Poetry Guild Hosts McNiece At New Venue Tonight

One Island Family, the Southernmost UU congregation, at 801 Georgia St. is the new, hopefully temporary venue at which lauded poet, actor, singer and longtime Key West visitor Ray McNiece will be spotlighted by the Key West Poetry Guild tonight at 7 p.m.

McNiece, of Cleveland, Ohio, is the author of eight books of poems and monologues, two major theater works, two music/poetry collaborations and more. The Orlando Sentinel, reporting on Ray’s solo show at the Fringe Festival, called him “a modern day descendant of Woody Guthrie. He has a way with words and a wry sense of humor.” He also toured Russia with Yevgeny Yevtushenko.

Ray McNiece has been presenting his shows, writing and performance workshops for students from kindergarten through college for over 25 years. Highlights of past tours include a keynote address shared with Robert Bly at the First Coast Writer’s Conference, a featured reading at the opening of City Light’s Italia in Florence with Lawrence Ferlinghetti and a performance with his band Tongue in Groove at the Starwood Festival, opening for legendary drummer Babatunde Oluntunje.

He has received numerous awards for his writing and performance and captained two National Poetry Slam Championship teams (’92 Boston, ’94 Cleveland) and won the Arkansas Grand Slam, the largest performance poetry prize ever awarded. For more information please go to his web page www.raymcniece.com.

All are welcome to attend guild meetings and are invited to participate in additional lightning rounds, reading one original poem per round. Listeners are especilly welcome; Nance Boylan will moerate. For information phone (305) 393-7844.

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