Brooklyn College MFA Program

MFA Program Events (an unofficial, informal, and woefully incomplete listing)

The MFA programs in creative writing at Brooklyn College schedule on-campus readings throughout the year, by some of the most gifted writers at work today. The readings are intimate, meant for students in the program and members of the community. The writers read from their work, and then speak informally to students about the writing process.

Recent visiting writers have included: Jeff Allen, Benjamin Anastas, Lisa J. Arnot, Jonathan Baumbach, Anselm Berrigan, Frank Bidart, Amy Bloom, Lucy Brock-Broido, Susan Choi , Edwidge Danticat, Stacey D'Erasmo, Marcella Durand, Nathan Englander, Jonathan Safran Foer , Elizabeth Gaffney, Mary Gaitskill, Francisco Goldman, Kenneth Goldsmith, Pete Hamill, Joshua Henkin, Linda Susan Jackson, Robert Kelly, Jhumpa Lahiri, Sydney Lea, Jonathan Lethem, Tan Lin, Phillip Lopate, Colum McCann, Frank McCourt , Ernesto Mestre, Paul Muldoon , Dennis Nurkse, Geoffrey O'Brien , Joseph O'Neill, Jenny Offill, Caryl Phillips, Marie Ponsot, Francine Prose, Sapphire, Gjertrud Schnackenberg, Gary Shteyngart, Lorna Simpson, Lawrence Thornton, Colson Whitehead, and Mark Yakich.

2009-2010 Program Awards

We are pleased to announce our 2010 Espy Fellows, who will be spending the month of January at the Espy Foundation in Oysterville, Washington: Corina Copp (playwriting), Bonnie Harris (fiction), and Ken L. Walker (poetry).

2008-2009 Program Awards

The 2009 Himan Brown Awards in Creative Writing went to: Rob Lyons and Jess Barbagallo (playwriting); Ted Dodson, Andy Reynolds, Neal Gartland, and Lance Deal (poetry); and Stephen Aubrey, Sean Anderson, Lauren Belski, Chloe Plaunt, Liz Stevens, and Anna Carey (fiction).

Stephen Aubrey received the 2009 Ross Feld Award. Runner up: Sean Anderson. Erin Harte received the 2008 Ross Feld award.

Christina Hauser received the 2009 Carole and Irwin Lainoff Prize. Runners up: Helen Rubinstein and Vanessa Lui. Cristina Moracho received the 2008 Carole and Irwin Lainoff Prize.

Stephen Motika received the 2009 Creative Writing Scholarship for Poetry. Benjamin Gassman received the 2009 Creative Writing Scholarship for Playwriting. Evelyn Spence received the 2009 Creative Writing Scholarship for Fiction.

The 2008 Himan Brown Awards in Creative Writing went to: Jessica Barbagallo and Annie Baker (playwriting); Jodie Childers, David Miller, Andy Hughes, and Claudia Akyeampong (poetry); Erin Harte, David Greenwood, Christina Hauser, Kristen Meinzer, Hugh Merwin, and Adrianne Hopes (fiction).

Announcing our 2009 Espy Foundation Residents: Bianca Bagatourian and Kalle Macrides (Playwriting), Jeff Price and Christina Hauser (Fiction), and Lance Deal and Olga Pester (Poetry). They will spend the month of January writing at the Espy Foundation in Oysterville, Washington.

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To read a recent issue of our literary journal, The Brooklyn Review, click here. And to see some of our poets in action on You Tube click here.

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Additionally, MFA faculty and current and former students give readings both on campus and at venues across New York City. See our Events listings below for information about readings, performances, publications, etc.

Fall 09 Readings at Brooklyn College

Tuesday, December 8
Anselm Berrigan, Sara Shepard, Erin Courtney
9-11pm
Sycamore Bar (1118 Cortelyou Rd, Q @ Cortelyou)

Wednesday, November 18
Roxana Robinson & Mac Wellman
6-7.30pm
Barker Room (2315 Boylan)

The Brooklyn on My Mind Reading Series will feature our own faculty members Ernesto Mestre, Joshua Henkin, Meera Nair, and Amy Hempel in a discussion with WNYC’s Leonard Lopate entitled Writers Teaching Writers at Brooklyn College. Brooklyn College Library, Woody Tanger Auditorium. Wed. Oct. 28, 5pm.

Wednesday, October 21
Benjamin Anastas & Sharon Mesmer
6-7.30pm
Barker Room (2315 Boylan Hall)

MFA fiction coordinator Joshua Henkin and poet Aaron Poochigian give a reading at the Brooklyn College Library (Room 411). Wed. Sept. 23, 4:15-6:15pm.

Three authors of young adult fiction visit Brooklyn College this fall. All events take place from 2:30-3:30pm in the Woody Tanger Auditorium. Donna Freitas, author of The Possibilities of Sainthood, on Mon. Oct. 26. Rebecca Stead, author of When You Reach Me, on Mon. Nov. 16. Coe Booth, author of Tyrell, on Wed. Dec. 2.

December 09 Events

Commissioned plays “New York Living” by Thomas Bradshaw (MFA Playwriting 2004) and “Severed” by Erin Courtney (MFA Playwriting 2003) are featured in The Great Recession series at The Flea Theater (41 White St.). Nov. 20-Dec. 30.

The story "Sometimes You Break Their Hearts, Sometimes They Break Yours" by Marie-Helene Bertino (MFA Fiction 2008) will be published in the December 2009 issue of the Indiana Review. In addition, her story "Carry Me Home, Sisters of Saint Joseph" will be published in American Short Fiction, February 2010.

November 09 Events

Brooklyn College’s M.F.A. in Creative Writing ranked 15th in the Poets & Writers article "Top Fifty MFA Programs in the United States: A Comprehensive Guide" in the November/December 2009 issue. In addition, the Fiction Program ranked 13th overall. The M.F.A. program is featured in the Daily News for its high ranking, Mon. Oct. 26, 2009.

Faculty member Jonathan Baumbach and alum Anne Ray (MFA Fiction 2006) are featured in the ninth issue of Opium Magazine, Opium 9: The Mania Issue.

MFAer Abe Nowitz presents at the Pizer Graduate Students Colloquium at Brooklyn College (Woody Tanger Auditorium, Library). Thurs. Nov. 19, 6-9pm.

Faculty member Meera Nair and alum Mohan Sikka (MFA Fiction 2006) will be featured readers in PAGE-TURNER, the Asian American Literary Festival presented by the Asian American Writers’ Workshop and featuring writers such as Jhumpa Lahiri and Michael Ondaatje. At PowerHouse Arena. Sat. Nov. 14, 11am-7pm. In addition, Ms. Nair and Mr. Sikka will be reading from and talking about their recent anthology Delhi Noir at the 92nd Street Y (1395 Lexington Ave.). Wed. Nov. 4, 7pm.

