Oh look, it's Dietrich

or, as my friend RM calls it, Sleep-Away Welding Camp for Girls.

My friend xaydie went to this last year and it was FTW. They're short a few folks this year and could use a few women who'd like to learn to weld! I figure at least someone in my friendslist would want to do this.

I saw the pictures. It looks AWESOME.

Go!

Hey everyone,

My good friend Mike Marano is running writing workshops at Grub Street these days, and asked me to signal boost his upcoming class in genre fiction. He's a great writer, a great teacher and a great guy - I highly recommend. Do check it out - and forward to your friends!

***
ChiZine Fiction Editor, Stoker and International Horror Guild Award-winning horror and SF writer Michael Marano will be offering a new class on "The Art of Genre" at Grub Street, Inc., a non-profit creative writing center dedicated to nurturing writers and connecting readers with the wealth of writing talent in the Boston area. Grub's mission is to support creative writers at all stages of their development so that they can achieve their goals of publication, social and professional networking, gainful employment in the field, and/or personal enrichment. Details are below. For more information, contact Grub Street via their web site here.

The Art of Genre
Using the unreal in your fiction offers unique opportunities to break fresh, new ground. This class will help hone the tools you'll need to write genre fiction--be it science fiction, fantasy, or horror--with a distinctly literary bent. In addition to the weekly workshopping of short stories and novel fragments, students will be given a background on the genres' histories and their respective subgenres, strategies for using surrealism and postmodernism in their work, approaches to using "real world" research as a way to flesh out otherworldly settings and narratives, and ways to use the unreal as a tool to make metaphoric statements that can only be articulated with fantastic trappings. Other topics covered will be strategies for marketing your work, techniques for idea generating, and protocols for developing their work with the help of editors and agents. The goal is to give you a solid grounding in the demands of fantastic fiction, and a better understanding of literary potential of your favorite genres.

$425/$400 members
10 Sundays in Boston, 6pm – 9pm. Begins January 18th
Instructor: Michael Marano
Registration Deadline: January 13th

In one of his most famous routines, Carlin railed against euphemisms he said have become so widespread that no one can simply "die."

"'Older' sounds a little better than 'old,' doesn't it?," he said. "Sounds like it might even last a little longer. ... I'm getting old. And it's OK. Because thanks to our fear of death in this country I won't have to die — I'll 'pass away.' Or I'll 'expire,' like a magazine subscription. If it happens in the hospital they'll call it a 'terminal episode.' The insurance company will refer to it as 'negative patient care outcome.' And if it's the result of malpractice they'll say it was a 'therapeutic misadventure.'"

George Carlin, comedian, actor, counterculture warrior and hero of freaks everywhere died yesterday at the age of 71, of heart failure.

I'm just gonna go over here and cry for a while.

From T@F's president:

***
We're putting the finishing touches on Theatre @ First's production of
Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" in April, and we could use your
help before the performances as

Greeter - welcome people at the door
Usher - hands out programs
Box office - sells tickets
Concessions - sells candy and sodas (also works intermission)

Please email Beckie at bex77@comcast.net with three items:
A. your name
B. date of show you can work (April 4, 5, 11, 12)
C. Job you prefer (if any)

You need to arrive 45 minutes prior to the show.
All these shows start at 8 pm.

Volunteers get to see the entire show, for FREE.

Please respond soon, as we only have a few slots left.

Thanks!

-Beckie Hunter
President, Theatre @ First

The Back Bay Chorale performs on March 15 at 8pm at Emmanuel Church, Boston. This cycle: 20th Century French composers! I really think this is going to be a stunning concert; I hope you'll join us.

Tickets here!

( More )

If anyone's interested, I just found out that the Back Bay Chorale is holding auditions on January 7, at Emmanuel Church in Boston, at 6pm

-No appointment necessary

-Requirements: short prepared piece (a copy for accompanist), sight reading, vocal exercise

I found the audition process to be very friendly and easy, and the chorus itself to be quite wonderful. We're about 100 voices and do a range of classical repertoire under the direction of the fabulous (and I mean that in many senses of the word) Scott Allen Jarret, who is a joy to work with.

This winter we'll be doing pieces by Martin and Messien, and in the spring, Mendelssohn's Elijah.

On Saturday, November 3 at 8:00 p.m. at Emmanuel Church, the Back Bay Chorale will have its fall concert, featuring Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass as well as pieces by Holst and Elgar, and the gorgeous "Take Him, Earth, for Cherishing" of Herbert Howells.

I'll be performing in this concert; tickets available here!


At 7:00 pm, Scott Allen Jarrett, the vibrant young director of the group, will be giving a pre-concert lecture. I'm willing to bet it'll be fantastic.

From queen_of_wands:

Elements of Magic in Boston (Somerville)

A Weekend Intensive with Sarah, Sierra, & John
Friday, September 28 - Sunday, September 30

Magic is the art of changing consciousness at will. In this class we empower ourselves to make change in the world by working with Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit. Techniques include visualization, sensing and projecting energy, chanting, trance, sacred movement, creating magical space, spell-craft, and structuring rituals. Elements of Magic is a core workshop in the Reclaiming Tradition of Witchcraft (http://www.reclaiming.org). You do not need to be part of this tradition to participate. Group experience happens in the framework of feminist consensus process. We hope to provide a fair and nurturing environment for all participants. The workshop is suitable both as an introduction to Witchcraft for seekers, and as an introduction to Reclaiming practice for more experienced practitioners.


( Details and registration form. )

Hi there!

If you or someone you know owns a video camera and might be available
to lend it out or use it to tape a performance or two of "C'est
Levine!" we'd really appreciate it. I've had an offer for duplication
services, so we really just need someone to get us the footage.

Home camcaorders are better than nothing; please let me know if you
can help us out!

Thanks,
The Cast & Crew of Festival@First

Hi, all,

I'm directing one of the plays in the festival announced below. Please come and offer your support - and while you're at it, have a great time!

***

It's time for summer theater!

Reserve your tickets now for the 4th Annual
Evening of One-Acts.

Theatre @ First proudly presents
"Festival @ First: C'est Levine: An Evening
of One-Act Plays by Mark Harvey Levine".

These seven short plays will make you laugh and think.
We've got a cab, a cube, a jar, a party, a script, a kiss,
and of course, a zombie!

The plays will be presented on these seven dates during
the last two weekends in July:

Thursday, Friday & Saturday July 19-21 at 8 pm
Sunday, July 22 at 3 pm (matinee)
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday, July 26-28 at 8 pm

Tickets are only $10. We offer discounts for
students, seniors, and groups of 10 or more.

You can order tickets online at
http://theatreatfirst.org/tix.htm
or call our toll-free ticket line at 1-877-557-5936
or email tickets@theatreatfirst.org

Or you can see the show for free if you
usher, or sell tickets or concessions.
Reply to this email to volunteer.

First Church is located at 89 College Ave.
in Somerville, 4 blocks from the Davis Square
stop on the Red Line, and is accessible to the
physically challenged.

For more info, check our web site at
http://theatreatfirst.org

Please join us and bring your friends for a great
night of theater!