August 27, 2009
Press Release
For More Information: Bruce Hennes 216-321-7774 or 216-978-2047
The Nighttown Academy of Poetry & Letters to Host Literary Fundraiser for
The Friends of the CH-UH Library
The Nighttown Academy of Poetry & Letters is a purely fictional invention of two award-winning Cleveland Heights residents: local Irish actress Derdriu Ring and her good friend, Regina Brett, Plain Dealer columnist.
But the Nighttown Academy of Poetry & Letters, envisioned as less Harvard or Hogwarts and more James Joyce meets Monty Python, will indeed come alive for one night in early October when the fictional academy take corporeal form, becoming the venue for a fundraiser benefiting the Friends of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library.
Wise Up !!, as the event is titled, will feature a local cast comprised of celebrities, literary greats and friends of the arts, each of whom will read and bring to life a short poem or piece of prose, interspersed with musical numbers with literary themes. At press time, Too Marvelous for Words and If I Could Write a Book are likely to be on the program, performed by such artists as Maryann Nagel, Bill Rudman, Helen Welch and Fabio Polanco, accompanied by Nancy Maier on Nighttown’s new Yamaha Disklavier Mark IV concert grand piano.
The all-star cast for Wise Up !! currently includes, at press time, Afi-Odelia Scruggs, Barbara Bisantz Raymond, Brendan Ring, Carlo Wolff, Carolyn Jack, Dan Chaon, David Giffels, Dee Perry, Derdriu Ring, Dick Feagler, Ed Kelly, Gail Bellamy, George Bilgere, Joan Southgate, Joe Esterhaus, Judith Mansour, Karen Long, Karen Sandstrom, Kathleen Cerveny, Kathleen Fairweather, Kris Ohlson, Laura Taxel, Les Roberts, Loren Weiss, Mansfield Frazier, Margaret Bernstein, Mark Dawidziak, Mary Doria Russell, Mary Weems, Meredith Holmes, Michael Heaton, Michael Ruhlman, Nancy Levin, Natalia Rodas, Peggy Spaeth, Peter Lawson Jones, Regina Brett, Ron Wilson, Sarah May, Scott Lax, Steve Presser and Thrity Umrigar.
The event will also feature a silent auction. Anyone with an item to donate should call 216-321-7774.
The Friends of the CH-UH Library won’t be the only beneficiaries of the evening’s activities. Two local independent bookstores near to the hearts of book-loving Clevelanders - Appletree Books and Mac’s Backs - will sell books that evening, with the proceeds of those sales staying with the bookstores, though all other event-related dollars will be donated to the Friends of the Library.
Wise Up !! will be held on Sunday, Oct. 4 at Nighttown. There will be two different and separate shows at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., with a separate $20 per person admission charge for each 90-minute show.
Wise Up !! is sponsored by Nighttown and the law firm of Weisman Kennedy and Berris, LPA.
Wise Up !! is directed and produced by Derdriu Ring and Regina Brett, both of whom suggest that since the Heights area has such a strong history of supporting arts organizations, this event is certain to be a sell-out. “Advance reservations are indeed a must !” said Ring and Brett, in unison.
To make reservations, please call Nighttown at 216-795-0550.