Fiction director Joshua Henkin reads at the Brooklyn Writers Space Reading Series at the Brooklyn Artists Gym (168 7th Ave., Brooklyn). Sun. Nov. 8, 5-7pm.

Other Rooms Press, founded by MFA alums Ed Go (MFA Poetry 2005) and Michael Whalen (MFA Poetry 2005), sponsors a reading at VanGogh’s Radio Lounge (147 Franklin Ave., Brooklyn) in support of their newest online issue. Sat. Nov. 7, 8pm.

Helen Rubinstein reads for the EARSHOT reading series at Rose Live Music (345 Grand St., Brooklyn). Fri. Nov. 6, 7:30pm.

October 09 Events

The story “Engine Blanket” by Elizabeth Harris (MFA Fiction 2007) is featured in the online edition of the literary magazine Conjunctions. In addition, Ms. Harris’s essay "Black & White TV" was just listed as a Notable Essay in Best American Essays 2009.

Faculty member Sharon Mesmer reads as part of the Subterranean Homesick Blues Project, in which thirty poets present new poems based on lines from Bob Dylan’s famous song. At the Ding Dong Lounge (929 Columbus Ave). Fri. Oct. 30, 7-9pm.

Electric Literature, the new multi-media journal founded by Andy Hunter (MFA Fiction 2008) and Scott Lindenbaum (MFA Fiction 2008), receives a rave review in The New York Times. Tues. Oct. 27, 2009.

Electric Literature hosts the Soapbox Reading Series, featuring Carmiel Banasky and Stephen O’Connor, in Washington Square Park. Tues. Oct. 13 and Tues. Oct. 20, 12-1:30pm. Also, Electric Literature hosts a multi-genre/multi-media release party for their second issue. Electric Nights will feature Miho Hatori's NEW OPTIMISM, authors Michael Cunningham and Jim Shepard, and the films of Martha Colburn with MUDANG ROUGE at DROM (85 Avenue A between 5th and 6th St.). Wed. Oct. 28, 7pm. In addition, Electric Literature just debuted a new blog, The Outlet.

Jon Chin will be reading alongside genre-defining poets such as Chad Anderson, Jamie Kilstein, and Soul Thomas Evans at a poetry showcase/party in celebration of the long-running podcast Indiefeed Performance Poetry. Bowery Poetry Club (308 Bowery). Tues. Oct. 27, 6.30pm.

The Brooklyn College MFA’s LETTER HOME Reading Series continues at Frank’s Lounge (660 Fulton Street), featuring authors Chris Martin and Mary Austin Speaker alongside MFAers Michelle DuPre, Nora Fussner, Curtis Jensen, Connie Mae Oliver, and Yun Wei. Tues. Oct. 27, 7-9.30pm.

GIRL GONE, an inter-genre play/musical theater piece by playwriting program head Mac Wellman, is presented at Marymount Manhattan College (Theresa Lang Theatre). Wed. Oct. 21-Sun. Oct. 25. Wed.-Sat. 8pm, Sun. 2pm.

“A Week at the NJ Shore,” a play by Valerie Work (MFA Playwriting 2008) is performed at The Bushwick Starr (207 Starr Street #4). Thurs. Oct. 22 8pm-Sun. Oct. 25 11pm.

MFAer Sara Asselin is on the creative team for the performance piece THE PASSION PROJECT directed by Reid Farrington. Oct. 20-24, 8pm and 9pm + Oct. 24 4pm.

Jenny Williams reads alongside Susan Orlean and David Farley at the Teachers & Writers Collaborative (Center for Imaginative Writing, 520 Eighth Avenue, between 36th and 37th Streets, 20th Floor). Tues. Oct. 20, 6pm.

“Fifty-Eight Years Later” by Helen Phillips (MFA Fiction 2007) appears in the online edition of Opium Magazine, and her piece “An Extremely Normal Man” appears in the online edition of Electric Literature.

Faculty member Sharon Mesmer reads with Ernest Hillbert at KGB (85 E. 4th Street). Mon. Oct. 19, 7pm.

Richard Toth appears in John Jahnke’s “The Archery Contest” at Performance Space 122 (150 First Avenue). Oct. 3-18, Wed.-Sat. 8pm, Sun. 6pm.

Corina Copp directs and performs in a play by David Bromige (1933–2009), the San Francisco poet, at a tribute to him at Poets House (10 River Terrace at Murray Street). Fri. Oct. 16, 7pm.

“The Dark Heart of Meteorology,” a multi-media play by Stephen Aubrey, is performed at UNDER St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place). The show garnered rave reviews and was named a NYTheatre.com Critic’s Pick. Sept. 22-Oct. 14, Tues. & Wed., 7pm.

The first installment of the Brooklyn College MFA Readings at Sycamore (1118 Cortelyou Road) takes place Wed., Oct. 7, 9-11pm. The second installment takes place Tues., Oct. 13, 8-10:30pm. The readings will feature fiction writers, poets, and playwrights from Brooklyn College’s MFA program.

“This From Cloudland,” a performance piece by Kristen Kosmas, and “A Map of Virtue,” a new play by Erin Courtney (MFA Playwriting 2003), are presented as part of the Prelude Festival at the CUNY Grad Center (Martin E. Segal Theatre, 365 5th Avenue). “This From Cloudland”: Sat. Oct. 3, 3pm. “A Map of Virtue” (also featuring MFA Playwriting 2009 alum Normandy Sherwood): Sat. Oct. 3, 6:30pm.

September 09 Events

The world premiere of “Circle Mirror Transformation,” a new play by Annie Baker (MFA Playwriting 2009), is presented by Playwrights Horizons (Peter Jay Sharp Theater, 416 W. 42nd St.). Thurs. Sept. 24-Sun. Nov. 1 (Tues-Fri at 7:30pm, Sat at 2:00 & 7:30pm, and Sun at 2:00 & 7:00pm).

Margaret Zamos-Monteith (MFA Fiction 2006) was a finalist in the Southwest Review’s 2009 David Nathan Meyerson Fiction Prize, judged by Alice Hoffman, for her story “Borders.” Also, Ms. Zamos-Monteith has been writing a column for The Lo-Down, a community news website about the Lower East Side.

