Grinnell College Sponsors African American Writers Forum at WOW! (Wonder of Words) Festival in Des Moines on Oct. 24, Discounted Tickets Available for key WOW! Events
Grinnell College invites you to the WOW! (Wonder of Words) Festival, co-produced by the Downtown Community Alliance and the Des Moines Public Library. This new week-long festival will connect readers, writers, and publishers at events held Oct. 17-29, 2012 throughout Downtown Des Moines that celebrate reading and share the joy of lifelong learning. For a complete list of all WOW! events, visit: www.wonderofwordsfest.com.
As an event sponsor, Grinnell College is pleased to present the African American Writers Forum and offer discounted tickets to key WOW! events, see below:
African American Writers Forum – Wednesday, October 24, Des Moines Central Library (1000 Grand Ave), Reception: 5:30 p.m., Program: 6 p.m. Cost: Free
The African American Writers Forum, sponsored by Grinnell College, is a celebration of African American writers in Iowa. Speakers will include Grinnell faculty members Kesho Scott, diversity trainer, public speaker, and author; George Barlow, poet and Iowa Humanities Board Member; and Lakesia Johnson, gender and women's studies scholar and author; as well as guest speaker and internationally renowned poet/publisher/activist/rock star/playwright/actor Jessica Care Moore and selected student-authors from Grinnell College and Des Moines area high schools.
The evening, hosted by Grinnell College authors, will feature the voices of Iowa's emerging generation as Grinnell reaches out to recognize our deep heritage and shared future with the greater Iowa community.
Discounted tickets are available for two key WOW! events - An Evening with Dennis Lehane and the Kate Shelley Story – both taking place at Hoyt Sherman Place Theater.
To receive a 15% discount on select seats for these two events, order your tickets online: www.ticketmaster.com or at Hoyt Sherman box office. Enter the coupon code "WOWFEST" when purchasing your tickets. Children 12 and under are FREE for the Kate Shelley Story, but must have a ticket for entry to the event. Event descriptions are listed below:
• An Evening with Dennis Lehane, Oct. 25, 2012, Hoyt Sherman Place, 7:30 p.m. – Bestselling author Dennis Lehane will entertain guests with readings from his most current works, discussions on character and plot development, as well as a Q&A session with the audience. Lehane's most recent release "Live By Night," has been hailed as a "masterful crime epic" that spans from Prohibition-era Boston to Batista's Cuba. "Live By Night" was just named one of the Best Books of 2012 by Publishers Weekly. The evening will also include a partial staged reading of Lehane's only play "Coronado." A VIP meet-and-greet reception with Lehane is scheduled to follow the event. Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased at the Hoyt Sherman Box office or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
• The Kate Shelley Story, Friday, Oct. 26, 2012, Hoyt Sherman Place, 7:30 p.m. - The Kate Shelley Story, featuring Maria Newman and Mary Kay Shanley, is the story of a young Iowa girl that has captured the attention of Iowans for decades. To this day, it is hard to visit the Boone area without a retelling of the heroic tale of Kate Shelley and the Midnight Express. This live mixed-media performance will showcase: an original narrative and retelling of The Kate Shelley Story penned by bestselling author Mary Kay Shanley; an original musical score written and conducted by award-winning composer and virtuosic violinist Maria Newman; and the highly acclaimed federated actress with the Repertory Theatre of Iowa Alissa Tschetter-Siedschlaw will play the role of Kate. The performance will also feature several short silent films starring Jack and Mary Pickford, each of them scored by Ms. Newman, and again featuring the Coulston Quartet. Tickets start at $10 and can be purchased at the Hoyt Sherman Box office or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Kids 12 and under are admitted free.
For more information, please e-mail strovers@grinnell.edu or call ext. 4583.
