language arts vitae
Education:
2000 California State University, Bakersfield Courses taken in Writing and Literature,1999-2000: E300 Literature Analysis; E310 Advanced Writing; E316 English Literature; E319 Linguistics; E366 Race, Gender, Ethnicity.
1999 Associate in Arts in English; Graduate with honors. Bakersfield, CA.
1997 Certified Academic Peer Tutor Bakersfield College Tutoring Center, Bakersfield, CA.
Selected Employment:
2006-2002 Russo’s Books in the Marketplace Independent Bookseller, Bakersfield, CA. Staff, Russo's Representative to annual NCIBA conference, Children's Activity Leader, poetry group moderator.
1999-1996 Jostens Corporate Secretary.
1998-1996 Bakersfield College Tutoring Center Certified Academic Peer Tutor, Level One; ASL 1; English 1; English as a Second Language.
Reviews and Recognitions:
2006 The Bakersfield Californian April 7, 2006; Page B1 “Poetry Group Well-Versed.” Steven Mayer, Californian Staff Writer.
2001
The Bakersfield Californian July 13, 2001; Page E7 "Thumbelina production has thimble-full of talent." Chris Page, Staff Writer.
Selected Published Writings:
2009
The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, October 15, Eye Street; "That Burnin' Desire."
Bakotopia Magazine
October 15th through 28th issue, Cover Story; "Burn the Witch IV: Embracing the Elements of Change."
October 15th through 28th issue, page 5; "They'll Swallow Your Soul!"
October 1st through 14th issue, page 6; "Please Share My Umbrella."
September 17th through 30th issue, page 12; "Raze the Rouge!"
August 20th through September 2nd issue, Cover Story; "Word Up!"
May 28th through June 10th issue, page 6; "BECA Beckons You."
April 30th through May 13th issue, page 6; "For What It's Worth."
2008
Bakotopia Magazine October 2nd through 15th issue, Cover Story; "Burn The Witch III; The Value of Good Representation."
2007
The Random Times December 2007 edition, Page 5; “Sandrini’s offers poets an opportunity to speak their prose.”
Bakotopia Magazine December 13th through 26th issue, Page 16; “Bakobit: What’s Your Fresh Rhyme Scheme?”
The Random Times November 2007 edition, Page 5; “A picture is worth more than a thousand words;” “tea cup.”
Bakotopia Magazine Oct 5th through 18th issue; Page 15; “Bakobit: Burn The Witch II.”
The Random Times
October 2007 edition; Page 3; “Burn The Witch Returns.”
August 2007 edition, Page 7;“Pure Joy.”
July 2007 edition; Page 15; “Warning: Extremely foul language ahead.”
2006
“On Any Given Wednesday” Chapbook published by the Wednesday Night PrOsETRY Group of Russo’s Books, Bakersfield, CA. “Dare Me” page 14; “Mea Culpa” page 32; “Moth” page 36.
2001
"Thumbelina -the real story!" Playwright, music co-writer; 'Thumbelina' children's play. Producer, Emily Thiroux; Director, Ryan Shepherd. The Spotlight Theatre, Bakersfield, CA.
Associations:
2009-2007 The Spoken Word Spoken-word performance poetry. Hosted by Refresh Rhyme Scheme; Sandrini’s Restaurant and Bar, Bakersfield, CA.
2007-2005 Russo’s PrOsETRY Group Open-floor poetry circle. Group Moderator, 2007. Russo’s Books in the Marketplace, Bakersfield, CA.
2000 California State University, Bakersfield Courses taken in Writing and Literature,1999-2000: E300 Literature Analysis; E310 Advanced Writing; E316 English Literature; E319 Linguistics; E366 Race, Gender, Ethnicity.
1999 Associate in Arts in English; Graduate with honors. Bakersfield, CA.
1997 Certified Academic Peer Tutor Bakersfield College Tutoring Center, Bakersfield, CA.
Selected Employment:
2006-2002 Russo’s Books in the Marketplace Independent Bookseller, Bakersfield, CA. Staff, Russo's Representative to annual NCIBA conference, Children's Activity Leader, poetry group moderator.
1999-1996 Jostens Corporate Secretary.
1998-1996 Bakersfield College Tutoring Center Certified Academic Peer Tutor, Level One; ASL 1; English 1; English as a Second Language.
Reviews and Recognitions:
2006 The Bakersfield Californian April 7, 2006; Page B1 “Poetry Group Well-Versed.” Steven Mayer, Californian Staff Writer.
2001
The Bakersfield Californian July 13, 2001; Page E7 "Thumbelina production has thimble-full of talent." Chris Page, Staff Writer.
Selected Published Writings:
2009
The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, October 15, Eye Street; "That Burnin' Desire."
Bakotopia Magazine
October 15th through 28th issue, Cover Story; "Burn the Witch IV: Embracing the Elements of Change."