The Brooklyn College Reading Series (aka “THE LETTER HOME Reading Series”) kicks off its 2009-2010 season with readings by MFAers Ian Parfrey, Nickolas Henderson, Gloria Munoz, and Jenny Williams, and alums Sharon Mesmer (Annoying Diabetic Bitch, The Virgin Formica) and Paul Beatty (The White Boy Shuffle, Joker Joker Deuce, etc.). Frank’s Lounge (660 Fulton St., Brooklyn). Tues. Sept. 22, 7pm.

PITCH, a theater piece by MFAer Gracie Leavitt, is performed at La MaMa E.T.C. (La MaMa First Floor Theatre, 74A East 4th St. Manhattan). Sept. 18-Oct. 4.

Montgomery Park, or Opulence, a new play by Karinne Keithley (MFA Playwriting 2006) with video by Amber Reed (MFA Playwriting 2007), is performed at HERE Arts Center (145 6th Ave. Manhattan). Sept. 18-20, 2pm and 7pm.

Thomas Bradshaw (MFA Playwriting 2004) and Erin Courtney (MFA Playwriting 2003) contribute to The Great Recession at Flea Theater, a performance that explores the impact of the economic crisis on their generation. Performances begin November 20th.

Partial Comfort Productions presents the World Premiere of “The Bereaved,” a play by Thomas Bradshaw (MFA Playwriting 2004) at The Wild Project (195 E. 3rd St. btw. Ave A & B). According to The New York Times, Thomas Bradshaw's work is "likely to leave you speechless." Wed. Sept. 2 - Sat. Sept. 26, 8pm.

Helen Phillips (MFA Fiction 2007) received a 2009 Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers’ Award. She will participate in the 2009 Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers’ Awards Reading at NYU’s Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House (58 W. 10th St.) on Friday, Sept. 25, at 7pm. Also, Ms. Phillips’ book And Yet They Were Happy will be published by Leapfrog Press in 2011.

The Brooklyn College Reading series kicks off its fall season at Frank’s Lounge (Fulton and S. Elliott, Fort Greene, Brooklyn). Tues. Sept. 22, 7pm.

Amber Reed (MFA Playwriting 2007) presents “Augustine of Hippo” and Rob “Lumberob” Erickson (MFA Playwriting 2007) presents “Now My Know My” for the Little Theater event at the new Dixon Place (161A Chrystie btw. Delancey & Rivington). Mon. Sept. 14, 8pm.

Kelly Ginger (MFA Poetry 2009) launches a new literary magazine, THE BRIDGE, based out of Brooklyn.

Sarah Feeley participates in the Poetry Brothel’s September events in Central Park (Sun. Sept. 13, 2-6pm, Summit Rock at 83rd St. on the west side) and on Governers Island (4heads’ Second Annual Governers Island Art Fair, Sat. & Sun. Sept. 5-27, 12-5pm, Historic Building 12, Section I, Floor 2).

August 09 Events

Faculty member Sharon Mesmer reads alongside Joanna Fuhrman and Elizabeth Swados in an event sponsored by Hanging Loose Press at the Bowery Poetry Club (308 Bowery, Manhattan). Sat. Aug. 29, 5pm.

“The Death of Evie Avery” by Sara Jeanne Asselin is performed at the New York International Fringe Festival, at the New School for Drama (151 Bank Street). Aug. 20, 24, 8:30pm.

Helen Phillips (MFA Fiction 2007) recieved honorable mention in the 2009 American Fiction Prize contest for her piece "Twenty Tales of Natural Disaster." The story will appear in the anthology American Fiction: The Best Unpublished Short Stories by Emerging Writers, forthcoming from New Rivers Press in Fall 2010. Also, Helen reads for the I Had It Bad Reading Series at Happy Ending Lounge (302 Broome). Wed. Aug. 19, 8pm.

Addie Hopes (MFA Fiction 2008) hosts Vox Pop Spoken Word Open Mic at Vox Pop. Sun. Aug. 2, 5pm.

July 09 Events

Kristen Kosmas’s piece “This From Cloudland” is performed by Kristen Kosmas and Karinne Keithley (MFA Playwriting 2006) at Barbes (379 9th St, Brooklyn). Sat. July 25, 8 pm.

Helen Phillips (MFA Fiction 2007) was a finalist in Leapfrog Press’s Fiction Contest for her manuscript AND YET THEY WERE HAPPY.

Brooklyn College playwrights put on the annual BRING A WEASEL AND A PINT OF YOUR OWN BLOOD FESTIVAL at the East Thirteenth Street Theater (136 E. 13th St. @ 3rd Ave.). This year's festival features three adaptations from Felipe Alfau's "Locos: A Comeday of Gestures": “Richard Toth's Identity by Scott Adkins and Normandy Sherwood” by Richard Toth, “The Character” by Scott Adkins (MFA Playwriting 2006), and “The Necrophil” by Normandy Sherwood. This year's producers are Corina Copp, Benjamin Gassman, Kobun Kaluza (MFA Playwriting 2007), and Amber Reed (MFA Playwriting 2007). Directed by Meghan Finn (MFA Directing 2009) with dramaturgy by Allison Lyman (MFA Drama 2009). The Festival was recently reviewed in the Brooklyn Rail. July 17, 18, 19, 7:30pm.

Nickolas Henderson, Christina Olivares, and Christie Rath read at The Cell Theater (338 West 23rd St.). Sun. July 19, 5pm.

Vanessa Gabb’s poems “Childhood” and “First Snow” will appear in Fearless Books' first poetry anthology, The Light in Ordinary Things (Sept. 2009).

According to the Brooklyn Paper, faculty member Sharon Mesmer is in the running to be Brooklyn’s new Poet Laureate.

Helen Phillips (MFA Fiction 2007) is a finalist for the American Fiction Prize, and her story “Twenty Tales of Natural Disaster” will appear in the anthology American Fiction: The Best Unpublished Stories by Emerging Writers (New Rivers Press, Fall 2010). She is also a finalist for Leapfrog Press’s Fiction Prize.

Addie Hopes (MFA Fiction 2008) hosts an open mike, “Let Your Voice Be Heard,” at Vox Pop (Cortelyou Road, Brooklyn). Sun. July 5, 5pm.

Elliott Holt (MFA Fiction 2007) won a fellowship to Yaddo in May 2009 and will be a Tennessee Williams Scholar in Fiction at the Sewanee Writers' Conference in July 2009. In addition, her story “Fem Care” recently appeared in The Kenyon Review.

June 09 Events

Sarah Feeley’s poem “Ahistoric London Bombings” appears in issue #11 of pax americana.

Two of our alums were finalists in Glimmer Train’s Short-Story Award For New Writers: Elissa Matsueda (MFA Fiction 2007) for her story “Brother in the Bushes” and Michael Whalen (MFA Poetry 2005) for his story “We Prefer the Stairs.”

