An Evening of Monologues, Poems and Songs with renowned US Actor, Poet, Singer Ray McNiece

Singapore Writers Festival – under the auspices of the National Arts Council/The Arts House in Collaboration with Word Forward Limited
Friday, May 25th, 7:30pm
At the Art House, Play Den
Old Parliament Building

Please RVSP to savinder@wordforward.org" or sms 91805501 to ensure a seat.

"The energy he has for each character is impressive and he never fails to
surprise with the variety packed into the show" - London’s Stage and
Television Today

Join us at The Art House Play Den for a performance of theatrical and poetic
works by American Author/Performer Ray McNiece. Ray will feature excerpts
from his two solo theater works Us? Talking Across America, a picaresque
travelogue satire of contemporary characters across the United States, and
Dis, a view of America from the folks who inhabit its lower depths. One of
the leading performance poets and a founder of the Poetry Slam™, Ray will
also perform selections from his four books of poetry as well as new pieces
including an homage to his second home, New Orleans. A singer/songwriter,
Ray will also be playing guitar accompanied songs from his two CDs.

Ray McNiece has authored two books of monologues based upon his solo theater
pieces Us? Talking Across America and Dis – Voices From a Shelter. He is
also the author of four books of poetry: The Bone-Orchard Conga, The Road
that Carried Me Here, Song that Fathoms Home, and Wet Sand Raven Tracks –New
Haiku. With the band Tongue-in-Groove he has created two poetry musicals –
Mouth Music and A Rust bowl Hootenanny, and produced two CDs: Mouth Music
and The Road that Carried Me Here. He collaborated with Shawn D. Jackson to
stage the theatre work – Homegirl Meets Whiteboy. He also co-edited with
Larry Smith of bottom dog press the anthology of Contemporary Buddhist
Poetry, America Zen.

Recent tours have featured Ray as a keynote speaker with Robert Bly at the
First Coast Writer’s Conference, a featured reading at City Light’s Italia
with Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and performances with Yevgeny Yevtushenko on
Good Morning, Russia and at the Moscow Polytech, the Russian Poets’ Hall of
Fame where he was dubbed ‘The American Mayakovsky.’

Reviews
Of his first solo theater work, Dis, Edinburgh Scotsman commented “McNiece’s
characters are acutely observed, the speech patterns and mannerisms
perfectly caught.”

In a review from the same Fringe Festival, London’s Stage and Television
Today said, “The energy he has for each character is impressive and he never
fails to surprise with the variety packed into the show.” Dis was produced
by WGBH TV Boston and aired on PBS affiliates across the United States.

In a review of his second solo work, Us? Talking Across America, the
Star-Phoenix said, “His thoughtful writing combines with perfectly timed
delivery to create a powerful wordscape that owes as much to jazz as drama.”


The Orlando Sentinel calls him “a modern day descendant of Woody Guthrie. He
has a way with words and a wry sense of humor.” He is the voice of Woody
Guthrie in WCPN/National Public Radio’s documentary, Hard Travellin’.

Mentah IV: Sila Berhati-hati Ruang di Platform

Teater Ekamatra
17 - 19 May: 8pm
Guinness Theatre, The Substation

Sila Berhati-hati Ruang di Platform is the fourth in the company's Mentah series which showcases new works. is a double-bill by Muhd Ghazali Muzakir and Muhammad Zahari bin Abu Talib (Johnny Jon Jon). Muhd Ghazali Muzakir's Mat CD tells the story of a young man thrown out of his comfort zone while serving his nation in the Singapore Civil Defence Force after his A levels while Muhammad Zahari bin Abu Talib's Rendezvous Point: Suatu Cerita Benar Yang Tak Pernah Terjadi focuses on a band during a jamming session - everything is suddenly turned upside down when an accident claims the life of one of their band members. In Malay with English surtitles.

$14 (students), $18
Gatecrash

Sandbox#1 - Readings from TheatreWorks' Writers' Lab 2007

Theatreworks
11 & 14 May (Friday & Monday), 8pm
12 May 2007 (Saturday), 4pm
72-13 (72-13 Mohamed Sultan Road, Singapore 239007. The off-white two-storey building beside The Pier condominium)

Sandbox#1 will showcase new and revised works (and works-in-progress) from TheatreWorks' Writers' Lab - read by a cast of young actors and seasoned actors Karen Tan, Nora Samosir and Serene Chen.

FREE ADMISSION.
Call 6737 7213 or email tworks @ singnet.com.sg to reserve a seat.

11 May 2007, Friday, 8pm
10 Phone Calls - written by Faralina Mohamed Ali, Cheryl Lee, Yak Aik Wee & Zaza Amir [curated and dramaturged by Robin Loon]
House is Not A Home - written by Cheryl Lee, Leon Lim, Yak Aik Wee & Zaza Amir [curated and dramaturged by Robin Loon]
Snap Shots - written by Alvin Lim, Faralina Mohamed Ali, Leon Lim & Zaza Amir [curated and dramaturged by Robin Loon]
To And Fro - written by Peggy Ferroa [dramaturged by Robin Loon]
Up And Down - written by Yak Aik Wee [dramaturged by Robin Loon]

12 May 2007, Saturday, 4pm
Someday, Samsara (a fragment) - written by Bryan Tan
New Breastissues - written by Ovidia Yu
Geisha - written by Robin Loon

14 May 2007, Monday, 8pm
Almost Heaven (excerpts) - written by Alvin Lim (dramaturged by Robin Loon)
Happy At Eccles (excerpts) - written by Yak Aik Wee (dramaturged by Robin Loon)
Shahjahanabad (excerpts) - written by Leon Lim (dramaturged by Robin Loon)
Happy Together - written by Chew Boon Leong

Umbral

The Substation & Magdalena (Singapore)
4, 5 May: 8pm
Guinness Theatre, The Substation

Umbral is the physical, verbal and emotional narrative of the steps that, in several years of investigation, have determined a way to conceive the theatrical creation and work of an actor. Umbral is about the need to reflect around a creative path - as each important travel includes not simply the map of a way, but also the images, the meeting, the uncertainties, the blind-alley of a long journey. By Cristina Castrillo of Teatro delle Radici. Performed in Spanish and English.

$20
$15 (Friends of The Substation, Association of Singapore Actors, Singapore Drama Educators Association, and Ordinary and Associate Members of Storytelling Association).
$10 (groups of 6 or over, Magdalena (Singapore) members)
Gatecrash

Cristina Castrillo will be conducting a Language of Memory workshop on 7, 8 May 2007 at the Substation Dance Studio. Tickets: $15 for students and $30 for others. Book at The Substation Box Office.

Diving Into Contemporary Dance

Singapore Dance Theatre and The Esplanade
1 May: 4pm
Esplanade Concert Hall

If you have ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at a professional dance company, don't miss this special Labour Day performance. Come and see how dancers limber up and prepare for the moment when the curtains go up. Included in the programme are excerpts from the Singapore Dance Theatre’s upcoming season. Part of the company’s Dance Appreciation Series for dance enthusiasts, dance students, and anyone who wants to learn more about modern dance forms.

$10
SISTIC