Wednesday, May 21 • 7:15 pm
Mike Farrell, popular co-star of television’s long-running sitcom M*A*S*H, joins us with his honest, surprising autobiography Just Call Me Mike: A Journey from Actor to Activist, written with actor Martin Sheen. The book not only describes his activist role in politics and human rights but also his perceptive comments on Hollywood and the movies. Decatur Library auditorium. Free.
Thursday, May 22 • 7:15 pm
Elise Blackwell, prize-winning novelist (Grub, The Unnatural History of Cypress Parish), discusses the new release of Hunger, her finely crafted book about a survivor reflecting on the terrible moral choices he made during the siege of Leningrad in World War II Russia. Decatur Library auditorium. Free.
*** Sanjay Gupta's appearance has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience.***
Saturday, May 24 • 2 pm
Sanjay Gupta, Emory University neurosurgeon and CNN’s chief medical correspondent, offers insights into the aging process in his new book Chasing Life: New Discoveries in the Search for Immortality to Help You Age Less Today. Don’t miss this informative and entertaining talk by one of the nation’s best-known health experts. Decatur Library auditorium. Free.
Speak…Easy!
Words that move you . . .
Friday, May 23 • 7-9 pm
Old Courthouse on the Square
Host: Jerry G.
Music: Kim Armstrong generates fun and fellowship with his current popular music, keeping everyone in a festive mood, digging the positive vibes.
Special Volunteer Guests:
Literacy Volunteers of Atlanta is a nonprofit organization aiming to increase adult and family literacy through volunteer tutoring. For more information visit www.lvama.org.
Featured Artists
Kodac Harrison
Kodac has released 13 recordings on independent labels, with his last three studio recordings containing spoken word. He has made six tours of Europe and has performed for President Jimmy Carter and Andrew Young. In 2002, 2003 and 2004, Kodac was named “Atlanta’s Best Spoken Word Artist” by Creative Loafing. He has co-edited two anthologies of poetry and is chairman of Poetry Atlanta. www.kodacharrison.com.
Audrey Galex
A morning person, Audrey admits to a coffee drinking addiction. She’s also hooked on international travel and the possibility that someday she will play in a miniature golf tournament. Join her for Coffee, Tea, or Me: An Affair with a Hot Lover.
LadyVee DaPoet
LadyVee is a spoken word artist, published poet (Imagination Overload) and freelance columnist. As an advocate for quality creative expression, she is also assistant organizer of the Atlanta Poetry Meetup Group, made up of more than 380 poets, artists, musicians and literary enthusiasts in the Atlanta area.
You will have an opportunity to hear from some of the artists represented in the Decatur Arts Festival Artists Market .
Open Mic: We invite you to step up and to “Speak…Easy!”
Limited to the first five people who sign in at the Volunteer table, starting at 6:30 pm. Each person will have five minutes to “bend an ear…”
Timeless Words…
Saturday May 24
Literary Arts Festival Tent
Noon-12:45 pm
Academy Theatre
Avondale Estates’ Academy Theatre presents two short family comedies: Old Friends (in association with Atlanta Theatre-To-Go), about the unexpected meeting of a 71-year-old man and a 60-ish widow who discover surprising mutual interests – including each other; and Two-Fang, a delightful tall-tale about a grandfather, a tomato stake – and a snake!
1-1:45 pm • John Joyner, Cowboy Poet
John spent his early childhood in Lewistown, Montana. He has performed his cowboy poetry at previous Literary Arts Festivals, Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, the Booth Western Museum in Cartersville, and at various cowboy poetry gatherings in the West. John recently produced a CD of his cowboy poems titled The Japanese Quarter Horse. He and his wife, Marceil, live in Decatur where he has practiced estate planning law for the past 42 years.
2-2:45 pm • H~Thyme
H~Thyme Productions is made up of husband/wife team Neal and Michele McCullough Hazard. They are actors and writers who are proud to share their talents. They offer two pieces this year: After the Show, which deals with a meeting between a daughter and her long lost father, and Langston and Zora.
3-3:45 pm • Savage Tree Arts Project
Savage Crash Course: Improv
Wanna play? Join us for a short series of exciting games that will get you up on your feet and out of your head. Led by Savage Tree Arts Project co-founder Kristi Casey Sanders, an alumna of Boom Chicago Comedy Theatre in Amsterdam and comedy festivals around the world.
4-4:45 pm • Allen O’Reilly (Georgia Shakespeare)
Allen is education director and an associate artist with Georgia Shakespeare. He will present excerpts from his one-man touring production of Macbeth the Man, which has been touring the metro Atlanta area for the last three years.
Magical Words . . .
Events in the Old Courthouse presented by the DeKalb History Center
Sunday May 25
Literary Arts Festival Tent and Old Courthouse
Noon • Ken Scott
Ken Scott has more than 20 years of experience performing more than 350 shows a year and has entertained more than a million people with his unique cutting-edge programs. He was featured on CNN Headline News, where he headlined their segment “A Day of Magic.” Ken has also been invited three times to perform at the White House. He travels around the world teaching other entertainers his original ideas and routines. He also writes monthly columns in the children’s performers publications The Funny Paper and the Kidabra Journal.
Literary Arts Festival Tent
Southern Order of Storytellers (SOS)
Founded in 1983 SOS is made up of storytellers and listeners. Its mission is to enhance the future of our heritage and culture through the spread of the art and entertainment of story. SOS storytellers do this through performance in public venues and through teaching the skills and craft of story to all ages. www.southernorderofstorytellers.org
Old Courthouse on the Square
1 pm • Audrey Galex
Audrey claims stories are the glue that keeps people connected. She delights listeners with tales that celebrate many cultures and reflect her Jewish heritage and travels in the Middle East.
Old Courthouse on the Square
LaDoris Bias-Davis
LaDoris’ motto is “Storytelling has no limitations!” She uses her theatre background to engage, educate and entertain varied audiences in the United States, Caribbean and South America. Hailed as a 2007 Children’s Literacy Heroine, LaDoris also co-founded “Emerging Voices,” PeachSeed Storytellers, and is a charter member of Kuumba Storytellers.
Old Courthouse on the Square
Eenee Ferrano
Eenee is a storyteller and musician whose puppets, props and instruments enchant audiences. Her repertoire includes personal stories of growing up in a Catholic family and stories from the time when animals could talk.
Old Courthouse on the Square
2 pm • Julie Austin
Children’s performer Julie Austin delights audiences with her popular songs and early childhood workshops. In live performances she encourages her audience to sing, move, and dance. She also uses sign mime (a combination of sign language and gestures), which gets everyone involved.
Literary Arts Festival Tent
3 pm • Feriel Feldman
Feriel says “all the world’s magic comes from the mouth,” whether from a stage, sitting with friends, or rockin’ on the porch with family. The spread of story is essential to the meat and bones of our culture.
Old Courthouse on the Square
Grace Hawthorne
Grace is a writer, editor and performer. Her newest one-woman show is The Gift, a 9/11 tribute to the New York spirit and anyone who ever made a sacrifice for something they loved.
Old Courthouse on the Square
Literary Arts Festival Committee:
Coordinator: Jerry G. White
Lisa Bokovoy, Melissa Forgey, Karen Skellie, Bill Starr
Sponsors: DeKalb History Center