Wil Hallgren (MFA Poetry 1999) had his book BROKEN FILM published by Outskirts Press.

Reese Kwon (MFA Fiction 2008) was a finalist in American Short Fiction’s short-short contest. She also has a story forthcoming in Gigantic. In addition, she received a ‘waiter’ scholarship from the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference.

Incoming fiction student Jenny Williams’ short story "The Fisherman's Wife" was voted the top story published online in 2008 as part of the sixth annual storySouth Million Writers Award.

Electric Literature, the new multi-media literary magazine that is the brainchild of MFA alums Andy Hunter (MFA Fiction 2008) and Scott Lindenbaum (MFA Fiction 2008), launches this summer. Electric Literature’s mission is to spark a revival of the short story by pairing captivating narratives from America's best contemporary writers with innovative new forms of distribution. The result: Electric Literature No. 1, a publication you can read as an e-book on your Kindle, pop open on your iPhone on the way to work, or simply slip into your back pocket as a paperback. Streamlined for all mediums, its flexibility stems from its simplicity: just five great stories that grab you. Electric Literature’s Summer 2009 debut anthology features Michael Cunningham, Jim Shepard, T Cooper, Lydia Millet, and Diana Wagman.

Mohan Sikka (MFA Fiction 2006) and faculty member Meera Nair are featured in the Delhi Noir anthology and participate in two Delhi Noir Release Parties: Mysterious Bookshop (58 Warren St. at Chambers, Wed. June 24, 6.30-8pm) and Idlewild Books (12 W. 19th St at Fifth Ave, Thurs. June 25, 7pm).

Faculty member Fiona Maazel is featured alongside Wells Tower in the St. Mark’s Bookshop Reading Series at SOLAS BAR (232 E. 9th St, Manhattan). Thurs. June 25, 7.30 pm.

Greg Ames (MFA Fiction 2002) reads from his debut novel, Buffalo Lockjaw, alongside Tania James, Sarah Rainone, and Felicia C. Sullivan, as part of The Tandem Reading Series at The Cell Theatre. Sun. June 21, 5pm.

Anne Ray (MFA Fiction 2006) reads at Outpost Lounge in Clinton Hill (1014 Clinton Hill). Fri. June 19, 8pm.

The Brooklyn Review Issue 26 Release Party takes place at Freddy’s Bar & Backroom (485 Dean Street, Brooklyn) and features readings by several contributors. Contributors to Issue 26 include: L. S. Asekoff, Chad Beckim, Lance Deal, Sarah Feeley, Neal Gartland, CJ Hauser, Wythe Marschall, Andrew Reynolds, Ian Parfrey, Richard Toth, and Valerie Work. Sun. June 14, 7:30pm.

Brooklyn College playwrights host BRING A WEASEL AND A PINT OF YOUR OWN BLOOD, a Fundraising Soiree, at Lolita Bar (266 Broome St.). Entertainers include: Lumberbob, Karinne Keithley, The Drunkard’s Wife, and The Flanks. Auctioned off will be prizes offered by Mac Wellman, Erin Courtney, Normandy Sherwood, Brooklyn Writer’s Space, Richard Toth, Benjamin Gassman, The Flea, and the SoHo Rep. Thurs. June 11, 6-9pm.

Faculty member Meera Nair reads alongside Pete Hamill and Hirsh Sawhney for the release of the anthology Delhi Noir at the Rubin Museum of Art (150 West 17th St). Mohan Sikka (MFA Fiction 2006) is also featured in the anthology. Wed. June 10, 7pm.

Addie Hopes hosts an Open Mic at Vox Pop (1022 Cortelyou Rd., Ditmas Park). Sun. June 7, 5-7 p.m.

Dan Grushkin speaks about his recent journey to the Indian Himalayas; the reading will be accompanied by slides from acclaimed photographer Sumit Dayal (Postmark Café, 326 6th Street, Park Slope). Fri. Jun. 5, 8:00 p.m.

Robert Lyons participates in the Clubbed Thumb Summerworks ’09 at the Ohio Theater (66 Wooster St.), kicking off the series with O*H*I*O! Wed. June 3, 8 p.m.

Excerpts of Chad Beckim’s play MERCY are performed as part of the Little Theatres series at the New Dixon Place (161 Chrystie St. btw. Delancey & Rivington). Mon. June 1, 8 p.m.

RAMBO SOLO, a new play by Kelly Copper (MFA Playwriting 2007), was positively reviewed in the New York Times and elsewhere, and her play NO DICE, which was written up in many places, continues to tour the world.

Tomas Bradshaw (MFA Playwriting 2004) had his play SOUTHERN PROMISES debut at PS 122 and his play DAWN at The Flea. Both were very well reviewed and will be performed elsewhere. Mr. Bradshaw also received a 2009 Guggenheim, a highly unusual honor for someone who is not yet thirty.

Young Jean Lee (MFA Playwriting 2005) received positive reviews in the New York Times and elsewhere for her most recent play, THE SHIPMENT.

RED FLY/BLUE BOTTLE, a new play by Stephanie Fleischman (MFA Playwriting), has received glowing press from both the New York Times and the Village Voice.

CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION, a new play by Annie Baker (MFA Playwriting) will kick off the fall season at Playwright's Horizons.

Spring 09 Brooklyn College Reading Series
Lou Asekoff & Jonathan Baumbach, Wed Feb 18, 6-8 pm
Colin Harrison, Tim McLoughlin, & Leonard Lopate, Mon Mar 9, 7-9 pm
Amy Hempel & David Grubbs, Wed Mar 18, 6-8 pm
Vito Acconci, Tues Mar 31, 6-8 pm
Joseph O’Neill, Wed Apr 29, 7-9 pm

May 09 Events

Mohan Sikka (MFA Fiction 2006) is honored at the PEN/O. Henry Prize Anthology Launch Party at Idlewild Books (12 West 19th St, Manhattan). Mohan was selected for inclusion in the anthology. Wed. May 20, 7:00-8:30 pm.

The End-of-Year Brooklyn College MFA Poetry & Fiction Readings will take place at Loki in Park Slope (304 5th Ave at 2nd St). Graduating MFA poetry and fiction students will share their work. Wed. May 6 and Wed. May 13, 7-10 pm.

Ted Dodson participates in the Southern Writers Reading Series at Happy Ending Lounge. Wed. May 13.

The CUNY Turnstyle Reading Series features MFAers Christina Hauser, Neal Gartland, Tina Satter and Jess Barbagallo alongside other CUNY students and faculty. At the Graduate Center (365 Fifth Ave @ 34th St), Martin E. Segal Theatre. Tues May 12, 6:30-8:30 pm.

