Page 22 - the Noise April 2017

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LITERARY SOUTHWEST
April is National Poetry Month. And The Literary Southwest series honors it in grand style with a reading by poet, essayist, and editor Camille T. Dungy. She will share new and previous work at The Literary Southwest on Friday, April 7 at 7PM in the Yavapai College Library’s Susan N. Webb Community Room (Bldg. 19, Room 147) on the Prescott campus. An audience Q & A session and a book signing follow the read- ing. Literary Southwest programs are presented admission free and are open to all.
Camille T. Dungy is the author of four collections of poetry: the newly released Tro- phic Cascade, Smith Blue, Suck on the Marrow, and What to Eat, What to Drink, What to Leave for Poison. Her debut collection of personal essays, Guidebook to Relative Strang- ers, will be published in June by W. W. Norton. She edited the highly-praised anthol- ogy Black Nature: Four Centuries of African American Nature Poetry, and co-edited the poetry anthology From the Fishouse. Her honors include an American Book Award, two Northern California Book Awards, a California Book Award silver medal, two NAACP Image Award nominations, and a fellowship from the NEA. Dungy is currently a Professor in the English Department at Colorado State University.
The Hassayampa Institute presents The Literary Southwest is made possible by Yavapai College, and the Yavapai College Foundation, with additional support pro- vided by Peregrine Book Company.
For complete author and series information, visit: yc.edu/Literarysw or contact Se- ries Director Jim Natal through Yavapai College at 928-776-2295.
“UNIVERSAL THREADS”
Tis Art Gallery presents “Universal Threads: Fine Art and Photography from the Traveler’s Experience,” a dual-artist show with Carla Woody and Michael McDermott in the ‘Tis Mezzanine Gallery April 15 – May 14, 2017. An Artists’ Reception will be held during 4th Friday Art Walk, April 28th 5-8PM.
Ms. Woody began to write stories and draw in childhood. The combination finally emerged as a narrative approach to art. She’s a storyteller. A look at her work over time tells of travels around the world ⏤ and a distinct ability to distill place and culture. She works in oil and mixed media, both 2-D and 3-D. The influence of her 20+ years’ involve- ment with Indigenous peoples and ancient traditions is noticeable. carlawoodyart.com
Mr. McDermott has visited over 35 countries, always excited to learn more about cul- tures, people, geography and nature. His work has been published in several magazines and calendars, most recently in Arizona Wildlife Views. He travels frequently to enhance his growing portfolio. Michael has been a Prescott resident since 2014, and is the owner and primary photographer of “Fotos Along the Way, LLC” fotosalongtheway.com .
THEATRIKOS’ NEXT WHIMSICAL COMEDY
Longtime theater educator Nichole Garrison jumped at the opportunity to direct what she considers to be the perfect play: Sarah Ruhl’s 2005 Pulitzer Prize finalist The Clean House. This whimsical and poignant look at class, comedy, and the true nature of love is the second production in Theatrikos Theatre Company’s 2017 season and runs three weekends — April 7 through 23 — at the Doris Harper-White Community Playhouse in historic downtown Flagstaff.
“I absolutely fell in love with it the first time I read it more than a decade ago, and it has since become a regular part of my curriculum,” Ms. Garrison said. “It’s crafted in such a unique, artistic, glorious way, and I was beyond thrilled to learn that it would be staged at Theatrikos this year.”
The Clean House takes place at the home of Lane and Charles, who are a married couple who are both doctors. Their Brazilian housekeeper, Matilde, is an aspiring co- median and more interested in coming up with the perfect joke than in houseclean- ing. Lane’s eccentric sister Virginia happens to be nuts about housecleaning, and she and Matilde become fast friends as Virginia takes over the cleaning while Matilde works on her jokes. Trouble comes when Charles reveals he has found his soul mate in Ana, a cancer patient on whom he has operated. The actors who play Charles and Ana also play Matilde’s parents in a series of dream-like memories, as we learn the story about how they literally killed each other with laughter.
“Sarah Ruhl presents the struggles and joys of everyday relationships with pro- found artistry,” Ms. Garrison said. “The Clean House exemplifies what a contemporary masterpiece looks like — in form, in dramatic structure, in the brilliant use of symbol- ism and metaphor. It breaks the rules and reminds us that reality and fantasy can exist onstage in seamless harmony.”
The cast of five includes Susan Chastain, Patricia McKee, Jess Pinaire, Viola Award- winner Linda Sutera, and John Winikka.
Performances will be held at 7:30PM Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2PM Sundays from April 7 to 23. There will not be a performance on Easter Sunday. Instead, a mati- nee performance has been added at 2PM Saturday, April 15. A special “First Friday” pre-show reception on April 7 will feature free refreshments and artwork in the lobby.
Tickets can be purchased online at Theatrikos.com; by calling (928) 774-1662; or by visiting the theater’s Box Office, which is open from noon to 6PM Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and two hours prior to each performance.
22 • April 2017 | the NOISE arts & news | www.thenoise.us