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What's Up With Me Lately...


OK! OK! So I'm a big slacker AGAIN who hasn't updated this page since December.  I still have all sorts of swell excuses...

So here is the JANUARY/FEBRUARY/MARCH UPDATE
This will be a bit of a haphazard update and I'm probably missing stuff I did, but shucks.  Whatcha gonna do?  There's not enough hours in the day so I'm taking a short haitus on teaching at Rikers and I am now teaching underserved youth with PAL.  Turns out the Police Athletic Leauge likes for kids to learn poetry after-school. Who knew?  I am all for it!  In January  I performed in Snippets at Nuyorican poets cafe.  Great turnout and wonderful people in the show. Ellan Hagen is SOOOO funny!  I produced a fun playreading party with writer/performers/women of color Karen Gibson Ric, Kendra Ware, Tanisha Brady Christie, and Sydnee Stewert at Danny Simons gallery.  He was mad cool to let us use his space.  That month I also performed at several fundraisers for Pedro Pietri so he could get a special cancer treatment.  I really loved the way lots of people in the poetry community came together and it felt good to be helping out.  I wish I could have done more.  Pedro passed away a few weeks ago. poets greive.  February was an exciting month for me because I applied for graduate school. (performance studies ma at nyu)  It was a lot of hard work that made my brain hurt.  Then I produced a reading with Smokin WordShop (Smokin Word's playwriting workshop) at Manhattan Theatre Club featuring the work of Yolanda Wilkinson, Dyalekt, Jesse Alick, Phoenix Soliel, and Kyana Brindle.  DJ Rev Lee played music in between pieces and 2 very cool MC's introduced the plays in rhyme.  The turn out was INSANE. We had gift bags and food and it was all free.  It all took place on my birthday. February 29!  I am aging. golly.  I had a terrible cold however so I was unable to party hardy.    The next evening I had a great feature at Hidden Treasure, this poetry reading that takes place in a bar in the Bronx. It was one of the most pleasurable poetry performences I've done in a while.  I think it's because the majority of the audience members were not poets...I'm pretty sure it wasn't the fever.  Last weekend Smokin Word's short film "Sub-Level" was in The Reel Sisters film festival.  (in the spike lee screening room!)  right on!  Coming up this month I'm performing in GIRLSALON (I'm on thier greatest hits CD wheee!) and  WORD/LIFE at Bluestockings.  I've succesfully conquered the basics of dreamweaver and am currently being thwarted by trying to create a slide show.

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OK! OK!  So I am a great big slacker who hasn't updated this page since August. But I have all sorts of swell excuses.  I've been really busy and ummm... well, that's about it.  here's what's been going on artistically.  Perhaps one of these days I'll start a page for personal anecdotes cause I got quite a few, baby!

So here is the SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER/DECEMBER UPDATE
In the past couple of months I started training with Community Word Project and am now teaching a poetry class at Rikers Island. My short play BodyWork was produced by The Drilling Company a real grovy theatre company that I heartily support. I also did The Ladies on The Mic 1 year Aniversary which was a big show with a lot of cool ladies. With my company Smokin Word we produced a short film SUB-LEVEL, helped with The Nuyorican Poets Cafe Benefit at Town Hall, my unfinished play 6 Hits got accepted into the The DownTown Urban Theatre Festival, and we had a big CD release part and fundraiser for our first recording project "Brooklyn to Harlem: Upward Movement"...Yeah that's about it. (I might have forgot some stuff)  Whew! I am looking forward to the New Year.  I've been teaching myself DreamWeaver and I'm gonna make this site look sharp!..or at least maybe a little less lame. :)