Brooklyn Review Reading hosts its end-of-year reading at Freddy's (Dean Street, Brooklyn), featuring Rosie Misdary, Wythe Marschall, Evelyn Spence and Stephen Aubrey. Sun. May 10, 8 pm.

The Visibles by Sara Shepard (MFA Fiction 2005), published by Simon & Schuster, comes out May 2009.

The next installment in Brooklyn College’s Brooklyn on My Mind reading series is Asian and South Asian Writers in the Literary Market. Leonard Lopate leads a discussion and reading with Susan Choi, A Person of Interest, Suketu Mehta, Maximum City, and Monique Truong, The Book of Salt. Mon May 4, 7 p.m., in Gershwin Theater at Brooklyn College.

Corina Copp and Kristen Kosmas read for the Supermachine Garden Blowout Poetry Party. Outpost Lounge (1014 Fulton St, Brooklyn). Sat May 2, 6pm.

Sarah Feeley performs at The Poetry Brothel (Papa B Studios, 907 Broadway, Brooklyn). Fri May 1, 9pm-2am. She and other members of The Poetry Brothel were featured in the New York Post on Apr. 29, 2009.

Reese Kwon (MFA Fiction 2008) received the Defilippis-Rosselli scholarship to attend the Napa Valley Writers' Conference. Also, Narrative Magazine recently published her interview with Junot Díaz, and her story “Superhero” was selected by The Million Writers Award as one of the eight notable stories published in Narrative Magazine in 2008.

David Greenwood took first place in Dislocate Magazine’s 2009 Flash Fiction Contest. His story, “Moth Passing,” will be published by them in May.

April 09 Events

NOIR, a multimedia/dance/theater production by Kalle Macrides, is presented by Adhesive Theater Project at the New York City College of Technology's Voorhees Theatre (186 Jay Street, Downtown Brooklyn). April 23-May 2, Thurs.-Sat., 7.30 pm.

The Brooklyn College Reading Series concludes its spring program with readings by Noah Grossman, Greg Santos, Christina Olivares, Ken Walker, Yun Wei, Tim Carroll, Rosie Misdary, and Abba Belgrave. Bar 169 (Lower East Side). Sun April 26, 6:30pm.

BC MFA alums read for the Fiction-in-a-Blender event hosted by Brooklyn Reading Works and coordinated by Raina Washington (MFA Fiction 2008). Readers include: Maisy Card (MFA Fiction 2009), Andy Hunter (MFA Fiction 2008), Kristen Meinzer (MFA Fiction 2008), Felise Nguyen (MFA Fiction 2009), and Raina Washington. Old Stone House (Park Slope, 5th Ave and 3rd St). Thurs April 23, 8pm.

BROKEN FILM, a poetry collection by Wil Hallgren (MFA Poetry 1999), was recently published by Outskirts Press.

Greg Ames (MFA Fiction 2002) speaks about his debut novel, Buffalo Lockjaw, at the New York Round Table Writers Conference, as part of a panel called Birth of a Book which will include agent Scott Mowes and publicist Rachel Durfee. Fri., April 24.

Sarah Feeley reads for the Earshot Reading Series at Rose Live Music (345 Grand St, Williamsburg), in celebration of National Poetry Month. Fri. April 10, 8 pm.

Helen Phillips (MFA Fiction 2007) is a finalist in Opium Magazine’s 500-Word Memoir Contest for her story “Fifty-Eight Years Later.” She is also a finalist in this year’s Iowa Review Fiction Contest.

Works by several current and former playwriting MFAers are featured in Little Theatre at the New Dixon Place (161 Chrystie btw. Delancey & Rivington). “She Dies in a Day,” written and directed by Normandy Raven Sherwood. “Tupu, Tupu, Tupu” by Scott Adkins (MFA Playwriting 2006) and directed by Erin Courtney (MFA Playwriting 2003). Mon April 6, 8pm.

The CUNY Turnstyle Reading Series features Mac Wellman and MFAers Michelle Brule and Wythe Marschall alongside other CUNY students and faculty. At the Graduate Center (365 Fifth Ave @ 34th St), Martin E. Segal Theatre. Wed Apr 1, 6:30-8:30 pm.

March 09 Events

“The Temp” by Amelia Kahaney (MFA Fiction 2006) was selected for the Best American Non-Required Reading 2009 anthology, edited by Dave Eggers.

A story by Marie-Helene Bertino (MFA Fiction 2007), "Sometimes you break their hearts, sometimes they break yours,” will appear in the spring 2009 issue of the Indiana Review.

Helen Phillips (MFA Fiction 2007) won this year's Meridian Editors’ Prize Contest for her story “The Eyeballs of Cecile.” The story will appear in the spring 2009 issue of Meridian.

“Red-Haired Thomas,” a play by MFAer Robert Lyons and a Soho Think Tank Production, is performed at the Ohio Theatre (66 Wooster St). March 7-28, 2009. The play received a rave review from the New York Times.

The Brooklyn College Reading Series continues at Bar 169 (169 East Broadway) with its St. Patrick’s Day edition. The evening's literary plate includes current MFAers Lauren Belski, Nick Henderson, Anna Deforest, & Ian Parfrey, and alum Vincent Zompa (MFA Poetry 2007). Sun March 22, 6:30 pm.

Matthew Reeck (MFA Poetry 2008) performs in a poetry reading sponsored by Other Rooms press to celebrate the release of their new online issue, “Orchestrate Reality” and the release of the newest book in the Other Rooms chapbook series, “De-Luminations” by Ed Go (MFA Poetry 2005). The reading will be hosted by Other Rooms editors Michael Whalen (MFA Poetry 2005) and Ed Go. Sat Mar 21, 8 pm. Van Gogh’s Radio Lounge (147 Franklin St, Greenpoint, Brooklyn). Work by current MFAer Sarah Feeley and by Ed Go also appears in “Orchestrate Reality.”

MFAer Sarah Feeley performs as “Oola Waistbinder” for the Poetry Brothel (94 W. Houston St). Fri Mar 13, 10pm.

The CUNY Turnstyle Reading Series features MFAer David Miller alongside other CUNY students and faculty. At the Graduate Center (365 Fifth Ave @ 34th St), Martin E. Segal Theatre. Thurs Mar 12, 6:30-8:30 pm.

Black Cat Lost, a piece-in-progress by Erin Courtney (MFA Playwriting 2003), is presented at Soho Repertory Theatre (46 Walker St). Sun Mar 8, 3 & 7:30 pm.

