[NEohioPAL]The Fire Inside:The Story and Poetry of Nikki Giovanni continues at CSU"s Factory Theatre

Wed Jul 25 14:31:21 PDT 2007

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Media Contacts: Vivian C. Wilson

216-795-7070 x 215

Neal Hodges

216-795-7070 x 249

Email:Info at karamu.com

Website:www.karamu.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

KARAMU HOUSE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE INGENUITY FESTIVAL OF ART &
TECHNOLOGY PRESENTS THE WORLD PREMIERE OF THE FIRE INSIDE: THE STORY AND
POETRY OF NIKKI GIOVANNI

Cleveland - July 25, 2007 - The World Premiere of The Fire Inside: The Story
and Poetry of Nikki Giovanni written by former Clevelander, Susan Watson
Turner and directed by Karamu's Artistic Director, Terrence Spivey to be
performed July 27th through August 5 at CSU's Factory Theatre. 

Karamu House, The Ingenuity Festival of Art & Technology, Cleveland State
University Theatre Department and Black Studies Program and The Cuyahoga
County Public Library continues a two week engagement, July 27 through
August 5

of The Fire Inside: The Story and Poetry of Nikki Giovanni at CSU's  Factory
Theatre. Performances will be held Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm
and Sundays at 3:00 pm. Cast members include Katrice Monee Headd as Nikki
Giovanni, Saidah Mitchell, Morris Cammon, Jerome Anderson, Neal Hodges and
Jamal Mitchell as the drummer.

The play is about the life and work of internationally acclaimed
African-American poet Nikki Giovanni. The script follow Giovanni's career
from her early years in the Black Arts Movement through her writing and life
today.  Giovanni, a professor at Virginia Tech, recently received
international notice for her inspiring words in the wake of the Virginia
Tech tragedy. 

Nikki Giovanni was born in 1943 in Knoxville, Tennessee, but grew up in
Cincinnati, Ohio.  She graduated with honors from Fisk University and has
been on the faculty at Virginia Tech University since 1987.  Her fiery first
book of poems, Black Feeling, Black Talk (1968) sold more than 10,000
copies.  That book and others such as Re:Creation (1970), Poem of Angela
Yvonne Davis (1970) and  The Women and The Men  (1975), comprised a powerful
statement on African-American womanhood and established her as one of the
leading figures of the Black Arts Movement. Giovanni has since published two
dozen books of poems for adults and children as well as essays and
autobiographical works and continues to be one of the most popular and
important writers in America.

Susan Watson Turner began her career as an actor and director at Karamu
House.  She served for several years at the Negro Ensemble Company in New
York as general manager and producing director where she worked on such
plays as "The Absolution of "Willie Mae", "A Soldier's Play", and "Home".
Watson Turner holds a bachelor's degree from Ohio University and an MFA from
Columbia University.  She is an assistant professor in the theatre
department at Lehman College in the Bronx, NY.

Spivey is a native of Kountze, Texas and received his bachelor's degree in
theatre arts at Prairie View A&M University (TX).  A resident of New York
City for 20 years, Spivey appeared in numerous off Broadway productions,
music videos and independent films.  He made his directorial debut at the
Crossroads Theatre and became Karamu's Artistic Director in Fall 2003 and
has mounted many outstanding productions.  In 2005, Spivey was nominated by
Cleveland Theatre Collective (CTC) for "Reinvigorating Karamu" and voted
"2005 Best Theatre Honcho" by Cleveland Scene. He also serves on the board
of the Cleveland Arts Prize.

Karamu House has been an important part of the Cleveland community for
nearly a century.  From a unique vantage-point within the African-American
community, Karamu has fostered true interracial understanding and
cooperation, an awareness of cultural diversity, and an appreciation for the
rich African-American cultural heritage.

For additional information on Karamu, please visit our Web site at
www.karamu.com <http://www.karamu.com/> . CSU's Box office will open one
hour prior to showtime. For Tickets please contact Cleveland State
University's Factory Theatre at 216-875-9661.

###

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<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Media Contacts: Vivian C. =
Wilson<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>216-795-7070 x 215<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Neal Hodges<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>216-795-7070 x 249<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Email:Info at karamu.com<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Website:www.karamu.com<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>KARAMU HOUSE IN COLLABORATION WITH =
THE
INGENUITY FESTIVAL OF ART & TECHNOLOGY PRESENTS THE WORLD PREMIERE =
OF <i><span
style=3D'font-style:italic'>THE FIRE INSIDE: THE STORY AND POETRY OF =
NIKKI
GIOVANNI<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:City w:st=3D"on">Cleveland</st1=
:City></st1:place> – July 25, 2007 =
– The
World Premiere of The Fire Inside: =
The Story
and Poetry of Nikki Giovanni written by former Clevelander, =
Susan
Watson Turner and directed by Karamu’s Artistic Director, Terrence =
Spivey
to be performed July 27th through August 5 at CSU’s =
Factory
Theatre. <o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Karamu House, The Ingenuity Festival of Art &
Technology, Cleveland State University Theatre Department and Black =
Studies
Program and The Cuyahoga County Public Library continues a two week =
engagement,
July 27 through August 5<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

of The Fire =
Inside: The
Story and Poetry of Nikki Giovanni at CSU’s  =
Factory  Theatre.
Performances will be held Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm and =
Sundays
at 3:00 pm. Cast members include Katrice Monee Headd as Nikki Giovanni, =
Saidah
Mitchell, Morris Cammon, Jerome Anderson, Neal Hodges and Jamal Mitchell =
as the
drummer.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

