(NEW YORK, NY) -- This month, Literature to Life (LTL) will bring two of its Signature titles to two events that are free and open to the public, hosted in New York City and Queens public libraries. The first event, presented in partnership with the Literary Freedom Project, will take place on Saturday, October 5 at 1:30pm at Bronx Library Center. The second will take place on Saturday, October 19 at 3:30pm at Langston Hughes Library as part of their annual Literary Arts Festival.
On October 5th at the Bronx Library Center, LTL will present a selection of James Baldwin's iconic novel If Beale Street Could Talk. Told from the perspective of its young heroine, this is the story of one family’s fight for justice in a society where institutional discrimination has the power to destroy lives, a theme that resonates today with audiences from all walks of life. Adapted and directed by Co–Founding Artistic Director Elise Thoron, the production features a powerful performance by actor Channie Waites. Directly following the performance, a community discussion will be led by Company Manager Kelvin Grullon.
Tickets are free but pre-registration is required: https://www.showclix.com/event/Beale-Street
This project is co-presented by the Bronx-based Literary Freedom Project, an arts organization focused on the significant role cultural identity plays in the development of intelligent, creative, and engaged communities. LFP hosts One Book One Bronx, a weekly book club that facilitates restorative conversations on a diverse selection of books. The discussions reflect the borough's racial, economic, and gender demographics and aim to build bridges for engagement while reigniting a passion for reading. This year, One Book One Bronx honors the lasting legacy of activist, scholar, and writer James Baldwin with a series of discussions, panels, screenings, and wellness, focusing on a wide range of literary works and ideas. This LTL event is being held in conjunction with this initiative.
LTL will return to Langston Hughes Library on October 19, presenting mini-performances of If Beale Street Could Talk and its newest title, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez, performed by Elizabeth Raquel Ramirez. The performances will be part of the library’s Literary Arts Festival. This year's theme is "Power of the Written Word," and events include a spoken word artist, an author conversation, a banned books discussion, and performances. The festival is from 12:00pm-5:00pm, and LTL’s performances will close out the day, beginning at 3:30pm. There will be a post-show conversation led by Teaching Artist Ana Maria Jomolca, who adapted and directed I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter.
Literature to Life (LTL) is a performance-based literacy organization that presents professionally staged verbatim adaptations of American literary classics. Initially conceived as the educational program of the renowned American Place Theatre, LTL is now an independent organization with a mission to perform great books that inspire young people to read and become authors of their own lives.With a roster of books by authors such as Richard Wright, Lois Lowry, James Baldwin, Junot Díaz, Kao Kalia Yang, and more, LTL performs nationally in performing arts centers, schools, libraries, and correctional facilities.
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