Sacramento State’s University Union UNIQUE Programs, Student Health & Counseling Services, and Active Minds are pleased to announce The Vagina Monologues at the Sacramento State University Union Ballroom at 7:30 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2012. Eve Ensler, a playwright and feminist, wrote The Vagina Monologues. The monologues are a compilation of Ensler’s interviews with hundreds of women on their views and experiences of sex, relationships, and violence and cover issues of intimacy, vulnerability, and sexual self-discovery. Sac State’s production will include only student actresses reciting the dialogues. The Vagina Monologues are part of V-Day, a global activist movement to end violenc

The 2012 premier of the Ladies Night Out series of events returned to the historic Guild Theater in Oak Park Saturday evening. The headlining act was veteran singer, songwriter, producer and actor Danny Boy. Best known for his work as a backup singer during the heyday of Death Row Records, Danny Boy’s solo music is grounded in his musical roots of R&B and gospel as he ably demonstrated to an appreciative audience. “In 2012 we are taking the Ladies Night Out concept to a new level,” said poet Terry Moore, the T-Mo Entertainment founder who was responsible for bringing Danny Boy from Atlanta to Sacramento. “It is the vision of T-Mo Entertainment to bring outstanding artists to Sacramento w

A young black male raised without a father, expelled for assaulting his teacher in fourth grade finds poetry mentors who help cultivate his gift for words and turn him into a beacon of hope in his community. It's the kind of adversity-overcoming story that fuels the inspirations of Hollywood filmmakers. It is also the real-life story of Sacramento Area Youth Speaks poet/mentor Andre Tillman, otherwise known as Dre-T. "I would say ages six through eight were my troubled years," Tillman says, recounting the incident that got him expelled from grade school, "I remember knowing it wasn’t my teachers fault." It was right around this time that a young, frustrated Andre Tillman would discover wh

The music recital hall at California State University, Sacramento was filled with the sounds of guests happily chatting and laughing in anticipation of the evening’s presentation, The Art of American Song. Even among the noise of the families and groups of students finding their seats, the empty stage maintained an ethereal glow, with a soft light illuminating a cardboard backdrop surrounding a grand piano. Once the lights dimmed and the crowd fell silent, the hall was entered by two well-dressed faculty members who would be the entertainment for the evening. Hatem Nadim, an accomplished pianist, and Robin Fisher, a well known soprano, took their places on the stage. The smiling Ms. Fish

Occasionally it has been whispered that I complain (whine) about things in my adopted hometown, so I decided to share some of my impressions of the place I've called home for almost forty years. The writing spans a bit of time and perspective, as well. Before I was a columnist, I was a poet...   Saturday Night SacTown (Circa 1978) Pregnant girls with basketball bellies    and bigger bad bangs tarantula lashes purple lips colored inside the lines Not dressed for the weather Hanging out by the Discount Store Worrying their gum Waiting At the bar on K Street, gay men Sucked in by the stereotype Puppy dog eyes Leather baseball caps and cowboy boots Leather vests, Pearly buff chests Eyes l

Now until the 5th of December you'll want to view the "Color and Words" exhibitiion at the Urban Hive. James Humphrey's abstracts invite you, "...the poet in, take his clothes off..." (from one of the late poet's work, Argument for Love. The chosen paintings number 15 of the 74 that were originally on display for his "Last Night Out" in Yonkers, New York in 2006. For more information you can call the Hive, (1931 H Street) 916-585-4483 or visit Mr. Humphrey's website, www.jameshumphrey.net. As fellow poet, Charles Bukowski (1920-1994) said, "Humphrey's poems--believe them. He's lived them. He knows that pain and usffering bloom like eternal flowers. He knows that trying is the one thing we

Bob Stanley, Poet Laureate, and the Brubeck Jazz Institute have been refining Saturday, November 19 evening's, performance at California Stage (25th and R streets).  The Wonder Of This Moment, Jazz and Poetry Live featuring James Humphrey's poetry with Bob Stanley, Norma Humphrey and son, Saroyan, Eve West Bessier, Lawrence Dinkins, and Mary Zeppa.  Beginning at 7 p.m., there will be wine and food tastings, a raffle with 17 prizes, the sale of the poet's books.  It will be an intense show with music composed for nearly all the poetry.  Quoting a prominent poet, Bob Stanley, "This is going to be quite an event!"  A donation of $25  for Stanford Home for Children is requested.  Call (916) 24

