Social justice begins with giving voice. Writers and non-writers are welcome in the safe and warm atmosphere of this workshop where we'll explore what makes a good monologue dramatically satisfying, and how it can be used on its own or as part of a larger theatre piece. We'll take time to write as well as to reflect. If you are working on a monologue, please bring it with you; otherwise, come start a new one. Personal as well as issue-oriented writing is welcome.

As noted in Books, Fat Girl is a theatrical evening as well as a book. I have also written and performed two other theatre pieces.

Women On Fire, is an evening of poetic monologues. Eleven female voices, diverse in character and calling, burn variously with pain, with passion, fear, or wisdom, and illuminate the lives of contemporary women. It played Off-Broadway to sellout crowds and critical acclaim, garnering a nomination for a Lucille Lortel Award as Best Solo Show 2004. It’s published by Samuel French.

Stand-up Dreams is a one-woman re-enactment of twenty-two of the funniest, juiciest, quirkiest and most provocative dreams hand-picked from twelve years of my dream journals.

I perform my poems regularly throughout the Hudson Valley, for Voices of the Valley in Kingston, Calling All Poets in Beacon, The Woodstock Poetry Society, Poetry on the Loose in Middletown, and Wordsworth Coffeehouse at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Catskills in Kingston.

Poets and Writers has awarded me several grants for poetry performance throughout the Hudson Valley.

In 1987, I founded The Art Garden, a performing literary magazine staged four times yearly at the Garrison Art Center in Garrison, NY. I still produce, host and write for The Art Garden, now a semi-annual event at The Philipstown Depot Theatre in Garrison, New York.

TEACHING WORDS — workshops for children and writers

I have extensive experience teaching poetry to children. I have offered poetry workshops at New York City schools (including Trinity and Wadleigh) as well as schools in the Hudson Valley. I have also presented at Children’s Literature Conferences at NYU and Vassar College.

I have taught a five-week course called The Young Writer, for writers 10-11 years old, focusing on the writing process.

I have also presented at Vassar Prep and Perf, a workshop for writers on how to prepare and perform their work.