AUGUST UPDATE
This yahoo group is making me SO much more responsible. You should JOIN THE YAHOO GROUP! I had a great vacation in Montana earlier this month and my sister had a healthy baby boy. My brohter in law took some pictures of me so stay tuned for those, they are pretty snazzy!. Smokin Word is working on a bunch of projects that include a workshop series and a CD. Our BIG AUDITION has had to be rescheduled due to lack of power. I am not hating on the Black Out however, it got me the day off of work (paid) and that's a good thing! It was just like a snow day...only way hotter.
Any hoo-- I have a play that I wrote that is getting a reading by KingWorks Theatre Company. It's free and the play is a one act so it should actually be an early evening! The play is called "Divining" and it's about race, and sexuality, and religion, and genetics and performing gender, and some other stuff, with a little sci-fi twist-ola. Details are off to the side. For more updates about poetry gigs and stuff join my yahoo group and I'll be sure to email ya...probably :)

JULY UPDATE Look at me posting the gig BEFORE it happens. :)
This weekend you can find me at Goddess Fest in the Catskills!CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR GODDESS FEST
It's a fun filled weekend featuring the best in entertainment, relaxation, and rejuvination produced by Susannah Perlman and Janine Avril of GirlSalon. July 25-27 at The Full Moon Resort there will be workshops activities and of course cool performances: Betty, Yolanda Wilkenson, Murray Hill,Wau Wau Sisters, and more (I'm tired of typing!) Go to the website to find out about the cool haps and to register. I'm mad excited. It'll be a pleasure not only to perform, but to just be there. Free Yoga,Yo!

JUNE and JULY Will I ever get the hang of posting my performance dates BEFORE the gig? Well here's a very quick update. Sick Rhymes was in the NYC hip-hop theatre fest and got a great review on backstage.com THE GOOD REVIEW!I did some shows, starred in the low budget indie flick "TerrorMarketers"produced by Lee Sobel'sLo Fi Entertainment, got published in Signifyin Harlem and finally started a Claudia Alick yahoo group for all of my "fans".

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March and April 2003 Well I haven't gotten any better at updating this thing. I totally missed doing an update for March and now it's mid April. Things have been mad busy, but tons 'o fun too. Taping for Def Poetry Jam was awesome! I got a little badge that said TALENT and there was free food and cool poets and a hotel room with cable. The March 30th Flowetry Anti War Poetry reading looked great and the line up was hot! Sadly the weather was not, it was rainy and the audience was rather thin. It was a great show however and we all learned about the issues. March 31 was the staged reading of "SIX HITS". It was very well attended. Vivian of Softskin Productions taped it and the talkback was a hoot. I got some great feedback and it'll help me finish that unwieldy play. So now for April---- Got the Smokin Word taxes done-whew! and now it's time to find a new managing director for the company. This month I've slammed at Nuyorican on a Friday night and I acted in a reading of Jesse Alick's new play "SLEEP AWAKE" produced by Subjective Theatre Company...later this month I will be slamming in the semi finals for Bar 13(4/28), performing with Ladies on the Mic(4/23), doing an apperance at an acting class at NYU(4/23) and doing an appearance with... (I think it's called Youth Speaks 4/30) I'll be sure to list all engangments under gigs...later. peace!

PAST UPDATES February 2003 Just got booked on Def Poetry Jam! That'll be taping in March. Also the smokin word fundraiser was a big success.January 2003 Please do not believe I haven't been doing anything since October. I'm just terrible about updating this page, but I PROMISE to do better from now on! This month I'm doing a reading at The Schomburg, and preparing for Smokin Word's erotic slam fundraiser feb 10, and the production "6 Hits" in March. Also I will be acting in "Upbeat" a play by Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis...so it will be a busy few months. Lets hop I keep you all updated. If you ever have any questions about future gigs, just email me! I perform somewhere just about every week. Thanks for you patience!
October 6 is the Smokin Word Reading reception featuring 45 minutes of original hip-hop theatre material by me. There will also be free food and drinks. (I wanted to make it an event that I would want to attend!) I have been reading and slamming at Urbana at the Bowery Poetry Bar, but as I am working on new material it is hit or miss as to whether or not you will catch me there. This month is all about writing and producing.