The National Theater of the United States of America's CHAUTAUQUA! The U.S. TOUR, a show co-written, costumed, and performed in by MFAer Normandy Sherwood, runs at PS122 (150 First Ave btw. 9th and 10th St). Jonathan Lethem will appear as a special guest on Mar. 8. Sat Feb 21-Sun Mar 15, Wed-Sat 7:30 pm & Sun 5:30 pm.

February 09 Events

The Brooklyn College Reading Series continues with Kelly Ginger, David Miller, CJ Hauser, Nick Henderson, Don Brown, Leah Schnelbach, Rosie Misdary, and Rick Pearse at Bar 169 (169 E. Broadway). Sun Feb 22, 6:30 pm.

Other Rooms Press editors Mike Whalen (MFA Poetry 2005) and Ed Go (MFA Poetry 2005) sponsor a free poetry reading featuring Other Rooms poets Sarah Feeley (current MFAer) and melissa christine goodrum (MFA Poetry 2006), among others, at Van Gogh’s Radio Lounge (147 Franklin St., Brookyn). Sat Feb 21, 8 pm.

Reese Kwon (MFA Fiction 2008) received a residency from Hedgebrook Writers’ Colony. Also, an essay she wrote on Norman Rush appears in The Rumpus.

THE KNOCKOUT BLOW, an original theater piece written and directed by MFAer Tina Satter and starring MFAer Jess Barbagallo, is performed at HERE Arts Center (145 6th Avenue). Fri Feb 20, 10:30 pm & Sat Feb 21, 7:00 pm.

Elliott Holt (MFA Fiction 2007) participates in the Opium Literary Death Match. Other participants include Andrew Sean Greer and Ben Greenman. The Slipper Room (167 Orchard St), Wed Feb 18, 8 pm.

MFAer Bianca Bagatourian leads the “Genocide Drama” panel at the CUNY Graduate Center Arts Conference (365 Fifth Ave, Martin Segal Theater). Sat Feb 14, 2:30-3:30 pm.

This From Cloudland, a performance text by MFAer Kristen Kosmas, is performed by Kristine Kosmas, Kate Ryan, and Heidi Schreck, at Unnameable Books (456 Bergen St., Brooklyn). Sat Feb 14, 7:30 pm.

"A Week at the NJ Shore," a play by Valerie Work (MFA Playwriting 2008) and directed by Sibyl Kempson (MFA Playwriting 2007), is performed at Walkerspace (46 Walker St). Fri Feb 13, 8 pm.

The Flea Theater presents the world premiere of Kaspar Hauser: A Foundling’s Opera. Written by Erin Courtney (MFA playwriting 2003 & current faculty member) and Elizabeth Swados. Feb 13-Mar 25 (41 White St). Kaspar Hauser was recently reviewed in The Village Voice.

MFAer Kelly Ginger reads at the release party for her book Low Level Clouds, which consists of poetry and art based on the photographs of Diane Arbus. Think Coffee (1 Bleeker St), Tues Feb 10, 8:30 pm.

Faculty member Lou Asekoff, as well as MFAers Erin Harte and Jeffrey Price, read as part of the Turnstyle Reading Series at the CUNY Graduate Center, a new cross-genre MFA reading series featuring the faculty and students of CUNY’s graduate creative writing programs. Mon Feb 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Playwriting director Mac Wellman reads for Turnstyle on Wed April 1, 6:30-8:30, in the Segal Theatre. Free & open to the public.

The third installment of the Brooklyn Review Reading Series features MFAers Richard Toth, Nick Henderson, Lauren Belski, Sarah Feeley, and Wythe Marschall, as well as a special guest, Oulipian poet and Professor of Italian-American Studies at Brooklyn College Robert Viscusi. Freddy’s (Dean St), Sun Feb 8, 8-10 pm.

MFAer Wythe Marschall reads alongside Jonathan Ames at the 63rd Street Y. Fri Feb 6, 7 pm.

January 09 Events

Buffalo Lockjaw, the debut novel of Greg Ames (MFA Fiction 2002) published by Hyperion, will be coming out on March 31.

Faculty member Fiona Maazel reads from her novel Last Last Chance at the Mercantile Library Center for Fiction (17 E. 47th St). Wed Jan 28, 7 p.m.

The Brooklyn College reading series continues at Bar 169 (169 E. Broadway). Professor Robert Viscusi is joined by Ken Walker, Andy Rynolds, Yun Wei, and Ted Dodson. Sun 25 Jan, 6:30pm.

A 10-minute song cycle by composer John Belkot, based on three short plays by Valerie Work (MFA Playwriting 2008), has its world premiere at Georgetown University. Fri 23 Jan, 1:15 pm.

The Shipment, a play by Young Jean Lee (MFA Playwriting 2005), runs at the Kitchen, Jan 8-24. The play was recently reviewed in the New York Times.

“Rainbows,” a story by MFAer James Donovan, appears online in the journal FLATMANCROOKED.

Helen Phillips (MFA Fiction 2007) gives a reading at The Cell Theater (338 W. 23 St.) as part of the “Stories from the Edge” series. Sun 25 Jan, 5 pm. Helen also reads for the President Street Forum. Thurs 15 Jan, 7:00pm.

Fall 2008 Reading Schedule:

October 6--Robert Kelly
October 22--Michael Cunningham
November 10--Rick Moody
November 17--Junot Diaz
November 17--Marjorie Welish
December 1--Jim Shepard
December 15--Julie Agoos

December 08 Events

The Brooklyn Review hosts a reading at Freddy’s Bar and Backroom (485 Dean Street, Brooklyn) featuring MFAers Christine Rath, CJ Hauser, Ken Walker and Ian Parfrey, as well as a short play by Jess Barbagallo and Tina Satter (starring Jess Barbagallo, Chad Beckim, Wayne Petro, Tina Satter and Dick Toth). Sun Dec 14, 8 pm.

Michelle Brule gives a reading for the Earshot Reading Series at Rose Live Music (345 Grand Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn). Fri Dec 12, 8 pm.

Faculty member Joshua Henkin reads for the Writers on the Rooftop Series at the Prospect Park YMCA (357 Ninth St.), Mon Dec 8, 7:30 pm. Mr. Henkin also offers a literary take on the themes of love, romance, and sexuality at the 92YTribeca Lecture Hall (200 Hudson Street), along with Dan Friedman of Zeek and Esther D. Kustanowitz of My Urban Kvetch. Thurs Dec 11, 7 pm.

Helen Phillips (MFA Fiction 2007) received the 2008 Italo Calvino Prize in Fabulist Fiction, administered by the University of Louisville. She will read her winning entry at the annual Louisville Conference on Literature and Culture in February, and her piece “The Regimes” will appear in the Salt Hill Journal of Syracuse University.

