring, by Fumiko Enchi, directed by Chari Arespacochago, produced in partnership with Ma-Yi Theater Company, featuring Sasha Diamond, Shannon Tyo, Daniel K. Isaac, and Fara Faidzan

Thursday, October 1, 8:00
Spunk, by Zora Neale Hurston, directed by Bianca LaVerne Jones, produced in partnership with the Classical Theatre of Harlem

LEANING INTO THE UNKNOWN: AN ARTIST’S RESPONSE TO COVID-19

Who: Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, Mignolo Dance, Christy E. O’Connor, Dimitri Reyes, Lisa Campbell
What: Livestream broadcast
Where: Ramapo College Berrie Center YouTube channel
When: Saturday, September 19 & 26, free (donations accepted for the Contemporary Arts Fund or the Covid-19 Student Emergency Fund through the Ramapo Foundation), 8:00
Why: The New Jersey arts community responds to the pandemic lockdown with “Leaning into the Unknown,“ two evenings of dance, spoken word, and performance art hosted by Ramapo College’s Berrie Center. On September 19 at 8:00, Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company of Fort Lee will perform Ripple Effect, Desk and I, Phase II, Emissary of Light, and Tomorrow, along with poet Marina Carreira of Union and performance artist Christy E. O’Connor of Middletown. The lineup for September 26 features Mignolo Dance of Metuchen, spoken word artist Dimitri Reyes of Kearny, and the Moving Architects of Montclair. Each evening will conclude with a live Q&A with the artists, moderated by Berrie Center director Lisa Campbell. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted for the Contemporary Arts Fund or the Covid-19 Student Emergency Fund through the Ramapo Foundation.

STEADY, CALM, AND BRAVE: VIRTUAL BOOK LAUNCH PARTY WITH KIMBERLY BROWN

Who: Kimberly Brown
What: Virtual book launch party
Where: Zoom
When: Monday, September 14, free with RSVP, 7:00
Why: In her new book, Steady, Calm, and Brave: 25 Practices of Resilience and Wisdom in a Crisis (Publishing with Heart, July 2020, $12.95), New York City meditation teacher Kimberly J. Brown offers advice on how to deal with the current pandemic and the protests raging across the country. “Our delusions about being independent from other people, or separate from those we don’t like or don’t know, are revealed as dangerous and demonstrably false in any time of crisis,” she writes in the preface. Later, in the chapter “When It’s Us Against Them,” she explains, “Divisive thinking is a root cause of racism and so many other social problems throughout the world. The idea that we can separate ourselves from others is a type of delusion that Buddhism calls a ‘wrong view.’ Right view is the scientific fact that all humans — all living beings — are profoundly connected. We live together on the same planet, breathe the same air, share the resources of our ecosystem, and all of our actions affect one another. There is no us and them — only us.”

Brown teaches guided meditation and mind-body therapy at the Rubin Museum, the Interdependence Project, the Shantideva Center (“Metta for [Self]Compassion” on Thursday nights), and other institutions as well as privately; in addition, her “Wisdom and Healing for the World” class takes place every Sunday morning at 10:00. On September 14 at 7:00, she will be hosting a virtual book launch party for Steady, Calm, and Brave, which includes such chapters as “Harm and Healing,” “Grief and Loss,” “When Your Family Is Making You Crazy,” “When You’re Mad at the World,” “When Others Behave Badly,” and “When You’re Keeping Your Distance.” The book also features extensive back matter with blessings and resources, and Brown offers numerous types of meditation practices (five-minute, virtual, safety) for experienced meditators as well as beginners. The book is as warm and lovely as she is — I’ve known her for about ten years — so you can expect a warm and lovely event, much-needed healing during these intense times of stress and pressure coming at us from all sides.

