Calendar of Events

April 7-10

Winner of three Tony Awards, three Outer Critics Circle Awards, two Lucille Lortel Awards and two Obie Awards, Urinetown is a hilarious musical satire of the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, municipal politics and musical theatre itself! Hilariously funny and touchingly honest, Urinetown provides a fresh perspective on one of America's greatest art forms.

In a Gotham-like city, a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must use public amenities, regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity's most basic needs. Amid the people, a hero decides that he's had enough and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom!

Inspired by the works of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill, Urinetown is an irreverently humorous satire in which no one is safe from scrutiny. Praised for reinvigorating the very notion of what a musical could be, Urinetown catapults the "comedic romp" into the new millennium with its outrageous perspective, wickedly modern wit and sustained ability to produce gales of unbridled laughter.
https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/11734/the-clayton-center-for-the-arts-haslam-flexible-theatre??performance_id=8005730

Clayton Center for the Arts: 502 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37804. Information/tickets: 865-981-8590, www.ClaytonArtsCenter.com

Outside Looking In explores the architect's perversion of the human psyche and how there is an unsettling interest to open the pandora’s box of another individual’s internal layout.

Have you ever felt this draw to look through someone’s window while walking your dog, or riding your bike through your own neighborhood? The draw to look into someone else's “pandora box” speaks to the natural inclination to access someone's personal space.

The show is a collaboration between Undergraduate students from the School of Architecture and Art of The University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

There is an opening reception on Thursday, April 7, from 5-7 PM. The gallery's doors are open again Sunday, April 10, from 10 AM- 1 PM.

The fellow designers/artists that are presenting their work at Outside Looking In are:
Christina Ceniceros
Elizabeth Elrod
Sophia Spock

Gallery 1010, 100 S. Gay Street, Suite 114, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: https://gallery1010.utk.edu/

April 7th, 9th, and 10th

The UTK Herbarium, who has done our Moss seminars the past few years, are hosting an event that would delight anybody interested in the cataloging and research side of conservation and ecology. In addition to learning, participants will actually be helping scientists by joining natural history collections nationwide as part of a global four day effort to digitize centuries of data about life on Earth. From the Herbarium:

Be a part of a global effort to digitize centuries of data about life on Earth! Organisms may include ferns, fungi, mosses, insects, and mammals. Participants will have an opportunity to meet scientists and join in behind-the-scenes tours or talks about the significance of the scientific collections!

WeDigBio will be held online daily from Thursday, April 7th, Saturday, April 9th, & Sunday, April 10th.

WeDigBio is ideal for teens aged 15+ and adults. However, families are welcome as it is a great opportunity for all age groups to work together. For educators with classes, please contact us directly. To find out more, or to register for this event, please click here.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScCpE5XX_2OH_yXzdkD76B3L5PqbpwFPpkSF7_hpRu0Od8o_g/viewform

2022 Annual Conference | Let the Words Flow
April 7-9 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Oak Ridge

Writing Contests
Workshops
Networking
Manuscript Evaluations
Publishers
Book Signings
Bookstore
Vendors
And more!

Welcome to a writing community of friends and colleagues. Our members range from beginner to professionally published. It is our wish to share the joy and comradery of writing. http://www.tmwi.org

Thursday, Apr. 7, 7 p.m
Clayton Performing Arts Center
Free, no ticket required

Hardin Valley Campus of Pellissippi State: 10915 Hardin Valley Road, Knoxville, TN 37932. Information: 865-694-6405, www.pstcc.edu/arts

Thursday, April 7 at 7PM // Civic Auditorium

Formed in 1967, signed in 1971, and fronted by iconic vocalist Kevin Cronin since 1972, REO Speedwagon's unrelenting drive, as well as non-stop touring and recording jump-started the burgeoning rock movement in the Midwest. Platinum albums and radio staples soon followed, setting the stage for the release of the band's explosive Hi Infidelity in 1980, which contained the massive hit singles "Keep On Loving You" and "Take It On the Run." That landmark album spent 15 weeks in the No. 1 slot and has since earned the RIAA's coveted 10X Diamond Award for surpassing sales of 10 million units in the United States.

