1st Anthology Release Party Monday June 13, 2011

Please Join

The Tea and Tales Writers' Group

for a celebration

of the publication

of their original writing!

Monday, June 13, 2011 at 1:30pm

Thanks to Arlene Torluemke

Programs for Older Adults

LAUSD

for publishing the first anthology!

Members from the group will be reading poems, stories, essays from the anthology

And, better yet, attendees will receive a free copy!

You can attend this event for free by rsvp-ing: happmus@roadrunner.com

Attendance is limited.

We are very excited! More information to come. Watch this space!

Images from Haynes Brooke Playwriting Salon

Thanks to all who made this Salon such a success!

Photo One: The grand cake for the joyous occasion!

Photo Two: Nora and Jim Karr, who interviewed Haynes Brooke, with fellow Tea and Tales colleague, Julia Wiles

Photo Three: Tea and Tales Writers Anne Cohen and Sidney Ochs, with Haynes Brooke

Photo Four: Members of the Tea and Tales Writing Group with Haynes Brooke: (clockwise) Julia Wiles, Larry Kal, Haynes Brooke, Joe Jelikovsky, Nora Karr, James Karr, Allan Lurie, Sidney Ochs, Sam Krause, Jeanette Kassouny, and Anne Cohen

Please stay tuned for news of our June Event:

The Tea and Tales Anthology Release Party, Monday, June 13, 2011.

Here Comes The Sun: Playwriting Salon with Haynes Brooke

Tea and Tales Writing Group

Welcomes

HAYNES BROOKE

A WRITER'S SALON: " The Art of Playwriting"

WHEN: Tuesday, May 17th

1:30pm: Seating from 12:45pm

Interview, Reading, Q&A, Reception

WHERE: Valley Village Senior Apts

12111 Chandler Blvd

Valley Village, Ca 91607

FREE if you RSVP

email happmus@roadrunner.com for reservation

About Our Special Guest:

Haynes Brooke is a Los Angeles actor, screenwriter, and playwright. Haynes is best known to many at the moment as The Sun, central character in the ongoing national ad campaign for Jimmy Dean sausage. He is also one of the stars of the new web series Turbo Dating, written and directed by Terry Rossio (Shrek, Pirates of the Caribbean.) Other screen credits range from feature films such as Contact and Fried Green Tomatoes to roles in MOWs, sit-coms, episodic, daytime drama, industrial films, and voice-over for anime cartoons. He has worked in Iceland, Prague, Germany, and all over the U.S., with such people as Jodie Foster, Whoopi Goldberg, Tim Allen, Billy Crystal and Robert Zemeckis. Recently Haynes appeared in episodes of Medium, Nip/Tuck and the independent feature The Dark Horse.

Haynes has something of a cult following as an LA playwright and stage actor, often appearing in his own plays. His newest comedy, The Compound Dog, garnered rave reviews during its run at The Eclectic Company Theatre. Before that, his musical Chicken City premiered to sold-out houses at the Actors' Gang, Tim Robbins' theater company in Hollywood. The Actors’ Gang also produced his hit play Progressive Chain Bowling, which extended twice amid critical praise and full houses. Other recently produced plays include Godfather Death, nominated for both an LA Weekly Award and a Garland Award as "Best Adaptation,” and the acclaimed solo show Art Explained, selected for the SOLO Festival, juried by Charles Nelson Reilly. In Seattle, Haynes’ solo show Maxley on the Bluff was produced as part of the New City Playwright’s Festival, where it won Best of the Fest.

Many of his projects incorporate his own original music. His band, New Mongrels -- featuring two Grammy Award-winning musicians among its members -- have released two CD’s on the Daemon Records label, also available on iTunes or Amazon.com

Haynes was the inaugural recipient of the McFarland Screenwriting Fellowship in 2005 and now has several feature scripts under option. Haynes is a graduate of Emory University, The Alliance Theatre’s Professional Actor Training Program, and the Act One writer’s workshop in Los Angeles, working under the mentorship of Jan and Lee Batchler (Batman Forever.) He’s currently writer/creator of the comedy short series Dynamic Change, with a mobile phone distribution deal through FunLittleMovies.com.

