In 2017, why not get involved with The American Poetry Theater and just say what's on your mind? Make your comments, state your piece, have courage, maintain your faith, believe in love, fight for children, fight for the poor, the dispossessed. Remember Flint, remember Standing Rock, remember all those locked down in the gulag-plantation-prison-system, remember Malcolm, King, Gandhi, remember your ancestors, your grandparents, your father, your mother, do it for your kids, or my kids, do it for all the kids. Stop complaining in your head, thinking the worst, contemplating suicide, living in despair. Speak, preach, support.

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Drove home in the rain from Asbury Park public library where I attended another meeting of the Dialogue Group- a group of concern, intelligent cirtizens who try to improve the welfare of the community. After the meeting, spoke privately with a wise black woman who is a wisdom keeper.  She told me she witnessed the lynching of her uncle in Florida when she was a girl.  The two of us sat there, I assume close in age, and contEmplated soberly the fate of America now that Trump has been elected.  I urged her to be sure to send me some of her wisdom in a monologue for TAPT's late February production of The American Flag: Trumped.  I asked her to tell us about the lynching and to draw whatever connections she wants to our current situation.  Outside in the rain we hugged and she said to me, "peace and love, peace and love."

It looks like this will be the title of our Feb 26-28, 2017 show at House of Independents in Asbury Park.
I've sent out a call for monologues today to a variety of people, including actors, writers, poets, activists, and conscientous and conscious friends.  I've also given the word to TAPT actors and personnel that the process begins for the new play.  There is a  December 15th deadline for submission of monologues by anyone who wants to have his/her remarks  considered for the play.  Naturally, not everyone's work can make the cut since the play will likely run 60 to 90 minutes.  For those of you who don't know, The American Flag: 50 States of Being in America is our signature production which we do annually. This is our third year. Each year the play differs since we deal with current events and conditions in America.

So, if you want to be considered for this important (they're all important!) production, send your monologues (poems are monologues too) to [email protected] or call Rich at 732-822-4338 if you have any questions.  This will be a powerful show with our reactions to the election and our concerns for the future.  As always, TAPT is a blues there for the people. And there is much to be blue about.  But, too, in keeping with the orgins of the blues in America's slavery foundation, TAPT turns pain into beauty. Be part of it, as a writer, actor, or audience... rpq