October 15th through 28th issue, page 5; "They'll Swallow Your Soul!"
October 1st through 14th issue, page 6; "Please Share My Umbrella."
September 17th through 30th issue, page 12; "Raze the Rouge!"
August 20th through September 2nd issue, Cover Story; "Word Up!"
May 28th through June 10th issue, page 6; "BECA Beckons You."
April 30th through May 13th issue, page 6; "For What It's Worth."
2008
Bakotopia Magazine October 2nd through 15th issue, Cover Story; "Burn The Witch III; The Value of Good Representation."
2007
The Random Times December 2007 edition, Page 5; “Sandrini’s offers poets an opportunity to speak their prose.”
Bakotopia Magazine December 13th through 26th issue, Page 16; “Bakobit: What’s Your Fresh Rhyme Scheme?”
The Random Times November 2007 edition, Page 5; “A picture is worth more than a thousand words;” “tea cup.”
Bakotopia Magazine Oct 5th through 18th issue; Page 15; “Bakobit: Burn The Witch II.”
The Random Times
October 2007 edition; Page 3; “Burn The Witch Returns.”
August 2007 edition, Page 7;“Pure Joy.”
July 2007 edition; Page 15; “Warning: Extremely foul language ahead.”
2006
“On Any Given Wednesday” Chapbook published by the Wednesday Night PrOsETRY Group of Russo’s Books, Bakersfield, CA. “Dare Me” page 14; “Mea Culpa” page 32; “Moth” page 36.
2001
"Thumbelina -the real story!" Playwright, music co-writer; 'Thumbelina' children's play. Producer, Emily Thiroux; Director, Ryan Shepherd. The Spotlight Theatre, Bakersfield, CA.
Associations:
2009-2007 The Spoken Word Spoken-word performance poetry. Hosted by Refresh Rhyme Scheme; Sandrini’s Restaurant and Bar, Bakersfield, CA.
2007-2005 Russo’s PrOsETRY Group Open-floor poetry circle. Group Moderator, 2007. Russo’s Books in the Marketplace, Bakersfield, CA.
'Thumbelina' production has thimble full of talent
by Chris Page, Californian staff writer
The Bakersfield Californian
Every year around the time schools let their pupils free for summer break, local theatre companies start licking their chops.
Youth theatre classes are a bread-and-butter staple for the companies, getting parents to shell out from $50 to $400 per tyke for weekday morning classes, --which, to their credit, are a heck of a lot more fun than actual summer school-- leading up to an eventual performance of a children's show (and that's a double-whammy: Make mom, dad and the grandparents shell out another fist full of dollars for tickets to the show).
Every local theatre company has given these classes a go at one point or another, with varying degrees of success (uncertified, uninspiring teaching; unstructured classes; "My little Timmy only got TWO lines in the entire play!").
Thankfully, the Spotlight Theatre is giving its summer classes a good twist, as evident in young productions like the current offering, "Thumbelina."
It is the product of a five-week summer session, every weekday morning, at $200 a head.
But get this: The show is actually worth watching --even for someone not related to a cast member. that's virtually unheard of in these kinds of productions.
Chalk it up to the fact that the Spotlight isn't going for the quick "cutesy"jab in 'Thumbelina,' which it could have done simply retelling the classic fairy tale of a wee girl with an angel's singing voice, born in a flower but raised by an infertile woman with maternal pangs.
Parade some cherubic kids in adorable costumes across the stage, saying some ga-ga lines --who in the audience wouldn't melt?
Instead, this 'Thumbelina' --brilliantly written by Cal State Bakersfield Student Jen Raven-- transforms the tale into one of mistaken identity.
Little Maia (played by Taylor Tobias) is raised by Mother Goose (Brynnan May) with a wild imagination and a head full of fairy tales (even bad ones from Goose's brother, Grimm, ha ha). Maia puts a thimble on her head and decides she wants to be called Princess Thimbelina --which everyone confuses for "Thumbelina."
Because she's a "princess," sleezy Eddie Greenback (Dolan York, the only boy in the cast) kidnaps her and smooches her. His brother, he explains, once kissed a princess and turned into a prince himself --with a castle and everything!
What follows is a fantastic journey through the Underground, with little Thumbie meeting Macy Caterpillar (Cortney LaKroix), friendly Miss Lucy Mouse (promising young actress Alexis Justice), and a whole slew of other creature characters getting ready for the annual spring shin-dig.
When they mistake Thumbie for a songbird, the animals assign her the task of directing the music for the festival. Little do they know, though, that Mama Goose is tone-deaf, and Thumbie can't sing worth a lick.
When she takes to the stage to croon an opera, her jagged warble is bad enough to make ears bleed.