Haynes is married, has three great kids, and spends much of his free time on the Ultimate Frisbee field, where he plays for several tournament-level teams.

Essayist Whitney Kershaw comes to the Writer Salon

Tea and Tales Writer Salon April 12, 2011 with Essayist Whitney Kershaw

Valley Village Senior Apartments. A Programs for Older Adults Class

through the LAUSD North Hollywood Poly Community Adult School
Essayist Whitney Kershaw in Dialogue with Tea and Tales Members

In speaking about the need for celebrating life, Kershaw pulled out a journal she had kept when she was 16, and read a story about her own coming of age. The entry left audience members breathless. Perhaps it was the Kerouac stream of consciousness styling. Perhaps it was the manner in which Whitney read, quickening the pace, raising and dropping her voice, spellbinding her audience.

The fourth in a series of seven Writer Salons, this session got personal, felt intimate, and left the young writers with new encouragement to "begin again."

"Put your pen down on the paper and write for 20 minutes," advised Kershaw, pulling from an "Artist's Way" exercise. "Don't stop, don't judge, don't worry. Set your timer for 20 minutes. Do this every day. You will be surprised by how much comes out of you!"

An actress on the screen, television, and Broadway, Whitney Kershaw may now be embarking on a career as a writer of essays, even a parenting advice column. She loves her family, her husband, three children and many pets.

"Life is good," she concludes. "I think I write to celebrate that."

We celebrated with her, and in these times, who doesn't need a party!

COMING UP NEXT: Haynes Brook, on Playwriting... watch this space!

Celebrated Actress and Essayist is April's Featured Writer!

Tea and Tales Writer's Salon

Welcomes

Essayist Whitney Kershaw

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

"The Art of the Personal Essay"

Where: Valley Village Senior Apts

12111 Chandler Blvd.

Valley Village, CA 91607

When: Check-in from 12:45pm

Interview: 1:30pm

Reading, Q&A

Reception to follow

FREE if you RSVP: happmus@roadrunner.com

Whitney Kershaw began a career on Broadway as a young singer-dancer-actor on Broadway, in "CATS." Ms. Kershaw has also worked as a television actor in General Hospital, as well as "The Wonder Years," "LA aw" and "Major Dad."

A mother of three beautiful children, Whitney writes personal essays that reflect a wholistic, spiritual vision of the world in which we live. Articulate, lively and full of good humor, Ms. Kershaw will leave us with a lot to think about, as she graces us with her lovely presence.

Please rsvp asap, as this event will quickly fill up!

Tea and Tales Writer's Salon Presents Novelist and Short Fiction Writer Jerome Nilssen

Tea and Tales Writer's Salon is proud to present Novelist Jerome Nilssen

in a conversation about

The Art of Writing Fiction

When: Monday, March 14, 2011

1:30pm

Where: Valley Village Senior Apts.

Please email for reservation and more information: happmus@roadrunner.com

About Mr. Nilssen:

Jerome Nilssen, a prolific playwright, short story writer and novelist writes about "what it takes to grow up in America - how to make it." Nilssen's first published novel, "The Drowning, The Dancing" was described by Carlos Baker, Princeton University, as a "geniuinely philosophical novel with a cast of characters who give the desirable illusion of being real people."

Mr. Nilssen has just completed a 500-page manuscript. A sample from the new novel will be read. Discussion will follow, as will a reception.

We are indeed honored and excited to welcome this personable and interesting talent!