THE NEW ENGLAND SOCIETY 2020 BOOK AWARDS VIRTUAL LITERARY SALON AND AWARDS PRESENTATION

Who: Cara Robertson, Harold Holzer, Sarah Blake, Adrienne Brodeur, Roland Foster Miller, Matthew Rimi von Barton
What: Livestreamed book awards salon
Where: New England Society Zoom
When: Thursday, September 10, $25, 6:00
Why: The annual New England Society Book Awards, which honors titles by New England-based authors and/or books about New England history and culture, was scheduled to be held at the National Arts Club, but because of the pandemic it has been moved to Zoom, where it will take place September 10 at 6:00. The salon, featuring author acceptance speeches, a group interview emceed by NES board member Matthew Rimi von Barton, and an audience Q&A, will celebrate this year’s winners: The Trial of Lizzie Borden by Cara Robertson for Historical Nonfiction, Monument Man: The Life & Art of Daniel Chester French by Harold Holzer for Art & Photography, The Guest Book by Sarah Blake for Fiction, and Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me by Adrienne Brodeur for Biography/Memoir.

“New England continues to draw from a deep well of talented writers,” Book Awards chair Roland Foster Miller said in a statement. “This year’s winners examine subjects as diverse as Daniel Chester French (the Lincoln Memorial sculptor), and Lizzie Borden’s double-murder trial, where readers take a virtual seat in the jury box. In her provocative memoir, Adrienne Brodeur, the publisher and editor, chronicles her life with her mother and her mother’s lover, and Sarah Blake’s novel tracks the foibles and challenges of three generations of a New England family summering in an island cottage in Maine.” The Zoom salon is open to the public; the $25 donation supports the New England Society [Ed. note: My wife is an NES officer] and its outreach, including the Scholarship Program, which “provides financial help to New York City students attending colleges and universities in the New England states.”

BOSTON COLLEGE 2020 FIRST YEAR ACADEMIC CONVOCATION: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

Who: Bruce Springsteen
What: Livestreamed address to incoming Boston College class of 2024
Where: Boston College YouTube
When: Thursday, September 10, free, 7:00
Why: Bruce Springsteen has been affiliated with Boston College ever since his son Evan went to school there, graduating in 2012, including playing benefit concerts. The Boss is now scheduled to deliver an address to the incoming class of 2024 on September 10 at 7:00, following the traditional torch-lit First Flight Procession, in which first-year students march down Linden Lane, descend the Higgins Stairs, then enter Conte Forum. Each member of the class has received a digital copy of Springsteen’s 2016 memoir, Born to Run, along with a reading guide. “Through his songs, Bruce Springsteen has long been such a conversation partner to his audience, masterfully portraying the American experience through lyrics that inspire reflection about our world, our families, our jobs, our struggles, and our relationships,” Student Formation executive director Michael Sacco said in a statement. “But in his memoir, Bruce reveals the conversation he had with himself as he approached many of his life’s crossroads. In doing so, Bruce shares how attentiveness, contemplation, and authenticity played a key role in his personal growth and honing his immense talents. Each BC student brings a unique set of talents, and reading Bruce’s story will give them an invaluable perspective as they begin their formation at Boston College.” You can watch the livestream of the First Year Academic Convocation on YouTube here.

In explaining why the book was chosen to be distributed to the students at the Jesuit school, the reading guide offers, “In this book, Bruce Springsteen shares his story — the meaningful events and the transformation he has experienced on his journey — and how his reflection on these experiences has impacted his engagement with the world around him. As you read Born to Run it is the hope of the university that it inspires you to reflect on your own story — the meaningful events and the transformation you have experienced and will continue to experience during your time at Boston College — and understand how your own personal narrative enables you to encounter God’s presence in the world. In reading Springsteen’s reflections on truth, identity, and love, you will be invited to consider your own values and encouraged to think about how you respond to life’s questions.” Another of life’s important questions is, Are the rumors of a new E Street Band album releasing October 23, preceded by a single on September 10, real? The truth will be revealed shortly.