So September is full of paper work, meetings, and working on new material. Smokin' Word has officially become non-profit so any donations are tax deductable! Wha hoo. Now if I could just get people to give me money. We are preparing for a reading in October, a fund raiser in November, and a full production in January. Join the Smokin' Word yahoo group to get updates on all the happening events.
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August has been a good month. A wonderful film maker filmed a documetary about me and my poetry. I've gotten back into the slam scene and performed at Nuyorican, Bowery Poetry Bar, The Prep for Rep at Paisley and scored second place at a slam at The Sugar Hill Bistro. I was also cast in a music video, but (sad!) I can't do it cause it's filming on the 25th. I have poetry performance and book signing in Montana. That should be FUN! I have also been cast in a reading that performs twice at the end of the month. Stay tuned for the September announcments.

FROM TERRORMARKETERS

GIGS

SAT June 12
I'll be doing a small set in a fun evening of hip-hop for a good cause! These are good people!

Eyesinfinite Film Festival Presents
movement in motion artist & activist collective & the ladies on the mic network The Tao & The Baccalaureate School For Global Education Filmmakers

GLOBAL ACTION PROJECT
HipHop Music performances and an open mic
@ Vamos A Sembrar Garden, Ave B @ 13th St
6pm-10pm
718 813-2538 for more info
www.movementinmotion.org
www.shocklee.com

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Wednesday June 16
I'm producing this show not performing in it. It's a fabulous play by a fabulous woman. Also her new book will be on sale!

June 16 7pm
Smokin Word Presents
Kyana Brindle's One Woman Show
Between Spaces
Nuyorican Poets Cafe
236 East 3rd Street Bet. Ave B and C
---F train to 2nd Ave
www.nuyorican.org
www.smokinword.com
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Wednesday June 23
I'll be doing a 10 minute feature. Last year this was an amazing show packed full of talent and this one's chock full as well.


Pier Queen Productions presents

OUTSPOKEN II
a celebration of queer spoken word

Wednesday, June 23rd
Bowery Poetry Club
308 Bowery (at Bleecker Street)
7PM

REGIE CABICO
ALIX OLSON
EMANUEL XAVIER
CLAUDIA ALICK
BUTTAFLY SOUL
MAURICE JAMAL
TRAVIS MONTEZ
KAREN JAIME
LUIS CARTAGENA
B.Q.E.
GOD-DES & TINA G.
GRENADINE ROSS
& surprise guests

Please join host FLOTILLA DEBARGE as we gather once again to
celebrate Gay Pride with just some of the finest queer
artists/activists from the spoken word community. The Cock's DJ
DOMINIC BRANDO will handle the music.

Admission: .00

BOWERY POETRY CLUB FEATURES A FULL BAR AND CAFE.

Bowery Poetry Club is located at 308 Bowery at Bleecker Street (212-
614-0505). Subway: F, V, Grand Street; S to Broadway-Lafayette
Street; 6 to Bleecker Street.

More information about Bowery Poetry Club is available at
www.bowerypoetry.com.

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Thursday June 24
This is a diferent gig for me. It's a burlesque show and I'll be doing a combo of my experimental streetpoetry and a little spoken word.

June 24 8pm
The Lobster Boy Review
Galapagos Art Space

212.642.6233
www.lobsterboy.net
http://www.galapagosartspace.com

GALAPAGOS ART SPACE
70 North 6th Street
between Kent and Wythe
Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY 11211
718 782-5188
DIRECTIONS
From Manhattan by Subway- Take the L to Bedford Ave. (1st stop in
Brooklyn), exit on N. 7th and walk down one block to N. 6th, take a
right and walk 2 1/2 blocks over. We're between Wythe and Kent on the
left side
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Saturday  June 5 2004
QUEENS OUT LOUD
JUNE 5 at 5pm
FREE!
EMANUEL XAVIER presents Spoken Word Performance featuring poets Claudia Alick, ButtaFly Soul, Erica Doyle, Daniella Abrams...
Queens Pride House
67-03 Woodside Avenue