A new play by Sibyl Kempson (MFA Playwriting 2007), POTATOES OF AUGUST, is presented at the new Dixon Place (161 Christie St.). Sound & video by Karinne Keithley (MFA Playwriting 2006), dramaturgy by Amber Reed (MFA Playwriting 2007), with current MFAer Kristen Kosmas. December 4-6, 11-13, 19- 20, January 9-11 at 7:30pm. January 12 at 2:00pm. Ms. Kempson’s play received reviews from the New York Times, Time Out, the Village Voice, Brooklyn Rail, and Paper Magazine, among others.

Kalle Macrides curates The Art of Spoken Words: A Festival of Readings of New Plays. Six original plays will be performed, including “Parable of a Spider” by Scott Adkins (MFA Playwriting 2006) on Dec. 4, “Baby Rats” by current MFAer Tina Satter on Dec. 5, "Mothering from Hammocks" by current MFAer Corina Copp on Dec. 11, “Fitter, Happier, More Productive” by Matt Korahais (MFA Playwriting 2008) on Dec. 12, and "NOIR" by current MFAer Kalle Macrides on Dec. 13. New York City College of Technology’s Theatreworks hosts the event. December 4-6 & 11-13 at the Voorhees Theatre (186 Jay Street, Brooklyn), 7 pm, admission free.

Elliott Holt (MFA Fiction 2007) wrote a short piece entitled “Crossed Signals” on an Esquire cocktail napkin for Esquire’s Books blog.

Sarah Autumn Feeley reads for The Poetry Brothel on Sat 13 Dec, 9pm-2am, at The Zipper Factory (336 W. 37th St.)

Our Stories website has nominated “Cannibal Love,” a story by Lindsay Merbaum (MFA Fiction 2006), for the Dzanc Best of the Web 2009 Competition.

“Mika,” a play by faculty member Erin Courtney (MFA Playwriting 2003) and Scott Adkins (MFA Playwriting 2006), is presented by the United Nations and Tiyatro Global in collaboration with the Brooklyn College Theater Department. The event is geared toward inspiring world leaders to make the elimination of violence against woman a priority. At the United Nations (First Ave. and 46th St.), Nov. 25, 6:30 p.m. & Dec. 1, 1:30 pm. At the Consulate General of Argentina (12 West 56th Street), Dec. 1 & 2, 7:30 p.m.

November 08 Events

Gloria Steinem gives a talk at the Brooklyn College Library. Tues. Nov. 25, 5:00 pm.

The Brooklyn College Reading Series continues at Bar 169 (169 E. Broadway), featuring faculty member Lou Asekoff, along with MFAers David Miller, Olga Pester, Yun Wei, Ken Walker, Nick Henderson, and Anna DeForest. Sun. Nov. 23, 6:30 pm.

MFAers Kilby Allen, Stephen Aubrey, and Anna DeForest will give readings as part of The Assembly event at The Bowery Poetry Club (308 Bowery). Sun. Nov. 23, 10 pm.

Faculty member Joshua Henkin participates in the ongoing Author/Editor Series at Mcnally Jackson Bookstore in SoHo along with his editor Lexy Bloom, Senior Editor at Vintage & Anchor Books. Tues. Nov. 18, 7 pm.

“Remnants of a Liquid World,” a play by Bianca Bagatourian (MFA Playwriting), is performed as part of SoHo Think Tank’s 6th Floor Reading Series. Mon 17 Nov, 8 pm, at The Ohio Theater (66 Wooster St NY, NY 10012).

Thomas Grattan’s (MFA Fiction 2006) short story "I Am a Souvenir," originally published in the Colorado Review, was chosen as one of the 100 Distinguished Stories in the 2008 Best American Short Stories anthology.

Mohan Sikka (MFA Fiction 2006) received a 2009 O. Henry Award for his story “Uncle Musto Takes a Mistress.”

The Brooklyn Review hosts a reading at Freddy’s Bar and Backroom in Brooklyn. Sun 9 Nov, 8pm. Readings by Brooklyn College MFAers Christina Olivares, James Jennings, Tanwi Nandini Islam, Ted Dodson, and Rosie Misdairy, along with special guests Tom Zoellner and Stefania Heim.

Faculty member Thomas Bradshaw’s play DAWN premieres at The Flea Theater (41 White Street, Manhattan) November 9 – December 6. Mr. Bradshaw was named “Best Provocative Playwright” by the Village Voice, and “One of the top 10 playwrights to watch” by Time Out New York.

Wythe Marschall’s story "Neptune Frightens the Children" appears in Splinter Generation 1. His piece "find me beneath our dark bird welkin" appears in 5_Trope 24.

An excerpt from faculty member Erin Courtney’s play Black Cat Lost, as well as recent playwriting graduate Trish Harnetiaux’s play The Significance of Louden Taser, will be performed at The New Dixon Place Theater (161 Chrystie St. btw. Rivington & Delancey) as part of the Little Theatre series. Mon 3 Nov, 8:00 PM.

Reese Kwon (MFA Fiction, 2008) was recently named one of the "Best New Writers" of Narrative Magazine.

October 08 Events

Amy Hempel, the director of the MFA in Fiction, won the 2008 Rea Award for the Short Story, an annual $30,000 prize given to a writer from the United States or Canada for "significant contribution to the discipline of the short story form."

Faculty member Joshua Henkin participates in a panel discussion on The State of Jewish Fiction, along with Ellen Feldman, Binnie Kirshenbaum, and Tova Mirvis, at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. Mon 27 Oct, 6:30 PM.

The Brooklyn College Reading Series continues at Bar 169 (169 East Broadway, Lower East Side) with: Ed Go, Neal Gartland, Ted Dodson, and some surprise guests. Sat 25 Oct, 6:30 pm.

Other Rooms Press hosts a reading this Saturday, 10/18, at 7 pm at Van Gogh's Radio Lounge, 147 Franklin, in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Featured readers include Other Rooms Online authors Richard Pearse (MFA faculty) and Will Sanders (MFA Poetry 2008), as well as Ed Go and Michael Whalen (both MFA Poetry 2005) as hosts/editors.

The Brooklyn College Reading Series continues at Freddy’s Back Room (485 Dean Street, Brooklyn) with: Don Brown, Philip Angel, Nora Almeida, and Ian Parfrey. Sun 12 Oct, 8:00 pm, followed by an open mic.

Elliott Holt (MFA Fiction 2007) recently guest edited One Story issue #108, "Foreign Girls", a story by fellow Brooklyn College alum, Thomas Grattan (MFA Fiction 2006). Also, Ms. Holt has a story in the Fall 2008 issue of The Bellevue Literary Review.