Today, REO Speedwagon has sold more than 40 million albums around the globe, and Cronin and bandmates Bruce Hall (bass), Neal Doughty (keyboards), Dave Amato (guitar), and Bryan Hitt (drums) are still electrifying audiences worldwide in concert with hits and fan-favorites such as "In Your Letter," "Can't Fight This Feeling," "Time For Me To Fly," "Roll With The Changes," the aforementioned "Keep On Loving You" and "Take It On the Run," and many, many more.

Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum, 500 Howard Baker Jr Blvd, Knoxville, TN 37915. Information: www.knoxvillecoliseum.com

7:00 PM

Rhea Carmon (RheaSunshine), Knoxville’s Poet Laureate, is bringing together a group of creative wordsmiths for the April program. To celebrate poetry month, we will relish the different ways poetry is written and presented. In addition, the first prize winner in KWG’s Poetry Contest will read the winning entry.

Along with Rhea, expect readings from:
JP Schuffman, a poet and playwright with two published collections: “Threshold Giddy” and “Blood and Treasure vs The Old Mountain.” His full length and one act plays have been performed in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Nashville, and Knoxville. His latest collection of poems, “Burial At Sea,” is scheduled for publication in 2022.

Black Atticus, one of the most intelligent and heartfelt voices of the new southern hip hop movement. Hailing from Knoxville, TN, Atticus weaves the art of conversation through nu-sage wisdom, with a dash of mother wit, the hard facts of life, and a honest sense of humor that hits home seamlessly.

Linda Parsons, poet, playwright, essayist, and editor. Linda Parsons is the poetry editor for Madville Publishing and copy editor for Chapter 16, the literary website of Humanities Tennessee. She's also the workshop coordinator for the Knoxville Writers' Guild. Widely published, Linda's fifth poetry collection is Candescent (Iris Press, 2019). Four of her plays have been produced by Flying Anvil Theatre in Knoxville.

Marcus Carmon (Carmon Sense), a storyteller and documentarian born in the nation’s capital. The seventh child of a bishop (dad) and musician (mom), Carmon has been immersed in the world of words since birth. He won the Haiku Death Match hosted by Knoxville Poetry Slam and soon after released his first book, The Art of Carmon Sense; 101 Haikus. Carmon continues to create stories and is currently working on his first audio drama podcast The Art of Carmon Sense; The Podcast.

Stephanie Kodish, an environmental and social justice advocate. By day Stephanie works towards clean air and climate solutions across legal, policy and public engagement efforts with the National Parks Conservation Association. In the precious spaces in between and through she is a lover of nature, gardener, yogi, and poet. Stephanie is the mother of three living in Knoxville for over a decade with her treasure of a beau and believes that together we can heal the world.

Elisha Mykelti, a musical poet whose work focuses on her everyday life as a Black Woman. Through the use of dialect, her work pays special attention to her birthplace in the South and her roots up North. Elisha is a 2nd grade associate teacher and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, with a concentration in Creative Writing from the University of Tennessee. She has been published in Berkeley Poetry Review (Issue 51), and she has hosted "Writin' Rhythm - A Writer's Workshop" for Sundress Publications. She has also been a guest speaker for two poetry writing courses at the University of Tennessee.

And maybe more!

Did you catch it? We’re in-person, so, if some folks can bring some snacks, we’ll have a grand time together celebrating poetry.

Knoxville Writers’ Guild: Meetings take place at Central United Methodist Church's Fellowship Hall, 201 E. Third Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: www.KnoxvilleWritersGuild.org

In early April, our hummingbirds will return to East Tennessee from their winter vacations. Let’s welcome them back with fresh feeders and lots of native flowering plants. Join local naturalist Stephen Lyn Bales for a look at these beautiful birds at the UT Arboretum Society’s First Thursday Nature Supper Club via Zoom on April 7 at 7 p.m. EDT.

You provide your own stay-at-home supper, and we provide the nature as Stephen Lyn will entertain and teach us via Zoom about these tiny birds’ life histories and how you can fill your backyard with everything they need.
The program is free, but registration is required to receive your link. Register at www.utarboretumsociety.org. This program will be recorded, and closed captioning is available. Please contact UT Arboretum Education Coordinator, Michelle Campanis, at mcampani@utk.edu with any questions or registration issues.

