Big Read Keynote

Saturday, November 10, 2007, 6:30 p.m. An Evening Wrapped in Rainbows: Keynote Speaker will be Valerie Boyd, author of Wrapped in Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston. The keynote will take place in the Magnolia Room, University Center, Valdosta State University.

Reader's Theatre a Success!

The Reader's Theater was a huge success Friday night. Many thanks to the performers and Deborah Morgan!

Professor Deborah Morgan directed and adapted scenes from Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God for the Readers' Theatre.

Joyful VSU students attend the Readers’ Theatre performance at Odum Library, part of The Big Read.











The audience enjoys popcorn before the Readers’ Theatre performance.












The Readers’ Theatre Players, left to right: (floor) Kelly Murray, Ashley Dent, (middle row) Christian Orr, April Weaver, Myles Grier, (top row) Peter Colon, Chauntae Pink, Deborah Morgan, and Crystal Williams









April Weaver, Chauntae Pink, and College of the Arts Dean John C. Gaston enjoy the reception.

Zora Gift Basket Drawing

A gift basket will be given away at the Keynote event, “An Evening Wrapped in Rainbows,” November 10, 2007 in the Magnolia Room of the University Center, Valdosta State University.

All attending the Keynote will be entered in a drawing to win the basket. All who signed up at the Kickoff for a book discussion group are already entered. The basket includes the following items:

Books:

• Boyd, Valerie. Wrapped in Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston.
• Hurston, Lucy. Speak, So You Can Speak Again: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston.
• Hurston, Zora Neale. I Love Myself When I Am Laughing ... and Then Again When I Am Looking Mean and Impressive: A Zora Neale Hurston Reader.
• Lewis, David, ed. The Portable Harlem Renaissance Reader.
• Watson, Steven. The Harlem Renaissance: Hub of African-American Culture, 1920-1930.

Books for children and young adults:

• Giovanni, Nikki. Shimmy Shimmy Shimmy Like My Sister Kate: Looking At The Harlem Renaissance Through Poems.
• Hill, Laban Carrick. Harlem Stomp! A Cultural History of the Harlem Renaissance.
• Hurston, Zora Neale, Joyce Carol Thomas, Faith Ringgold. The Three Witches.
• Hurston, Zora Neale, Joyce Carol Thomas, Christopher Myers. Lies and Other Tall Tales.
• Hurston, Zora Neale, Joyce Carol Thomas, Ann Tanksley. The Six Fools.

DVD video:

• Their Eyes were Watching God (film adaptation of Hurston's novel)

Miscellaneous:

• Zora Neale Hurston finger puppet/magnet
• Zora Neale Hurston greeting card
• Harlem Renaissance map/walking tour
• Harlem Renaissance writers postcard
• Portrait of Hurston (5” x 7” giclee print)

The Big Read in Valdosta: Chidren's and Youth Festival

Saturday, November 3, 2007, 9:00 a.m. thru 2:00 p.m. Children's and Youth Festival at Valdosta-Lowndes County Public Library, Valdosta, GA. The festival will include an author reading by Joyce Carol Thomas, storytelling, poetry contests, singing and dancing. Arrangements for the appearance of Joyce Carol Thomas made through HarperCollins Speakers Bureau, NY, NY. All ages will enjoy the festival so bring the entire family!

The Big Read Kickoff Was A Giant Success

Valdosta came out to celebrate the kickoff of the Big Read in Valdosta!

The Valdosta Daily Times story.






















Nadine Whitfield as Zora Neale Hurston
















Victory Temple Evangelistic Center Cheerleaders
















Valdosta Mayor John J. Fretti, Laverne Lewis-Gaskins and Dr. Shirley Hardin
















View of the Kickoff
















Valdosta Asian Cultural Association Lion is offered a snack















Greta Smidt, Miss Valdosta Outstanding Teen, entertains at The Big Read Kickoff

















Church at Pine Hill's Tribe of Judah Step Team
















Emily Rogers, Martiez Moore and Nadine Whitfield raffle a copy of Their Eyes Were Watching God

The Big Read Kick-Off!!!

Sunday, October 14, 2007, 2:00-5:00 p.m. The Big Read Kick-Off will take place at John W. Saunders Memorial Park, 1151 River Street Valdosta, GA. (Formerly known as Barber Park). Click here to print a copy of a map to John W. Saunders Memorial Park. There will be food, music, reading, and copies of Their Eyes Were Watching God will be given away while supplies last to people signing up for a book discussion group.