Waterline Writers Presents Loss & Profit: Writing from Personal Tragedy

On Sunday September 16th  at 7 PM, Waterline Writers will present Loss & Profit: Writing from Personal Tragedy, its 8th reading event at Water Street Studios , 160 S. Water Street in Batavia IL. The readings will include poetry, prose, spoken word performance, and a film excerpt from the play pool (no water). The evening will culminate in a discussion about the ways in which artists and writers are driven to transform what they see and experience into artistic form and expression, even--perhaps especially--in the case of deep personal loss and tragedy. Their own conflicts about profiting artistically or financially from that loss are often compounded by the reactions of others, or the norms of their culture. Led by Robin Metz, who will read from Unbidden Angel, winner of the Rainer Maria Rilke International Poetry Prize, the discussion promises to be both candid and nuanced.

We will also hear two writers brought to us by publisher Mike O’Mary of Dream of Things Publishing. Dina Kucera will read from Everything I Never Wanted to Be and Madeline Sharples will read from Leaving the Hall Light On. In keeping with our tradition of presenting talented unpublished writers, we are also excited to introduce Adrienne Novy in spoken word performance.  And resident poet Frank Rutledge will add his inimitable style to the evening.

We will also present a filmed excerpt from Vitalist Theater’s pool (no water), directed by Liz Carlin-Metz at The Greenhouse Theater Center, in Chicago through Sept 30. Its script by Mark Ravenhill brings four artists who witness a tragic accident to dark crossroads, with decisions to be made and prices to be paid as they struggle with their commitment to Art. In its current incarnation under Liz’s spell, pool (no water) incorporates the bold and fluid use of contact improvisation to bring the script and the pool to life.