2009 Literary Festival

The 26th annual event features local and national poets, authors and writers, including Richland College's own faculty and students. MARCH 3 Rock Baby (Roderick Goudy) 9:30-10:50 a.m., Room C140 of Crockett Hall A native of Hattiesburg, Miss., Roderick Goudy (also known as Rock Baby) is a seasoned performance poet, comic and writer. Widely considered a natural performer with an unique, eclectic and clever style, Mr. Goudy has delighted, educated and entertained people of various ages and ethnicities across America.

Joaquín Zihuatanejo 11 a.m. - 12:20 p.m., Room C140 of Crockett Hall Joaquín Zihuatanejo is a poet, spoken word artist, and award-winning teacher. Born and raised in the barrio of East Dallas, he strives to capture the duality of the Chicano culture. Mr. Zihuatanejo has performed at universities, conferences and poetry slams all over the Unites States, Canada, and Mexico. He recently won The 2008 Individual World Poetry Slam Championship besting 77 poets representing cities from North America and Australia. Mr. Zihuatanejo will be the poet representing the US at the 2009 World Cup of Poetry Slam in Paris, France.

“Urinetown, The Musical” 7:30-9:45 p.m., Fannin Performance Hall Richland College presents a preview of “Urinetown, The Musical” - a satirical musical comedy that pokes fun at capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement and petty small town politics. The show opens on March 4 and will run through March 7, with performances nightly at 7:30 p.m. in Fannin Performance Hall. Urinetown is recommended for adult audiences. The show is free but reservations required. Call 972-238-3733 to reserve tickets. All reservations will be released to the public unless claimed by 7:15 p.m. at the Box Office in the lobby of Fannin Performance Hall.

MARCH 4 Readings from the Texas Poetry Calendar Anthology 9:05-10:30 a.m., Room C140 of Crockett Hall The Lone Star State comes to life in the new Dos Gatos Press anthology of Texas poetry, Big Land, Big Sky, Big Hair: Best of the Texas Poetry Calendar. Join editor Scott Wiggerman and five other poets whose poems grace the pages of Big Land, Big Sky, Big Hair for an intimate reading and glimpse at what makes Texas poetry so special: Ann Howells (Carrollton), Ken Wheatcroft-Pardue (Fort Worth), David Meischen (Austin), Anne McCrady (Henderson) and Marilyn Stacy (Dallas).

Thomas Riccio 10:10-11:05 a.m., Room C140 of Crockett Hall Thomas Riccio is a US multimedia artist and academic. He received his BA from Cleveland State University, his MFA from Boston University, and studied in the Ph.D. program in Performance Studies at New York University. Riccio has directed nearly 100 plays. Mr. Riccio has created performance installations, choreographed and directed for the stage and video. After 15 years of working extensively in the area of indigenous performance and ritual, as both an artist and scholar, Mr. Riccio accepted the position of Professor of Performance Studies and Art and Technology at the University of Texas at Dallas in 2002.

Richland English Faculty Readings 11:15 a.m. - 12:10 p.m., Room C140 of Crockett Hall This session features Richland's own English Faculty reading from their own books, short stories, and poetry. Refreshments will be served.

MARCH 5 Richland College Student Readings 9:30-10:30 a.m., Room C140 of Crockett Hall This session features the creative writing talents of Richland students. English students will read their short stories and poetry.

Afaa Michael Weaver 11 a.m. - 12:20 p.m., Room C140 of Crockett Hall Afaa Michael Weaver (also known as Michael S. Weaver), is a poet, playwright, short fiction writer, and translator. He's authored 10 collections of poetry. After entering the University of Maryland at age 16, Mr. Weaver left to work in Baltimore as a blue collar factory worker for 15 years. He received an MA from Brown Universityʼs writing program. An award-winning artist, Mr. Weaver teaches at Simmons College where he is also director of the Zora Neale Hurston Literary Center and chairman of the Simmons International Chinese Poetry Festival.