The Historical Guild Theater in Oak Park featured this year’s final Ladies Night Out event this past Saturday evening. Host Terry Moore put together a program that featured music, poetry, comedy, dancing, a fashion show and motivational speaking. “I listen carefully to the feedback I receive from each event and respond accordingly,” stated Moore when commenting on how he determines the lineup of entertainment for each show. “Our patrons request many of our performers who have been featured at previous events, but I always make it a point to bring in new artists who are working hard and deserve the opportunity to be showcased in front of their hometown,” said Moore. The special guest hos

The Center for Contemporary Art, Sacramento presented “Honoring Facundo Cabral: a Día de Los Muertos Poetry Reading” Friday evening. More than two dozen people attended the event, which included music, poetry, art and history. Friday’s event was one of several associated with the “Voice for the Voiceless” exhibit featuring the artwork of Malaquías Montoya, who had created a piece in memory of Cabral, an Argentinean writer, singer and peace messenger who was murdered in Guatemala City on July 9, 2011. “Facundo Cabral Presente” was the backdrop for the evening’s reading and music, which featured poets Betty Sánchez, Nancy Aidé González and Francisco X. Alarcón, and musician Manuel Lopez. B

On Friday, the Center for Contemporary Art, Sacramento will present “Honoring Facundo Cabral: a Día de Los Muertos Poetry Reading,” one of the events associated with the “Voice for the Voiceless” exhibit, featuring the artwork of Malaquías Montoya. Curator Xico González will host Friday’s reading. A poet, artist and activist, he recruited four area poets to pay homage to Argentinian Facundo Cabral, a writer and performer of protest songs who gained fame in the 1970s when dictatorships, coups and other crises plagued Latin America. Cabral’s most famous song was “No Soy de Aqui, Ni Soy de Alla” (“I’m Not from Here, I’m Not from There Either”). Cabral went into exile in Mexico from 1976 to 1

Throughout his 50 years as a poet, James Humphrey (1939-2006), twice nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature, commited himself to the one thing he could do, write about his challenging babyhood, youth and teen years to teach elementary through college-aged individuals how to overcome their abuse.  It was a rich legacy of works, both words and abstract art, "too rich to leave behind", his widow of 43 years, said.  Fellow poet, Charles Bukowski (1920-1994) wrote: "Humphrey's poems--believe them.  He's lived them.  He knows that pain and suffering bloom like eternal flowers.  He knows that trying is the one thing we have left." A retired librarian from NY, Mrs. Humphrey moved to Sacrame

The Red Night poetry series will close at Beatnik Studios after a year that has featured Mary Mackey, Kathryn Hohlwein, Josh Fernandez, Sandy Thomas, Bill Gainer, Lara Kaapuni, Phillip T. Nails, Crawdad Nelson, James Lee Jobe, Mario Ellis Hill and numerous others, including B.L. Kennedy, who was featured in the first show with Charlene Ungstad. Kennedy will join Ann Menebroker and Paul Fericano to close the popular reading series that has run the third Wednesday of each month since July 14, 2010, and has been well-attended by poetry and prose enthusiasts. Organizer Genelle Chaconas, a Sacramento State alum, artist and poet, envisioned the series as a place “where our shared instinct to c

A solo exhibit featuring the work of Malaquías Montoya, “Voice for the Voiceless,” opened September 20 at the Center for Contemporary Art, Sacramento and will continue through November 18. A cultural reception will be held this Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m., opening with “a Mexica blessing to be performed by Kalpulli Maquili Tonatiuh (a local Aztec dance circle),” said Xico González, curator of the exhibit. “In the Chicana/o tradition, we pay homage to those that came before us, to the people that Malaquías pays homage to in his artwork,” said González. Montoya, one of the founders of the social serigraphy movement, will speak about himself and his art, which includes “Undocumented,” from 1

