April, 2006

1. LAST CALL FOR PLAYWRITING

2. REDBIRD WRITERS' SHOWCASE

3. AT LAST! A POETRY ROUNDTABLE

4. AT LAST! A "GROUND FLOOR" ROUNDTABLE

5. ROUNDTABLE DATES- plan ahead

6. SHUT UP AND WRITE!- plan ahead

7. YOUNG AUTHOR SUMMER PROGRAM

8. NEWS OF REDBIRD WRITERS AND FRIENDS

9. OTHER PLACES/FACES

 

 

1. LAST CALL FOR PLAYWRITING

Robert Vaughan    Saturday    April 1    9:30-3pm     $125

 

Put the Play in Playwriting! Beginning and experienced playwrights - and all writers who want to improve their skills - learn how premise, story, characters, dialogue and conflict work together to make a unique piece of theater. Topics include: writing the play, getting it read while in progress and getting produced as a playwright.

 

ROBERT VAUGHAN worked on and off in New York and Los Angeles theaters for more than 25 years. He acted in and directed over 50 plays, from musical theater and comedy to drama.  He taught workshops in several states and leads writers' roundtable groups at Redbird Studio in Milwaukee.

 

 

2. REDBIRD WRITERS' SHOWCASE (Main Floor)

Thursday, April 27    6:30-9pm     Open to the public (free-will donation)     Marian Center Social Room (on the main floor)

 

Representing Redbird roundtable writers: Tom Biel, Kirk Farber, Les Huisman, Doug Jacobson, Felicity Librie, Jon Olson, Karen McQuestion, Nick Petrie, Jeannee Sacken, Jean Scherwenka, Elaine Schmidt and Carol Wobig.

 

Come cheer the writers of Redbird! Laugh, listen and applaud as these representatives of our roundtable writers' groups read selected excerpts from published and in-progress novels, short stories, essays and poetry. Emcee: Robert Vaughan. Leader of the Pom Pom Squad: Judy Bridges.

 

 

3. AT LAST! A POETRY ROUNDTABLE

John Lehman, 1st Monday of every month starting in May.    May 4, Jun l, Jul 6, Aug 3    6:30-3 pm    $85

Okay, I admit it. John Lehman's poetry workshop was enough to get even me interested in poetry. I wrote. I learned. I didn't die from it. Now we're going to have the poetry roundtable people have been asking for -- the perfect chance for poets (new and experienced) to get the feedback and guidance they need to write well. The format is much the same as our other roundtables, except a difference in number of pages, etc. (See the web site for "How to get the most out of the Roundtable"). Monthly meetings are held here in Redbird Studio and led by Rosebud founder and Wisconsin Academy Review poetry editor, John Lehman.

 

 

4. AT LAST! A "GROUND FLOOR" ROUNDTABLE

Jo McReynolds-Blochowiak    2nd & 4th Thursdays   May 11, 25, Jun 8, 22    12:30-2:30pm    $85

True, the view from the studio can take your breath away -- and so can the climb up here. We hear many requests to have Redbird quality roundtables in more accessible places. Now, we got lucky. Jo McReynolds Blochowiak has agreed to lead a Redbird Writers' Roundtable right here in our building, on the first floor, in a room you can actually reach via feet or wheels. The format will be similar to our other roundtables, but open to new and experienced writers without the pre-req of Shut Up and Write! Jo teaches workshops at Alverno and many other locations in Milwaukee, and has a lot of experience helping people write.

 

 

5. ROUNDTABLE DATES - plan ahead

Four Meetings per Session    $85

 

Tuesday Afternoons    12-2:30    Judy Bridges

Session #2 - Mar 7, 21, Apr 11, 25 (filled)

Session #3 - May 9, 23, Jun 13, 27

No meetings - July-August

Session #4 - Sep 5, 19, Oct 10, 24

Session #5 - Nov 7, 21, Dec 5, 19

 

Wednesday Evenings  (The Inkslingers)   6:30-9   Judy Bridges

Session #2 - Mar 1, 15, Apr 5, 19 (filled)

Session #3 - May 3, 17, Jun 14, 28

No meetings - July-August

Session #4 - Sep 6, 20, Oct 4, 18

Session #5 - Nov 1, 15, Dec 6, 20

 

Thursday Evenings (one per month)    6:30-9    Robert Vaughan

Session #1 - Jan 19, Feb 16, Mar 16, Apr 20 (okay to join late and pro-rate)

Session #2 - May 25, Jun 15, July 20, Aug 17

Session #3 - Sep 14, Oct 19, Nov 16, Dec 14

 

Friday Mornings    9:30-12    Robert Vaughan   

Session #2 - Mar 10, 24, Apr 14, 28 (filled)

Session #3 - May 12, 26, Jun 16, 30

No meetings - July-August

Session #4 - Sep 15, 29, Oct 13, 20

Session #5 - Nov 3, 17, Dec 1, 15

 

