The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest.
Over a period of 8 weeks, Hundreds participated in the NEA BIG READ of
Steinbeck’s THE GRAPES OF WRATH
(Read more on THE GRAPES OF WRATH-click here)
21 parishes of North Louisiana registered between
OCTOBER 1 – 10, 2009 to sign up
and received a FREE BOOK…
or came to the
TRIUMPH OVER TRAGEDY KICKOFF
At the 2009 Red River Revel Arts Festival
in Shreveport, LA to
Enjoy “Woody Sez” & “Pledged To Read”
More on WOODY SEZ: A joyous, toe-tapping, and moving theatrical concert event that uses Woody’s words, and over twenty-five of Woody’s songs to transport the audience through the fascinating, beautiful, and sometimes tragic life of Woody Guthrie. Performed by a talented group of four versatile actor/musicians who not only play 15 instruments ranging from guitar and fiddle to jaw harp and dulcimer, but they also bring to life the many people who are the fabric of Woody Guthrie’s amazing story. The combination of the cast’s infectious enjoyment, Woody’s incredible journey, and a stirring mix of moving ballads and energetic foot-stompers make this a must see. Woody Guthrie gave voice to the beauty and struggles of the common man and WOODY SEZ gives the same to the spirit of the man himself.
BOOKS WERE DISTRIBUTION AT THESE SITES:
Monroe’s “Downtown Gallery Crawl”
Arcadia: BIENVILLE PARISH – Bienville Parish Library, 2768 Maple St., (318) 263-7410
Bastrop: MOREHOUSE PARISH – Morehouse Parish Library, 524 E. Madison St., (318) 281-3696
Bossier City: BOSSIER PARISH – Bossier Parish Central Library, 2206 Beckett Street, (318)746-1693
Homer: CLAIBORNE PARISH – Raven Book Store, 600 No. Main St. (318) 927-9555
Jonesboro: JACKSON PARISH – Jackson Parish Library, 614 Polk St., (318) 259-5697
Lake Providence: EAST CARROLL – East Carroll Parish Library, 109 Sparrow St., (318) 559-2615
Mansfield: DESOTO PARISH – DeSoto Parish Library, 109 Crosby St., (318) 872-6100
Many: SABINE PARISH – Sabine Parish Library, 705 Main St., (318) 256-4150
Minden: WEBSTER PARISH – The Farm, 417 East Union, (318) 927-2888
Monroe: OUACHITA PARISH – Biedenharn Museum, 2006 Riverside Dr., (318)387-5281
Monroe: CALDWELL PARISH – Caldwell Parish Library, 211 Jackson St., (318) 649-2259
Natchitoches: NATCHITOCHES PARISH – Natchitoches Parish Library, 450 Second St., (318) 357-3280.
Oak Grove: WEST CARROLL PARISH – West Carroll Public Library, HWY 17 & Marietta St., (318) 428-4100
Rayville: RICHLAND PARISH – Richland Arts Council, 107 Glenda St., 318) 669-4434
Ruston: LINCOLN PARISH – Lincoln Parish Library, 910 N. Trenton St., (318)251-5030
Shreveport: CADDO PARISH – Shreve Memorial Libraries (318) 226-5890, www.shreve-lib.org
St. Joseph: TENSAS PARISH – St. Joseph Arts, Inc., US Highway 65, (318) 766-3344
Tallulah: MADISON PARISH – Hermione Museum, 315 N. Mulberry St., (318) 574-0082
Winnsboro: FRANKLIN PARISH – Princess Theatre, 714 Prairie St., (318) 435-6299
RED RIVER PARISH – Third Thursday Book Club
Bernice: UNION PARISH – Bernice Town Hall, U.S. Hwy 167/LA Hwy 2, (318) 243-1501
BOOK DISCUSSIONS:
Alexandyr Kent, reporter for the Shreveport Times, broke down the book chapter-by-chapter on his daily BLOG (Monday-Friday from October 5 – November 23) at www.shreveporttimes.com. He also had a weekly podcast with special guests discussing John Steinbeck and “The Grapes Of Wrath.”
DR. SUSAN SHILLINGLAW, foremost scholar on John Steinbeck spoke at Libraries, Universities, and schools in FREE one-hour talks during October 23rd through November 1st across the 21 parishes of North Louisiana. She shared about John Steinbeck’s life and writings. Dr. Susan Shillinglaw is a professor of English at San Jose State University and Scholar-in-Residence at the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas. Previously, she was director of the Center for Steinbeck Studies at San Jose State University and edited the award-winning journal Steinbeck Studies.
For those who enjoy the fine art of cinema created from literary works, the ROBINSON FILM CENTER showed “The Grapes Of Wrath” Movie at a number of locations on their blow-up screen: The Farm in Minden, Haynesville Fair Building, Red River High School in Coushatta, Many City Park, William Peter Park in Greenwood, Richland High Arts Center, Tensas Community Center, Princess Theatre in Winnsboro.