The 4th annual World Music & Dance Festival in Old Sacramento this past weekend featured a wide variety of live music, dance events and ethnic foods, as well as arts and crafts from all parts of the globe.  The main celebration was scheduled Sunday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., although the Spotlight On: India! extravaganza kicked off the weekend’s events on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. In keeping with Sacramento’s reputation as the most multi-ethically integrated big city in America, performances were turned in by all levels of local talent, from student groups to nationally recognized performers who live in and near the Sacramento area.  Attendees of the event had unrestricte

Wednesday evening was filled with poetry, music and activism when Rafael Jesús González (poet, professor, artist and bilingual studies innovator) read to a full house at La Raza Galería Posada. He was accompanied by flautist and Rooted in Community co-director Gerardo O. Marín and artist and activist Colin Miller. The event was hosted by Los Escritores del Nuevo Sol / Writers of the New Sun and opened with local writer JoAnn Anglin. She spoke of the group’s founding in 1993, its monthly writing group, monthly readings and of the group’s anthology, “Voices of the New Sun: Songs and Stories / Voces del Nuevo Sol: Cantos y Cuentos.”  González was introduced by Dr. Fausto Avendaño, a retire

Terry Moore Presents brought Ladies Night Out V to the Historic Guild Theater in Oak Park this past Friday night.  This final show of the summer series at the Guild lived up to its billing as a red carpet event complete with celebrity VIP guests and a fantastic show. “We really wanted to show our appreciation to Sacramento for all of the support we’ve received this year by ending the summer with a special event,” stated Moore.  “The most satisfying part of the evening was looking out over the audience and seeing everyone enjoying themselves and having a good time,” said Moore.    The special guest host for the red carpet extravaganza was Courtney Dempsey of Channel 31’s “Good Day Sacram

The Rock Away Labor Day Autism Awareness Event will be held on Sept 5, 2011 at the West and North steps of the Capitol Building in downtown Sacramento. The event kicks off at 11 a.m. and is scheduled to end at 7 p.m. The Rock Away Labor Day show will feature a diverse lineup of live music, fashion shows, comedians, dance groups, a face painting area for children, raffles and more. The event is free of charge and is open to the public. The purpose of the event is to have a day of enjoyment in a family friendly environment, to create more awareness about autism, and to provide educational and community resources on the subject. In addition, a part of the proceeds from the vendors who will

  On Saturday September 3, a broad, multi-genre group of area musicians will join together to present a benefit concert for Somalian refugees. “March to the Beat of One Heart” will be held at Antiquite Maison Privee, 2114 P Street in midtown Sacramento. The event runs from 5 pm-11pm and there is $10 minimum donation. The concert, in association with the Midtown Business Association and Swell Productions, will feature ten Sacramento musical acts playing for a common goal of assisting victims of the war and drought-ravaged region. 100% of the proceeds will go to Doctors Without Borders, a worldwide humanitarian aid organization, and their efforts in Somalia. Guitarist and concert promoter

Terry Moore Presents brought his latest show concept, Soul Night, to the historical Guild Theater in Oak Park Saturday night. The “Soul Night" show was ably hosted by popular certified life coach and Christian counselor Kerri Herndon. “We are evolving and growing as an organization while responding to the feedback we receive from our supporters,” said Moore when describing how the concept of Soul Night originated. “Soul Night is a show for everybody to come out and enjoy music, poetry, and dancing that will inspire the soul.” Poet Aaron G. read his poem. “I Had a Dream” and Othello H. Curry, 3rd read his poem, “Single and Free to Mingle” at the open mic before the curtains opened to begi

Ladies Night Out IV was celebrated at the historic Guild Theater in Oak Park Saturday evening. Nationally renowned local poet and community leader Terry Moore brought a fresh lineup of local talent to the stage as a part of his summer series of events at the Guild Theater.  “I respond by inviting the artists that are most requested,” said Moore when describing how he determines which artists he asks to feature.  “It is also my goal to give local artists who are just starting out an opportunity to become better known and develop a following,” stated Moore as he reflected upon the eclectic mix of artists that have appeared over the course of the summer series.  Comedy was the theme for th