 

6. SHUT UP AND WRITE!- plan ahead

Summer Session: Mondays, June 19, 26, July 10, 17, 24, 31, 6-9pm, $345

Fall Session: Mondays, Oct 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Nov 6, 13, 20, 6:30-8:30, $345

Believe it or not, our summer class is almost half full. This is the flagship course at Redbird.  Taught by studio founder Judy Bridges, it is   Ideal before entering critique groups or as an introductory, "switching gears" or tune-up course. See description on web site: www.redbirdstudio.com

 

 

7. YOUNG AUTHORS SUMMER PROGRAMS

Kim Suhr, Joan Boyce, Katie Lance, Pam Parker, Robert Vaughan, Judy Bridges and others

Mon-Fri     9am-2:30pm     $325 ($100 deposit)

Students entering:     Grades 4-6     July 24≠28

                                        Grades 7-8     July 31≠Aug 4

                                        Grades 9-12   Aug 7≠11

 

Kids who like to write. love our summer Young Author programs. Imagine spending a week with other young writers, learning from professional writer/teachers, writing outside and in the studio called "home" by many published authors. Our goal is to give young authors the time, space and support they need to nurture their passion for writing. For more information, ask for the Young Author brochure or see the Young Author pages at www.redbirdstudio.com

 

 

9. NEWS ABOUT REDBIRD WRITERS AND FRIENDS

Note: "R.W. and Friends" either attended Redbird workshops, or taught them, or support the studio in some special way. If you sent information and it did not appear, please forgive and send it again. Web sites are listed but not necessarily linked.

 

Kris Babe's letter to Jean Feraca about Jean's "Here On Earth" interview with Shauna Singh Baldwin has been posted online at

http://wpr.org/hereonearth/archive_060312k.cfm  

 

Shauna Singh Baldwin's interview by Jean Feraca was aired on Wisconsin Public Radio WHAD and is available for listening at

http://wpr.org/hereonearth/archive_060312k.cfm

 

Dave Biemann has poems up and a couple of short stories on the mysteryone website. He's been doing book 'previews'  (he prefers that to reviews) for mysteryone as well. 

 

Colleen Curry is the editor of "Cameo Profile," a newsletter in Ft. Myers Beach, Florida. She is also writing pieces for Shell Point Television (SPTV). 

 

Josephe Flynn, S.D., will receive a ≥Putting Their Stamp on Metro Milwaukee Award≤ on Friday, March 24, as part of the 8th Annual Womenπs History Month Awards and Leadership Conference at the Midwest Airlines Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave. She is one of 22 women honored by the United States Postal Service for improving the quality of life in the community. Josephe has worked with immigrants in the Milwaukee area, most notably Regina Bakala, whose case made headlines in early 2005, and continues on thanks to Josepheπs work. Josephe is currently writing a book about her experiences with Regina and other immigrants.

 

Eric Hansen will deliver the keynote presentation for the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition, ≥The U.P. ≠ An Iconic Landscape and Its Regional Magnetic Power≤, in  Marquette on April 8. Closer to home, heπll read from his nature writing as a special guest at the Nineteenth Annual Earth Poets Program, on Friday evening April 21, 8 p.m. at the Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee http://www.urbanecologycenter.org/events/events.html His March 11 presentation in Madison drew a crowd of over 300 people, and sold 123 books.

 

Jean Harlan writes from Columbus, Ohio, that she is working on the 9th edition of the college textbook, SCIENCE EXPERIENCES FOR THE EARLY CHILDHOOD YEARS, Prentice Hall. (Imagine. A 9th edition!)

 

Peggy Hong, the poet who was instrumental in the development of Woodland Pattern's education program, has been named as Milwaukee's new Poet Laureate. She replaces Milwaukee poet Marilyn Taylor in this position, and begins two years of promoting poetry within the community.

 

Pat Lorenz writes from Florida: I'm still loving Florida. In June I'll be leaving paradise for 10 days to teach at a writing workshop in D.C. and then for a week at St. David's Christian Writer's Conference in Pennsylvania with my dear friend Melanie Rigney.  Mel used to be the editor of Writer's Digest and she and I have become best friends. In November I'll be giving two women's retreats in Door County, up near Ellison Bay, one for a Lutheran church and one for a big Catholic church, Stella Maris.  I just got a pretty cool writing assignment from Chicken Soup books.  It's true, I do have stories in 26 of their books, but this was still quite a shock. Health Communications INC,  (located in Deerfield Beach, FL over on the east coast) the publishers of all 100+ Chicken Soup for the Soul books just hired me to write a companion book, a daily inspirational book, for the Chicken Soup for the Dieter's Soul which will be out this coming fall.  My book will be titled CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE DIETER'S SOUL DAILY INSPIRATIONS and I'll have my name on the cover as author. Guideposts Books is test marketing my 7th book, THE FIVE THINGS WE NEED TO BE HAPPY.  If I pass the test, then I'll writing that book this fall. 