More from the Valentine's Day Poetry Salon. the beautiful Clubhouse at Valley Village Senior Apts

Poetry Alive at Tea and Tales Writer's Salon

A little snippet from the Tea and Tales Writer's Salon featuring Poet Sidni Myles. Joe Jelikowsky interviewed Ms. Myles and Allan Lurie moderated a great discussion. Mary Toh coordinated a brilliant array pf refreshments. Ms Stringer's English class from Amelia Earhart Continuation School attended. Older adults from North Hollywood, Sherman Oaks, Valley Village, and Valley Glen attended and engaged with vigor. How do we break writer's blocks? How do we trust our voices? How do we press forward? How does poetry help us to say what we need to say?

Attending also: Assistant Principal from NHPCAS Cynthia Diaz, and POA/Lausd Advisor Arlene Torluemke.

More pictures and footage to come.

Poet Sidni Louise Myles Featured Tea and Tales Writer's Salon Valentine's Day 2011

Poet and Autobiographer Sidni Louise Myles

You are Invited to Attend This Special Celebration of Poetry with Sidni Louise Myles

WHEN: Monday, February 14, 2011 at 1:30pm, reception following

WHERE: Valley Village Senior Apts. 11211 Chandler Blvd. ValleyVillage, CA 91607

Clubhouse

FREE, but reservations required. PLease email happmus@roadrunner.com

This Writer's Salon was created by Instructor Fiera Mooney, as part of the "Family History and Personal Recollections Class" offered through Programs for Older Adults, LAUSD, thanks to North Hollywood POly Community Adult School, Principal Carl Badeau and APO Cynthia Diaz for their loving support of older adult education.

We learn by living and as long as we live. This is true education.

End ageism. Support life-long learning.

About Sidni:

Sidni Myles, innovator of the art of Rap Storytelling with originally composed theme music, began her professional career as a researcher before moving on to the fields of education and art. A Los Angeles native, Ms. Myles earned a Bachelors of Science for Health Education from San Francisco State, a Masters from San Jose State in Public Health and a second Masters degree in Education from National University. With a passion for teaching Sidni Myles has worked with a diverse range of students by instructing Biology and Health Education to high school students as well as Dance and Reading Literacy to senior citizens. Successful mother of two, Sidni understands the importance and power of legacy, which was what motivated her to write her own story and become a published author. Captivating and yet down to earth, the words and music of Sidni Myles will inspire you like magic.

Tea and Tales Writer's Salon Presenters and a Short Video Featuring LA Times Writer Kurt Streeter

Tea and Tales Presenters, from Top:

Moderator Allan Lurie, Reader Anne Cohen, and Interviewer Sam Krause. Here is a small video of part of the interview with LA Times Feature Writer Kurt Streeter

WRITER'S SALON With LA TIMES FEATURE WRITER KURT STREETER

YOU ARE INVITED!

“About Writing: LA Times Journalist Kurt Streeter”

WHEN: TUESDAY, JANUARY 25th at 1:30PM
Dessert Reception: 3pm

WHERE: VALLEY VILLAGE SENIOR APT CLUBHOUSE
12111 Chandler Boulevard
Valley Village, Ca 91607
FREE, but reservation required
Email: happmus@roadrunner.com

ABOUT MR. KURT STREETER:
Kurt Streeter's column in the LA Times began in July of 2007.
Previously, he wrote for The Times' California section and front page, focusing on crime, police, transportation and everyday people living uncommon lives. He covered the San Quentin execution of Robert Lee Massie in 2002.
His five-part narrative about a girl boxer from East Los Angeles and her relationship with her ex-gangster father won a 2005 Associated Press News Editors award. That story, along with a Column One about an elderly boxing timekeeper and his memories, was included in the 2006 edition of Best American Sports Writing.
Streeter has also worked for the Baltimore Sun, where he won awards for his coverage of the inner city, and as a documentary film and radio producer.

A TEA AND TALES WRITER’S SALON PRESENTATION
AN LAUSD NORTH HOLLYWOOD POLY CAS PROGRAMS FOR OLDER ADULTS PRODUCTION.