Marsha Mason, Matt Letscher in “Becky Shaw”, LA Theatre Works

Marsha Mason and Matt Letscher join Emily Bergl in “Becky Shaw” by Gina Gionfriddo, Bart DeLorenzo directs.

Becky Shaw – Bart DeLorenzo directs when L.A. Theatre Works records four-time Academy Award nominee Marsha Mason, Matt Letscher (Brothers and Sisters) and Emily Bergl (reprising her Off Broadway role) in the Pulitzer Prize finalist and smash Off-Broadway hit comedy by Obie Award-winner Gina Gionfriddo. When Suzanna decides to set her best friend Max up on a blind date with her husband’s mysterious co-worker, Becky Shaw, she sets into motion a series of cataclysmic events forever changing all of their lives. All performances will be recorded to air on L.A. Theatre Works’ syndicated radio theater series, which broadcasts weekly on public radio stations nationwide and can be streamed on demand at  latw.org.

L.A. Theatre Works’ radio theater series can be heard locally in Southern California on 89.3 KPCC every Saturday from 10 pm to midnight, and can also be streamed on demand at http://www.latw.org/.  L.A. Theatre Works can also be heard on the following stations (check local listings for broadcast times): 89.7 WGBH, Boston; 91.5 FM WBEZ, Chicago; 94.9 KUOW, Seattle; 90.1 WABE, Atlanta; 94.1 KPFA, Berkeley; 91.1 KRCB, North Bay (San Francisco); and in over 100 other markets nationwide.

Written by Gina Gionfriddo
Directed by Bart DeLorenzo
Starring Emily Bergl, Matt Letscher, Marsha Mason
Produced by Susan Albert Loewenberg

WHEN:
Wednesday, February 9 at 8 pm
Thursday, February 10 at 8 pm
Friday, February 11 at 8 pm
Saturday, February 12 at 2:30 pm
Sunday, February 13 at 4 pm

WHERE: L.A. THEATRE WORKS at the Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA  90049

TICKETS: $20 – $49,  L.A. Theatre Works Box Office (310) 827-0889 or latw.org

Frank Bette Center for the Arts in Alameda Poetry Contest for Kids

Frank  Bette Center for the Arts in Alameda, California announces a new Poetry Contest for Kids

SLAM! Poetry Contest for Youth – Every 2nd Friday of the Month hosted by Krystal Alvarez Starts Friday, February 11, 2011 from 7 – 9 pm, Must be 12-18 years old to participate in the SLAM! Open to public. Admission free; donations appreciated. Free refreshments (soda, cookies, and chips)

Location: Frank Bette Center for the Arts, 1601 Paru St. (corner of Lincoln Ave. ), Alameda , CA 94501. Tel: 510-523-6957. frankbettecenter.org, Hours: Wed-Sat 11-7 PM, Sun 11-5 PM

So you think you have something to say? Or maybe you just want to listen to what the youth has to say.  Then join the Frank Bette Center for the Arts for SLAM!, a poetry contest for the youth of Alameda . The contest will be held Friday, February 11, 2011 at the Frank Bette Center back gallery. SLAM! encourages children and teens between the ages of 12 and 18 to recite and perform their original poetic works. Slam poetry is an energetic means of expression that mixes music, rhythm, and rhyme in one creative performance.

About the Host:  Krystal is an English Master’s graduate from Florida International University . She is a Miami , Florida native but now resides in Alameda , California . In Miami , Krystal taught 11th grade English Literature at South Miami Senior High School and was a Freshman Composition instructor at Florida International University . Krystal’s specialty is modern and postmodern literature and working with teens.

Frank Bette Center for the Arts is a rich resource of visual, literary and performing arts.  ‘Unleash Creativity’   Frank Bette Center is an energetic catalyst weaving the arts into the fabric of the community, and believes creativity is everywhere and art is for everyone.

California Wine Producers Begin New Season with New Board

Sacramento, CA–Tapas is a nonprofit organization seeking to promote Tempranillo and other varietal wine grapes native to the Iberian Peninsula and wines produced from them in North America. At its Annual Meeting and Dinner at Tapa The World restaurant in Sacramento, the Tempranillo Advocates, Producers and Amigos Society (TAPAS) announced the results of the 2011 election for its Board of Directors.

Elected this year for two-year terms were:

Markus Bokisch, Bokisch Vineyards, bokischvineyards.com (continuing)
Earl Jones, Abacela Vineyards, abacela.com (continuing)
Les Martin, Red Lily Vineyards, redlilyvineyards.com (continuing)
Doug McCrea, Vina Salida, salidawine.com (newly elected)
Dorothy Schuler, Bodegas Paso Robles, bodegaspasorobles.com (newly elected)

The full Board for 2011 will consist of:

Jeff Stai, Twisted Oak Winery, twistedoak.com – President
Markus Bokisch, Bokisch Vineyards, bokischvineyards.com – Vice President
Stuart Spencer, St.Amant Winery, stamantwine.com – Secretary
Les Martin, Red Lily Vineyards, redlilyvineyards.com – Treasurer
Dave Corey, CORE Wine Company, corewine.com
Earl Jones, Abacela Vineyards, abacela.com
Doug McCrea, Vina Salida, salidawine.com
Christian Miller, Full Glass Research, fullglassresearch.com
Dorothy Schuler, Bodegas Paso Robles, bodegaspasorobles.com

TAPAS – Tempranillo Advocates, Producers and Amigos Society (TAPAS) is a trade association comprised of over one hundred members, tapasociety.org .