 

James Maki's works of art (watercolor, pen and ink) are being featured at Lakeshore Gallery, 401 N. Oakland Avenue, Milwaukee, until April 21, 2006. www.lakeshoregallery.com

 

Linda Mrochinski's production of "Southern Fried Murder" opens at The Academy Theatre, Marian Center for Nonprofits, 3195 S. Superior St on March 31. The dinner theatre production runs through April 9. 414- 483-2430.

 

Marjorie Pagel, member of Redbird and Writers' Ink, reports that fellow member Gail Toerpe has arranged two special presentations to take place at Writers' Inc, which meets in the lower level of Chase Bank on Layton and Chicago, Cudahy. Jim Stingl will be there Monday evening, April 3. Bill Nelson will be there Monday evening, April 17. For info call Marjorie: 414-425-4066  (A fun note: Marjorie and Gail were the first two writers to attend a Redbird workshop.)

 

Kay Pliszka writes from Florida: another of my stories will be on the shelves near the end of this month in Chicken Soup for the Mother of Preschooler's Soul.  he editor is really pushing this book in hopes of getting it on the NY Times best seller list. Hope she succeeds. 

 

Mara Ptacek and other members of Writers' Inc and the Sparks will be reading at Schwartz's Bookstore on Oakland on April 17, at 7pm.

 

Kathy Ritchie has moved to Ironwood, Michigan. (Note: If you were in the roundtable group with Kathy and would like to say hello, you can email to ask for her address.)

 

Ariel Schlessinger's screenplay, "Creation," is among the finalists in The Milwaukee International Film Festival Youth Film Contest.

 

Soulstice Theatre Company is planning summer theater arts classes for students of all ages. Call 414-431-3187 for more information. (Soulstice is in the Marian Center, home of Redbird and The Academy Theatre.)

 

Gail Toerpe has arranged two special presentations to take place at Writers' Inc, which meets in the lower level of Chase Bank on Layton and Chicago, Cudahy. Jim Stingl will be there Monday evening, April 3. Bill Nelson will be there Monday evening, April 17.

 

Robert Vaughan's play, "Interference," is being performed by Village Playhouse of Wauwatosa in the 2006 One Act Play Festival, through March 26 at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts, Brookfield. Tickets 262-781-9520.

 

Carol Wobig's play, "Wheel of Fortune Monologues," is being performed by Village Playhouse of Wauwatosa in the 2006 One Act Play Festival through March 26 at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts, Brookfield. Tickets 262-781-9520.

 

Mark Zirbel writes: "the e-anthology SHADOW BOX, which includes my story "Betrayed," was recently featured in TANGENT, an online review of short fiction. The publication gives SHADOW BOX a good review and has some kind words for my story as well."

 

 

 

6. OTHER PLACES-OTHER FACES

 

The Power of the Pen: A Day for Writers, Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton

April 8. (www.fvtc.edu or 1-877-555-5151)

Day of workshops presented by Judy Bridges, Joanne Flemming, Shannon Jackson Arnold, Ellen Kort and John Lehman.

 

Fourth Annual Spring Writers Festival, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

April 28-30.  (www.sce-arts.uwm.edu  click on Programs, then Spring Writers Festival)

Weekend conference includes presentations by A. Manette Ansay, Jerry Apps, Martha Bergland, Judy Bridges, Liam Callanan, Kurt Chandler, Sharon Miller Cindrich, Traci Clark, Katie Dublinski, Chris Fischbach, Jeffrey N. Gingold, Kelly James-Enger, Maurice Kilwein Guevara, C.J. Hribal, Stewart David Ikeda, Ron Kovach, Alec Yoshio MacDonald, Joanna MacKenzie, Jeff Muendel, Eva Augustin Rumpf, Mary-Jeane Smoller-Phillips, Marilyn Taylor, Carolyn Kott Washburne and Yolanda White.

 

Council for Wisconsin Writers Annual Awards Banquet

May 6.  Milwaukee  (www.wisconsinwriters.org)

 

Wisconsin Regional Writers Assn. (WRWA) Spring Conference

May 6. Appleton   (wrwa.net)

 

21st Annual Great Lakes Writers Workshop, Alverno College, Milwaukee

June 23-24. (nancy.krase@alverno.edu)

 

The Clearing, Ellison Bay, WI (Door County)

Full catalog of opportunities: www.theclearing.org

"Women's Writing Retreat" led by Judy Bridges, Sept 10-16

 

Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets (WFOP)

Opportunities for poets include Spring Conference and Museletter (www.wfop.org)

 

Woodland Pattern Book Center, Milwaukee

Workshops and special events: www.woodlandpattern.org

 

Broad Vocabulary, 2241 S. Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee 53207, 414-744-8384

Offers workshops and special programs in the bookstore, www.broadvocabulary.com