Sunday  June 6 2004
2nd Avenue Street Fair
Smokin Word representing Hip-Hop and Spoken Word Theatre
TheatreMania section of the 2nd Avenue Street Fair
Sunday June 6th from 11:00-5:30
On 2nd Ave between 83rd and 84th

Saturday May 22 2004
6 Hits and Urban Creed
DOWNTOWN URBAN THEATRE FESTIVAL
Abrons Arts Center Henry Street Settlement
466 Grand Street
New York, NY 10002
F train to Delancy/Essex
Tickets: 212-352-3101
Info: 212-696-6455
Price: .00 in advance or .00 at the door

Saturday Mar 27 2004
Word/Life @ Bluestockings 7:00p.m.
CLAUDIA ALICK, BUTTAFLYSOUL, MAURICE JAMAL, YVIE E
Live hip-hop: B.Q.E., TIM'M T. WEST, GOD-DES & TINA G
Bluestockings is located at 172 Allen Street, between Stanton and Rivington in the Lower East Side, 2 blocks south of 1st Ave. and Houston. 2nd Avenue F/V or the Bleecker Street 4/5/6

Thursday Mar 18 2004
GIRLSALON 8:00p.m. Starlight (167 Avenue A between 10th and 11th avenues) I'll be performing 7 minutes of material. Michelle Walsh,Cheryl B,Raimy Rosenduft, Robin Pickering Rachel Kramer Bussel, Jen Gaynor and Zilla, Chris Gross, Jen/ed,Micheleb Balan,Goddess Perlman,Luff,Amy Clarke,Pat D'auria,Barbara Rish, Cynthia Levin and ANGELA JIMENEZ AND TAMI JOHNSON.

Tuesday Jan 6 2004
Benefit for poet Pedro Pietri
www.nuyorican.org.Nuyorican Poets cafe
236 E. 3rd Street, NYC
btw. Ave B and C

January 3 2004
Urbitel and Spoken Works present: Snippits: A Theatrical performance of Spoken Word
Featuring: baron, ButtaFly Soul, Claudia Alick, Dominique, Ellen Hagen, Harlym 125, Helena D. Lewis, and Kayo
Directed by: Yolanda Kae Wilkenson
cw/flyer or /without
www.spokenworks.com

New Year Day!
Claudia Alick performing in
IN FROM THE COLD: The 10th Annual Alternative New Year's Day Spoken
Word/Performance Extravaganza
Admission: FREE!
However we will be collecting paperbacks for NYC BOOKS THROUGH BARS:
supporting literacy in jail, and also canned food for CITY HARVEST so
bring something and start the New Year off with good Karma, baby!

I'll be going on sometime between 8pm and 10pm. I'm thinking closer
to 8, but you can never tell with these things. I'll have a real
short set since it's a marathon event.

In From the Cold
2pm-10pm
The Bowery Poetry Club
308 Bowery Street
between Houston and Bleeker
across the Street from CBGB's
Take the F or 6 train to Bleeker

DECEMBER 15

Represent!
Monday December 15
Laila Lounge
7pm. w/flyer!
w/out For more info email smokin@smokinword.com
or visit smokinword.com, lailalounge.com, bodypos.org

Host: Harlym 125
Musical performances by: Anisa Fujah, King, Abby Dobson & Miscellaneous Flux
Poets: Thema Bryant, Mahogany Browne, Baron, Fish, Oscar B, Sydney Stewart, Jive Poetic & Dyalekt.
Featuring performances of tracks from the cd by: Amina Munoz-Ali, Indigo Melendez,Novel Idea, Jen-I, JC, Phoenix Soleil, Kyana Brindle & Claudia Alick.

