Performers and Panelists Will Speak, Sing and Discuss Updating Classics at Milford Readers and Writers Fest
The annual festival will include ticketed events at Milford Theater and free events at various venues around Milford on September 22, 23 and 24.
Writers of songs, poems, plays, musicals and comic books will grace the Milford Readers and Writers Festival stage this September, as will discussion of revising classics for the modern conscience. At a Milford backyard party, festival events were announced on Sunday.
Shifting of volunteer roles and author contacts and availabilities shape the festival differently every year, said Edson Whitney, co-chair of the festival board with Carol McManus. In his professional life between festivals, Whitney works with Johns Hopkins University on developing national health risk communications and strategies for addressing zoonotic diseases, to be conveyed in text messages in such countries as Sierra Leone, Ghana and Ethiopia. The texts are terser than festival material.
This year, theatrical writers are ascendant on the Main Stage, beginning with singer, songwriter and poet Amanda McBroom on Friday night, who will sing and converse. She wrote “The Rose,” made famous initially by Bette Midler, and numerous other songs, sung by assorted singers from Harry Belafonte to Kurt Cobain.
Among Main Stage highlights on Saturday will be actor and writer Charles Busch, who will discuss his memoir, “Leading Lady,” following his life of theater and film adventures. Harvey Fierstein, actor and playwright of “Torch Song Trilogy” and “La Cage aux Folles” fame, will explore his memoir, “I Was Better Last Night,” when he takes the stage that afternoon.
Also on Saturday, in the “Rewriting Shakespeare” event, a trio of authors coming from different backgrounds will discuss whether classic literature should be revised to reflect social evolution.
The panelist authors include fiction writer Lenore Hart; Rob Armstrong, spy novelist and CBS Radio news correspondent; and Dr. Ismaili Abu Bakr, African author of fiction, poetry and plays.
“I hope the audience can see more than one side,” said Fields, who was previously a CBS News producer and now writes fiction and poetry.
She cited the example of Roald Dahl’s children’s books and English Queen Camilla’s opposition to revision.
“If parents explain the role of stereotypes, that could be a good thing,” said Fields. “But come to the panel. The authors will discuss facets of the issue.”
Also on Saturday, graphic novelist and comic book writer Scott Snyder will discuss his adventures writing big comic book heroes and other characters, some inspired by his local Twin Lakes youth.
The festival will include much else, both on the Main Stage, requiring tickets, and free events at other locations in Milford. Local history, science fiction and other realms will be spotlighted in conversations with authors.
Below, Whitney provided details about some festival guests, and schedules and tickets are available at this link.
Amanda McBroom: Evening of Songs and Conversation
Amanda McBroom, cabaret performer and urban poet, first came to the attention of the public when Bette Midler’s version of McBroom’s song, “The Rose,” hit number one around the world in 1979. But it was McBroom’s performance of her own song on the Golden Globes (she won), Grammys (she didn’t), and The Tonight Show that launched her career as a singer as well as songwriter.
In addition to Midler, her songs have been recorded by a wide variety of artists, including Amy Poehler and Jack Black, Barry Manilow, Judy Collins, Barbara Cook, LeAnn Rimes, Anne Murray, Harry Belafonte, Betty Buckley, Stephanie Mills, The Manhattan Transfer, Donny Osmond, Kurt Cobain, Nana Mouskouri, Conway Twitty, the Chipmunks, and the Baby Dinosaurs in Land Before Time.
Charles Busch
Charles Busch’s memoir, “Leading Lady,” is an anecdotal account of an artist’s Oz-like journey in the worlds of Off-Broadway, Broadway, and Hollywood. He is a Tony Award-nominated writer of “The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife,” and the long-running Off-Broadway play, “Vampire Lesbians of Sodom,” and a Sundance Festival award winner. Busch has found a place in the entertainment world as playwright, LGBT icon, drag actor, director, and cabaret performer, connecting with and channeling the leading ladies of show business.
Rewriting Shakespeare – Bowdlerism
Bowdlerism is defined as censorship in the form of prudish expurgation, changing language in publications, correspondence or theatrical performance. An example of alterations to Shakespeare’s works made by Thomas Bowdler include: In “Hamlet,” the death of Ophelia is no longer a suicide, but referred to as an accidental drowning. In “Macbeth,” Lady Macbeth’s famous line, “Out, damned spot!” reads instead “Out, crimson spot!” Bowdler published his first edition of “The Family Shakespeare” in four small volumes, containing 24 edited versions of his 37 plays, intending to make them family-friendly.
Panelists:
-Lenore Hart is a poet and novelist, author of eight books, and series editor of three Night Bazaar fantasy fiction anthologies. A Shirley Jackson Award finalist, she’s also received prizes, grants and fellowships from arts organizations in the US, Ireland, and Germany. Hart is a writer for Kevin Anderson & Associates in NYC, and teaches at the Ossabar Island Writers Retreat in Savannah. Forthcoming books in 2023 are, “The Night Bazaar London,” and a historical novel, “The Alchemy of Light.”
-Rob Armstrong is an internationally active award winning journalist, author and educator. He has written 18 books, including a series of spy thrillers. He is the author of seven nonfiction volumes. Armstrong spent 24 years with CBS News as an on-air radio and television correspondent, filing stories from all over the US and from 39 countries. He also taught journalism at Flagler College in St. Augustine, FL, for 13 years.
-Dr. Rashidah Ismaili AbuBakr is a writer of plays, poetry, and cultural critiques as well as fiction. She is on the faculty of the MA/MFA graduate Creative Writing Low Residence program at Wilkes University. She is the author of several collections of poetry, including “Missing in Action” and “Presumed Dead.” Her poetry has been widely anthologized. Her first book of fiction is a novel in linked stories titled, “Autobiography of the Lower East Side.”
These three authors will discuss whether books should be revised to reflect social change, to balance history, accuracy, and sensitivity. The panel discussion will address shifting cultural norms that have prompted revisions in works by Roald Dahl, R. L. Stine, and Ursula K. LeGuin, among others.
Vampires, Batman, Wytches, OH MY!
Scott Snyder, graphic novelist and comic book writer, will talk about his career writing major comic super heroes and his short stories and graphic novels in the fantasy and horror genres. Snyder’s early childhood walks through the woods at Twin Lakes with his father helped shape his imagination for fantasy, horror and super heroes, which form the subject matter of his graphic novels and comic book writings. His first collection of short stories, “Voodoo Heart,” was published in 2006. His success later led to the award-winning comic book series, “American Vampire.”
After writing for Marvel Comics, Snyder joined DC Comics, where he wrote for the Batman and Superman series, among others. He also wrote a series of comic books, “Wytches,” and is currently serving as co-showrunner for an animated television series adaptation of Wytches for Amazon Prime Video.
Harvey Fierstein
Harvey Fierstein is the Tony Award-winning author of “Torch Song Trilogy” and “La Cage aux Folles.” His other theater writings include “Kinky Boots,” “Newsies,” and “Casa Valentina” (all Tony-nominated); “A Catered Affair,” (twelve Drama Desk nominations), and “Bella Bella.” His theater performances include, “Torch Song Trilogy” and “Hairspray” (Tony Awards for both), “Fiddler on the Roof,” “La Cage aux Folles,” “Gently Down the Stream,” and “A Catered Affair.” His film and television appearances include “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “The Good Wife,” and “Cheers” (Emmy nominated).
His memoir, “I Was Better Last Night,” is a New York Times best seller, described as “poignant and hilarious.” He lives in a small fictional town in Connecticut with whatever animals will have him, he says.
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