The play is about the life and work of =
internationally
acclaimed African-American poet Nikki Giovanni. The script follow
Giovanni’s career from her early years in the Black Arts Movement =
through
her writing and life today.  Giovanni, a professor at Virginia =
Tech, recently
received international notice for her inspiring words in the wake of the
Virginia Tech tragedy. <o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

Nikki Giovanni was born in 1943 in <st1:City =
w:st=3D"on">Knoxville</st1:City>,
<st1:State w:st=3D"on">Tennessee</st1:State>, but grew up in <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:City
 w:st=3D"on">Cincinnati</st1:City>, <st1:State =
w:st=3D"on">Ohio</st1:State></st1:place>. 
She graduated with honors from <st1:PlaceName =
w:st=3D"on">Fisk</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st=3D"on">University</st1:PlaceType> and has been on the faculty at =
<st1:place
w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Virginia</st1:PlaceName> =
<st1:PlaceName
 w:st=3D"on">Tech</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType =
w:st=3D"on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
since 1987.  Her fiery first book of poems, Black Feeling, Black =
Talk (1968)
sold more than 10,000 copies.  That book and others such as =
Re:Creation (1970),
Poem of Angela Yvonne Davis (1970) and  The Women and The =
Men 
(1975), comprised a powerful statement on African-American womanhood and
established her as one of the leading figures of the Black Arts =
Movement. Giovanni
has since published two dozen books of poems for adults and children as =
well as
essays and autobiographical works and continues to be one of the most =
popular
and important writers in America.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Susan Watson Turner began her career as an actor and =
director
at Karamu House.  She served for several years at the Negro =
Ensemble Company in
<st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:State w:st=3D"on">New =
York</st1:State></st1:place> as
general manager and producing director where she worked on such plays as
“The Absolution of “Willie Mae”, “A =
Soldier’s
Play”, and “Home”.  Watson Turner holds a =
bachelor’s
degree from <st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Ohio</st1:PlaceName> =
<st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">University</st1:PlaceType>
and an MFA from <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName =
w:st=3D"on">Columbia</st1:PlaceName>
 <st1:PlaceType =
w:st=3D"on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>.  She is an
assistant professor in the theatre department at <st1:PlaceName =
w:st=3D"on">Lehman</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">College</st1:PlaceType> in the <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Bronx</st1:place>,
NY.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

Spivey is a native of <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:City w:st=3D"on">Kountze</st1:City>,
 <st1:State w:st=3D"on">Texas</st1:State></st1:place> and received his
bachelor’s degree in theatre arts at Prairie View A&M =
University
(TX).  A resident of <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:City =
w:st=3D"on">New York City</st1:City></st1:place>
for 20 years, Spivey appeared in numerous off Broadway productions, =
music
videos and independent films.  He made his directorial debut at the =
Crossroads
Theatre and became Karamu’s Artistic Director in Fall 2003 and has
mounted many outstanding productions.  In 2005, Spivey was =
nominated by
Cleveland Theatre Collective (CTC) for “Reinvigorating =
Karamu” and
voted “2005 Best Theatre Honcho” by Cleveland Scene. He also =
serves
on the board of the Cleveland Arts Prize.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Karamu House has been an important part of the =
<st1:place
w:st=3D"on"><st1:City w:st=3D"on">Cleveland</st1:City></st1:place> =
community for
nearly a century.  From a unique vantage-point within the =
African-American
community, Karamu has fostered true interracial understanding and =
cooperation,
an awareness of cultural diversity, and an appreciation for the rich
African-American cultural heritage.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

For additional information on Karamu, please visit =
our Web
site at <a href=3D"http://www.karamu.com/">www.karamu.com</a>.  =
CSU’s  Box
office will open one hour prior to showtime. For Tickets please contact =
<st1:place
w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Cleveland</st1:PlaceName> =
<st1:PlaceType
 w:st=3D"on">State</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType =
w:st=3D"on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>’s
Factory Theatre at 216-875-9661.  <o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><b><font =
size=3D3
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>###</span><=
/font><o:p></o:p></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
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>From Mike Wypasek <sunshinecomedy at earthlink.net>  Wed Jul 25 23:56:23 2007
From: Mike Wypasek <sunshinecomedy at earthlink.net> (Mike Wypasek)
Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2007 17:56:23 -0500 (GMT-05:00)
Subject: [NEohioPAL]Thank you James Levin
Message-ID: <22233829.1185404184190.JavaMail.root at elwamui-muscovy.atl.sa.earthlink.net>

Mr. Levin-
I wanted to thank you not only for the Ingenuity Fest, but especially for bringing Grandmaster Flash there this year as the headliner.  As a fan of rap since "Rapper's Delight" hit the airwaves in 1979, I was beyond thrilled to see him as your special guest this year.  And for those who missed it, Mr. Flash did belong in the Ingenuity Fest and proved it Saturday night with his mastery of creating music with 2 turntables, some vintage vinyl, and a mixer.  He was having as much fun as the crowd. 
James Levin, you are a man with vision, something so sorely needed in this town.  And thanks to all the volunteers who helped make ingenuity fest happen as well.  And the price was right too.
Thanks again.
-Mike Wypasek (50 something white guy)