November 26th
PROUD TO BE A LADY
THE LADIES ON THE MIC 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION!!!
FEATURING 16+ AMAZING FEMALE PERFORMERS!!
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 26TH   (Thanksgiving Eve)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A celebration featuring
THE BEST OF LADIES ON THE MIC
ALL OUR BEST PERFORMERS WILL BE BACK FOR A ONE-NIGHT ONLY
MARATHON EVENT!!!
The HOTTEST performers!
CLAUDIA ALICK, KAREN GIBSON ROC, T-WEST, SMOKIFANTASTIC, MISSY, ABBY DOBSON,KALI HAWK, MAHOGANY JONES, SYMANTIX
MAKEELA BRATHWAITE AMANI, ANTEENUKES, RAINE, TAQIYYA, HAYDEN, ANGEL, JULE, NEMESIS
Also joining the festivities will be GREEN CIRCUS CLOWNS!
AND FEATURING Rutgers University Radio WRSU 88.7 FM'S OWN
DJ FUSION on the 1's & 2's

October 16-26
BOTH
THEATRE: 78th Street Theatre Lab
OPENS: October 16, 2003
CLOSES: October 26, 2003
PERFORMANCES: Wed - Sat at 8pm; Sun at 3pm
TICKETS:
CAST: Carrie Keranen, Brigitte Barnett, Spencer Barros, Sameerah Harris, Kimberly Hall, Jane Ray, Lizabeth Allen, Brian Linden, Dana Slamp, Rebecca Darke, Elowyn Castle, Megan Bienstock, Veronica Cruz
AUTHORS: C. Denby Swanson, Elizabeth Scales Rheinfrank, Molly Rice, Andrea Moon, Claudia Alick, Bruck Faulk, Eric Lane, Scott Baker, Don Wilson Glenn
DIRECTORS:Hamilton Clancy & Richard Harden
PRODUCING COMPANY:  TheDrillingCompany

September 30, 2003 7pm
Q2:queer too rides again
QUEER SINGLES OPEN MIC AT 8:00 PM
Features at 8:30 PM :poets  BILLY FOGARTY, AMANDA LICHTENBERG, GUILLERMO CASTRO and CLAUDIA ALICK
hosted by: Cheryl Boyce-Taylor & Regie Cabico
followed by Johnny Kat & Eva Brontosaurus
BOWERY POETRY CLUB
308 Bowery (Bleecker & Houston)
Admission .00 plus a 1 drink minimum

September 2, 2003 starting at 5 PM
Rattapallax presents
Marathon Reading on AIDS in Africa
Bowery Poetry Club, NYC
Featuring: Yusef Komunyaaka, Sapphire, Glyn Maxwell, Grace Schulman, Timothy Liu, Meena Alexander, Willie Perdomo, Cecilia Vicuata, Bob Holman, Tory Dent, Minnie Bruce Pratt, Nicole Blakman, Karen Swenson, Regie Cabico, Edwin Torres, F.D Reeve, Todd Colby, William Pitt Root, Mei-mei Berssenbrugge, Second2Last, Anselm Berrigan, Jackie Sheeler, Bonnie Marcus, Prageeta Sharma, Yerra Sugarman, Nathalie Handal, Daniel Nester, Emanuel Xavier, Elaine Schwager, Flavia Rocha, Ron Price, Jeet Thayil, Bill Kushner, Isabelle Balot, Aracelis Girmay, Douglas Martin, C.A. Conrad, Daniela Gioseffi, Guy Sharar, Claudia Alick and Jesse Alick Karma Mayet Johnson, Maggie Balistreri, Jane Sprague, Kazim Ali, Jade Sharma, and Eliane Sexton.
I''ll be on at 6:00

August 27th at 7:30 pm
Reading of "Divining" by me!
Produced by KINGWORKS Theatre Company
at the Workshop Theater Company
312 W 36th and 8th in the 65 seat theater.
FREE!