We're guided along the play by a four-pack of narrators --beetles, really, and they're in a band together (hee-hee) --who also provide much of the semi-sarcastic humor in 'Thumbelina.' Those beetles (Kendall LaKroix, Jacklyn Hine, Casey Jimenez and Alysha Pinckard) are too rad for words.
Two actors really stand out from the bunch, though. (Looking for the stars is a high point in any student dramatical performance.) Dolan gets praise for his multi-character switching, going from a gangster-talkin' Greenback to a dorky, big-bellied Sir Edwin Thaddeus Mole --the leader of the Underground-- at a moment's notice. He reminds me of a pint-sized John Leguizamo.
And then there's Thumbelina herself, Taylor, who shrieks and shrills her way hilariously as the silly girl lost inside her imagination. Curly-haired and big-grinned, Taylor comes off like a "Corrina, Corrina"-era Tina Majorino.
Summer student shows have a lot working against them --whether it's a sappy, stupid script or not enough education before the children are put onstage-- so it's refreshing to see the Spotlight doing it well.
'Thumbelina' has thimble full of talent
The Bakersfield Californian
E-7 and E-20 Friday, July 13, 2001
Chris Page, Californian staff writer
The Bakersfield Californian
Every year around the time schools let their pupils free for summer break, local theatre companies start licking their chops.
Youth theatre classes are a bread-and-butter staple for the companies, getting parents to shell out from $50 to $400 per tyke for weekday morning classes, --which, to their credit, are a heck of a lot more fun than actual summer school-- leading up to an eventual performance of a children's show (and that's a double-whammy: Make mom, dad and the grandparents shell out another fist full of dollars for tickets to the show).
Every local theatre company has given these classes a go at one point or another, with varying degrees of success (uncertified, uninspiring teaching; unstructured classes; "My little Timmy only got TWO lines in the entire play!").
Thankfully, the Spotlight Theatre is giving its summer classes a good twist, as evident in young productions like the current offering, "Thumbelina."
It is the product of a five-week summer session, every weekday morning, at $200 a head.
But get this: The show is actually worth watching --even for someone not related to a cast member. that's virtually unheard of in these kinds of productions.
Chalk it up to the fact that the Spotlight isn't going for the quick "cutesy"jab in 'Thumbelina,' which it could have done simply retelling the classic fairy tale of a wee girl with an angel's singing voice, born in a flower but raised by an infertile woman with maternal pangs.
Parade some cherubic kids in adorable costumes across the stage, saying some ga-ga lines --who in the audience wouldn't melt?
Instead, this 'Thumbelina' --brilliantly written by Cal State Bakersfield Student Jen Raven-- transforms the tale into one of mistaken identity.
Little Maia (played by Taylor Tobias) is raised by Mother Goose (Brynnan May) with a wild imagination and a head full of fairy tales (even bad ones from Goose's brother, Grimm, ha ha). Maia puts a thimble on her head and decides she wants to be called Princess Thimbelina --which everyone confuses for "Thumbelina."
Because she's a "princess," sleezy Eddie Greenback (Dolan York, the only boy in the cast) kidnaps her and smooches her. His brother, he explains, once kissed a princess and turned into a prince himself --with a castle and everything!
What follows is a fantastic journey through the Underground, with little Thumbie meeting Macy Caterpillar (Cortney LaKroix), friendly Miss Lucy Mouse (promising young actress Alexis Justice), and a whole slew of other creature characters getting ready for the annual spring shin-dig.
When they mistake Thumbie for a songbird, the animals assign her the task of directing the music for the festival. Little do they know, though, that Mama Goose is tone-deaf, and Thumbie can't sing worth a lick.
When she takes to the stage to croon an opera, her jagged warble is bad enough to make ears bleed.
We're guided along the play by a four-pack of narrators --beetles, really, and they're in a band together (hee-hee) --who also provide much of the semi-sarcastic humor in 'Thumbelina.' Those beetles (Kendall LaKroix, Jacklyn Hine, Casey Jimenez and Alysha Pinckard) are too rad for words.
Two actors really stand out from the bunch, though. (Looking for the stars is a high point in any student dramatical performance.) Dolan gets praise for his multi-character switching, going from a gangster-talkin' Greenback to a dorky, big-bellied Sir Edwin Thaddeus Mole --the leader of the Underground-- at a moment's notice. He reminds me of a pint-sized John Leguizamo.
And then there's Thumbelina herself, Taylor, who shrieks and shrills her way hilariously as the silly girl lost inside her imagination. Curly-haired and big-grinned, Taylor comes off like a "Corrina, Corrina"-era Tina Majorino.
Summer student shows have a lot working against them --whether it's a sappy, stupid script or not enough education before the children are put onstage-- so it's refreshing to see the Spotlight doing it well.
'Thumbelina' has thimble full of talent
The Bakersfield Californian
E-7 and E-20 Friday, July 13, 2001
Chris Page, Californian staff writer