WYCLEF JEAN PRESENTS THE CARNIVAL LIVE AT THE APOLLO

Who: Wyclef Jean
What: Livestreamed concert
Where: Apollo Digital Stage
When: Wednesday, September 9, free, 8:00
Why: Haitian-born, New Jersey-based multigenre superstar and activist Wyclef Jean will return to the stage of the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem on September 9 at 8:00 to perform his 1997 album, Wyclef Jean Presents the Carnival Featuring the Refugee All-Stars, in its entirety for the first time ever. The double LP signaled the end of the Fugees, who performed at the Apollo in 1996, although bandmates Lauryn Hill and Pras appear on the record. “Stepping on the Apollo stage back in 1996 accomplished one of the greatest goals I had as a young Fugee, so it really feels like I’m coming home by having the opportunity to perform at the theater again,” Jean said in a statement. “I’ve been wanting to do a complete performance of The Carnival for a while now, and I’m excited that I’m able to combine energies with the Apollo and ADCOLOR to pull it off. All three of us are here to celebrate culture, diversity, and the Black American experience, and we’re ready to provide a historic performance that does just that.” The Carnival features such tracks as “Apocalypse,” “Guantanamera” with Celia Cruz, Jeni Fujita, and Hill, “To All the Girls,” “Anything Can Happen,” “Mona Lisa” with the Neville Brothers, and the Bee Gees-inspired “We Trying to Stay Alive” with John Forté and Pras.

The concert will take place with no audience and a minimal crew; you can watch the livestream here. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted to support the legendary venue through this time of crisis. This inaugural Apollo Digital Stage show will be followed September 23 at 7:00 with a free conversation between Grammy-winning musician, actor, and activist John Legend and activist, scholar, and writer Salamishah Tillet (Sites of Slavery: Citizenship and Racial Democracy in the Post-Civil Rights Imagination, the upcoming In Search of “The Color Purple”: The Story of an American Masterpiece), exploring the duty of an artist, especially at this critical period in the nation’s history, and on September 29 at 6:30 by a discussion between authors Nic Stone (Dear Martin, Dear Justyce) and Angie Thomas (The Hate U Give, On the Come Up), looking at the flawed American juvenile justice system.

NUALA CLARKE: so i have observed

Nuala Clarke, still from so i have observed (part two of five), five-part video, 2020 (funded by the Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon)

Who: Nuala Clarke
What: Live discussion about so i have observed video series
Where: Zoom
When: Saturday, September 5, free with RSVP, 3:00
Why: During the pandemic, Irish artist Nuala Clarke created so i have observed, a five-part video that incorporates images from her series The Dream Drawing with text from Irish alchemist Robert Boyle’s 1664 Experiments and Considerations Touching Colours and her own dreams, with music by experimental composer Roarke Menzies. “I have sometimes thought it worth while to take notice, whether or no the Colours of Opacous Bodies might not appear to the Eye somewhat Diversify’d, not only by the Disposition of the Superficial parts of the Bodyes themselves and by the Position of the Eye in Reference to the Object and the Light, (for these things are Notorious enough;) but according also to the Nature of the Lucid Body that shines upon them,” Boyle writes in Experiment VII. The camera goes from shots of Clarke’s works on paper, seemingly floating in space, to scenes of her at work, washing her hands, folding clothing, at the beach, and wearing a mask, as she delivers the narration in voice-over. The first four videos total about twenty-three minutes, while the final one is eighteen minutes and features a score by Menzies.

Nuala Clarke will discuss her new video series on September 5 at 3:00 (photo courtesy Nuala Clarke)

“And then I see it in front of me, emerging from the dark. A body drawing is how I thought of it,” Clarke eloquently relates in part two, as shafts of light shine on abstract shapes twisting unhurriedly. “It was suspended, not square, paperlike, connected at points along the way, white and gold, curved, lungs, voids among the turning spaces. I woke slowly, remembering, made a drawing, and kept it in my mind’s eye.” On September 5 at 3:00, Clarke will host an informal and unrehearsed Zoom conversation in conjunction with the virtual opening of so i have observed. Having participated back in 2010 with Menzies and others in a performance Clarke curated for her show “You Delight Me” on Shelter Island, we are very familiar with the multidisciplinary approach she takes with all of her work, so we are excited about hearing her discuss this beautifully poetic project that deals with loneliness and loss, nature and beauty, centered around color. Be sure to check out the videos here first.