As a former student of theater at UNM, I vividly recall the excitement generated by the Words Afire Festival. It meant an opportunity for more aspiring actors to get stage time and budding playwrights to see their works actually performed. Months of preparation madness followed by weeks of performances created a draining, frenzied chaos worth every moment. Words Afire is a boon to the Albuquerque theater scene and we’re lucky to have it. This year’s festival opens on Thursday, April 17, with Pajaros de Mi Sangre: My Blood Birds by Don Garcia at Rodey Theatre and The Feather by Mars Mråz at Theatre X. Tickets to all shows at Rodey are $15 general, $10 seniors and $7 students, and $10 general, $8 seniors and $7 students at Theatre X, available at the UNM ticket office (925-5858). Keep an eye on the Arts Calendar for a complete list of all Words Afire productions or visit wordsafire.unm.edu. Support our university’s theater program—it cultivates the future of performance art in our city.
Book Art On The Loose
Mark Bernahl cuts up books—not for protest but creative need. He carefully removes bits and pieces of each page to create elaborate, suspended 3D images. Bernahl took one of his altered books and hid it somewhere in the Main Library in downtown Albuquerque. It’s there, waiting to be found, and whoever does—it’s yours. All Bernahl asks in return is for the finder to hide it in another library—any other library—after enjoying it for one year. Happy hunting.
Happy B-Day, Stove
On Saturday, April 19, Stove (114 Morningside NE) will be one year old. Congrats, Stovers, now party it up. Join in the hootenanny starting at 4:20 p.m. Festivities include a reception for its current gallery exhibit, Paper , and music by Yoda’s House, Eva Ave., Salad the Czar and DJs Smash13 and Joss. For more info, visit www.stoveagroupproject.com or see "Stove Solid" in the music section of our April 10-16 issue.
Slam Finals
Albuquerque’s slam poets are, well, a city treasure. Ever since our home team took the national title in 2005, we can’t stop gloating. And this year, we want the bragging rights again. Find out who will represent the 505 at this year’s National Poetry Slam Championship during the ABQ Slams Poetry Slam-Off finals on Saturday, April 19, at 7 p.m. at the National Hispanic Cultural Center. Tickets are $8 general and $5 students/seniors at TicketMaster and the NHCC box office. For more info, visit www.abqslams.org.