To contact Stephen Lyn Bales or buy one of his UT Press books, email him at hellostephenlyn@gmail.com

The Authors Guild of Tennessee (AGT) will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, April 7 at 11:00 am at the Faith Lutheran Church in Farragut. Social time and book exchange begins at 10:30. Published authors are invited to attend. AGT is now accepting applications for associate membership from authors who have written a book but are not yet published. Serious authors only. In the event of inclement weather, check the AGT Website for updates and information: www.authorsguildoftn.org.

THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 6-8 P.M.

For children 8 and under
Join us for an evening of educational activities, including a book walk and door prizes. Special guest Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs will read a book during the book walk.
Hardin Valley Campus, Goins Building College Center

Hosted by the Pellissippi State Early Childhood Education program, with support from United Way of Greater Knoxville and the East Tennessee Child Care Resource & Referral Network, and with additional activities provided by Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Knoxville Association for Children’s Education (KACEE) and East Tennessee PBS

https://www.facebook.com/events/1653389008340522/

Thursday, April 7 at 7:30 PM - Room 109, UT School of Art and
Architecture. Join in person or on zoom.

https://tiny.utk.edu/amanda_friedman

Amanda Friedman is a Visiting Artist and Lecturer in the Painting and Drawing Dept. at UT Knoxville’s School of Art.
Amanda Friedman’s art is rooted in drawing, painting, and writing. She directs plays and makes ceramics, installations, drawings, paintings, and performances that connect. Her work exists in different fields of action and poetry – varying spaces of concreteness, collaboration, and interiority. Friedman’s work is attuned to rituals and moved by a holistic drive to make worlds. Friedman has had recent solo and two-person shows at Grifter, NYC (2020) and Safe Gallery, Brooklyn (2018). She has been included in group shows at Cleopatra’s, Brooklyn; Situations, NYC; Adds Donna, Chicago; and Redling Fine Art, LA, among many others. Her plays or time-based paintings have been staged in NYC at All Saints Church, Essex Flowers, Safe Gallery, and White Columns.

She holds an MFA from Bard College in Painting, where she was the recipient of the Hartog Travel Grant, and has
participated in residencies at such places as Shandaken Projects, New York; Autocenter, Berlin; and Clay Break at The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Friedman published an artist book, Because Nothing Ends, with Peradam in 2013. Drawing Hilma Af Klint, made in collaboration with artists Ariel Dill and Denise Schatz, was published by Miniature Garden in 2014. Friedman is a founding member of the artist-run cooperative gallery Essex Flowers in NYC.

www.Amandabfriedman.com

8 characters. 3 books. 1 beloved author.

When the heroines of Austen’s England receive an invitation from their dear friend Miss A to attend a party in her honor, they (and their suitors) find themselves at the mercy of the attendees as they await her arrival. Join iconic characters from Pride & Prejudice, Mansfield Park, and Emma as they welcome you into a sparkling evening of Regency music, laughs, and entertainment to celebrate their favorite author.

Miss A’s Garden Party is an immersive, interactive theatrical experience. Although this is a workshop, actors will be working with a combination of written dialogue, improvisational prompts, and character histories to build the world of Jane Austen’s England for the audience. 1 on 1 interactions with audience members and group participation will likely play a factor in production, so please consider your comfort with improvisation before auditioning!

This event is a workshop of a new, unpublished script from First Take Co. If you haven't attended a workshop of a new script, this is a great chance to see how a play gets made! A workshop means that the script is still in development, so during the rehearsal process, lines may change, scenes may appear or disappear, and the script is pressure tested to make sure audiences understand the action of the piece. For us, this means that we're working with reduced rehearsal time, minimal production values, and scripts will be in hand during the performance. What you're seeing is like the pilot episode of a tv show: the earliest version of an idea that will grow and change based on feedback from viewers like you!

Sequence of Events
4:30pm - Preshow music and gathering
5:00pm - Event begins
6:00pm - Post show talkback

We welcome members of the community, students, and all who want to celebrate great writing.
Thursday, April 7 at 4:30pm to 6:30pm
UT Gardens, Knoxville, Friendship Pavillion, 2506 Jacob Dr, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
https://calendar.utk.edu/event/miss_as_garden_party#.YksuhejMLct