Saturday, July 19 2:20-3pm
Harlem Book fair
Book release of Signifyin Harlem: Harlems Premier Literary Journal. performing with Blue, Kasim Allah, Iyaba Ibo Mandingo, Ngoma, Jade!, Phya, D Cross, Sydnee Stewart, Sugar Johnson, Dominique Morisseau, etc.

Wednesday, June 25th at 7PM
OUTSPOKEN:
a celebration of queer spoken word
In celebration of Gay Pride week, some of the finest wordsmiths from the community unite to share their voices at the Bowery Poetry Club. FLOTILLA DEBARGE, "Flo Def," hosts as Def Poetry Jam on Broadway's STACEYANN CHIN joins Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry on HBO's EMANUEL XAVIER and REGIE CABICO along with performance poets, CHERYL BOYCE-TAYLOR, TRAVIS MONTEZ, KAREN JAIME, LUIS CARTAGENAL, CLAUDIA ALICK, hip hop artist, CAZWELL, and others for a very special evening of poetry and spoken word. DJ DOMINIC BRANDO provides beats for the evening.
Bowery Poetry Club, featuring a full bar and cafe, is located at 308 Bowery at Bleecker Street (212-614-0505). Subway: F, V, Grand Street; S to Broadway-Lafayette Street; 6 to Bleecker Street.
www.bowerypoetry.com.

april 28
A Little Bit Louder Slam Team Finals
I'll be competing with Roger Bonair-Agard, F Omar Telan, Dawn Saylor, T'ai Freedom Ford, Shawn Randall, Lynne Procope, Shappy, & Marty McConnell
BAR 13

May 17
The Melting Pot
Saturday 9:00pm - 3:00am
66 Water Street
Between Dock Street & Main Street
Brooklyn (DUMBO)
The Melting Pot is a fusion of music, art, dance and poetry under one roof.
Featuring DJ True(WHCR)& DJ Kervyn Mark (Nu-Jeruz Records) and Enuma Recordings presenting Urban Transition an 8 member unit who combine jazz, funk, r&b, hip hop, disco and spoken word. enumarecordings.com and Trio_Noir - A Latin-rock and ethno-jazz fusion/dub band and American Ghazal - A musical exploration using the traditional Indian musical forms of ghazal, thumri and raga and adding a new personalized spin on these ancient sources with dancers.Projections from Jordan Eagles, Lynn Bell & Enuma Recordings and a display of Jordan Eagles art work. www.jordaneagles.com
and ME! rocking everybody with some poetry


april 23
LADIES ON THE MIC
BOWERY POETRY BAR
The Bowery Poetry Club


april 28
A Little Bit Louder Slam Team Semi-Finals
I'll be going head to head with Edward Garcia, Marty McConnell, Shappy, and Ishle Yi Park
BAR 13


may 1
Hosting slam compition
Montgomery College


POETRY READING featuring female poets of color
JANUARY 25 8pm
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
515 Malcolm X Boulevard

Erotic Poetry Slam and Benefit
Monday Februrary 10, 2003 7 p.m. 'till the wee hours. We are raising funds for our next production scheduled for March. For only and whatever else you want to give us, we provide the hosting talents of the fabulous Harlem 125, Rev. Lee as the DJ, live romantic music, an excerpt of "Six Hits" our next production, and, oh yes... loads of SEXY poetry. Hot erotic poetic competition from Scott Woods, Yolanda Wilkinson, Ainsley Burrows and other amazing spoken word artists. After the show there's an open mic so bring your own poetry sexy and/or otherwise. What more could ya want? Be there or be square.
Location: Laila Lounge

UPBEAT by Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis
with Claudia Alick as Platinum
FEBUARY 27,28 8pm
Princeton University
SMOKIN WORD READING/RECEPTION
NYU Tisch
Sunday October 6th

August 25
Spoken Word performance and Book SigningFact & Fiction, Missoula, MT

August 28, 29 Wednesday, Thursday
Love Coming Soon
Harlem Theatre