Reading by Martha Southgate as part of the PEN American Center's celebration of the winners of the 2008 Beyond Margins Awards on October 14, at the Library of Performing Arts, 111 Amsterdam Ave, 7 pm.

Jennifer Kikoler (MFA Fiction) reads as part of the Earshot Reading Series at The Lucky Cat in Williamsburg, Brooklyn; Oct 10, 8 pm.

An essay by Elizabeth Harris (MFA Fiction 2007) entitled "Black & White TV" will appear in the fall/winter 2008 issue of The Colorado Review.

The Brooklyn on My Mind series features Eric Alterman and Robert George, interviewed by Leonard Lopate of WNYC; Mon 20 October in theWhitman Auditorium at Brooklyn College.

September 08 Events

The Brooklyn College Reading Series continues at Bar 169 (169 E. Broadway, Manhattan) with: Will Edmiston, Noah Grossman, Michelle Renee Brule, Lance Deal, and Rick Pearse, BC poetry professor & author of several books, including the collection "Private Drives.” Sun 28 Sept, 6:30 followed by an open mic.

L. S. Asekoff’s poem “The Gate of Horn” appeared in the September 15, 2008, issue of The New Yorker.

Reading of Trish Harnetiaux’s new play, Mr. Bungle and the Incident on Lambdamoo at Dixon Place, 258 Bowery, 2nd Fl, New York (btw Houston and Prince) on Fri 8 Sept. at 8pm. Directed by Eric Nightengale, with Matt Korahias, Ruth Nightengale, Erin Wilhelmi and more.

The Chocolate Factory Presents the world premiere of faculty member Mac Wellman’s 1965UU (From A Chronicle of The Madness of Small Worlds), September 11-October 4.

Freddy's Bar & Back Room presents Ryan Dobran, Joseph Herceg, Scott Lindenbaum, Nicola Masciandaro, et al. on Wed 17 September, 8:30 pm (485 Dean Street).

Freddy's Bar & Back Room presents Anna DeForest, Andy Reynolds, Kelly Ginger, Ken Walker, Ted Dodson, Nick Henderson, Ryan Dobran, Pat Nugent and a concluding musical jam by the Fried Shark Ensemble on September 14 at 7 pm (485 Dean Street in Brooklyn).

Anna Carey reads for the EARSHOT Reading Series at The Lucky Cat in Williamsburg on Friday, September 12, at 8 p.m.

Jhumpa Lahiri reads in the Whitman Auditorium at Brooklyn College on Tues 9 September.

Faculty member (and MFA Playwriting 2004) Thomas Bradshaw’s new play “Southern Promises,” which debuted at P.S. 122 on September 6, was recently reviewed in the Village Voice,The New Yorker, and and The New York Times.

Raina Washington (MFA Fiction 2008), Helen Phillips (MFA Fiction 2007), and Addie Hopes read at the Brooklyn Book Festival on Sunday, September 14th, at 5 p.m. on the North Stage. Brooklyn College will also have a booth featuring the publications of Brooklyn College faculty.

The newest issue of OTHER ROOM Online Poetry Journal, edited by Ed Go (MFA Poetry 2005) and Michael Whalen (MFA Poetry 2005), is now available. Other Rooms Press, founded by Go and Whalen, is a small press located in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to the online journal, they are currently publishing a series of chapbooks.

August 08 Events

On August 7, faculty member Martha Southgate participated in the PEN American Center event “Bringing Down the Great Firewall of China: Silenced Writers Speak on the Eve of the Olympics,” along with Edward Albee, Russell Banks, Philip Gourevitch, Jessica Hagedorn, Hari Kunzru, Rick Moody, and Francine Prose.

On August 3, Andrew Hughes (MFA Poetry 2008) read along with Cynthia Cruz and Chris Martin as part of the Polestar Poetry Series at CakeShop. Andrew’s work has appeared in Forklift, Ohio, Cannibal, Spell, and Can We Have Our Ball Back, among others. He is coeditor of *TIGHT,* a journal of poetry and possibility.

July 08 Events

The Brooklyn College Reading Series took place on Sunday, July 13, at Bar 169. Readers included: Will Sanders, Erin Harte, Jared Harel, David Miller, Lance Deal, Ken Walker, Ryan Egan, Michelle Brule, Nick Henderson, and David Greenwood. Another installment took place on Sunday, August 10. Readers included: Nora Almeida, Philip Angel, Ian Parfrey, Neal Gartland, Ray DeJesus, Leah Schnelbach, Yun Wei, and Ken Walker.

Margaret Zamos-Monteith (MFA Fiction 2006) won second place in the Seventh Annual Fugue Fiction Contest for her story “For Lack of Wood,” which will appear in the Fall/Winter issue of Fugue.

Luba Burtyk (MFA Fiction 2006) received Honorable Mention in the Glimmer Train June Open Fiction Award for her story “The Rabbit Keeper.”

"Permafrost" by Helen Phillips (MFA Fiction 2007) was a finalist in The Indiana Review's 2008 1/2K Fiction Contest.

June 08 Events

Release party for the 25th Anniversary Issue of The Brooklyn Review Sunday 8 June, 8pm at Freddy's Bar and Backroom (485 Dean Street, 2 blocks from the 2/3 stop at Bergen street, or 3 blocks from the Q/B stop at 7th ave). Readings by Matt Reek, Neal Gartland, Matt Summell and more; a play by Normandy Sherwood; live music performed by Heavy Jamal. Free Copies of the 25th annual Brooklyn Review, including pieces by T Cooper, Wayne Koestenbaum, Brett Smith, Lance Deal, Amy Gerstler, Seth Abramson, Matt Sumell, Neal Gartland, Scott Weaver, Simon Fruelund, Katherine Sigelman, Leah Moreau Carroll, David Humprey,Christina Olivares, Sparrow, Robert Lyons, Lisa Fay Coutley, Mathew Korahais, Matt Reeck, David Samuel Levinson, Joseph Victor Milford, Trish Harnetiaux, Melissa DeGezelle , Normandy Sherwood and interview with Kevin Brockmeier by Hugh Merwin.

"Ten Tales of Small Disasters" by Helen Phillips (MFA Fiction 2007) was a finalist in this year's Iowa Review contest. Ms. Phillips was also a finalist for this year's Provincetown Fine Arts Work Center fiction fellowship. She will be a resident at the Ucross Foundation in Wyoming in August.

Andrew Hughes's new chapbook Sweethearts of the Great Migration is now available from Bookthug , a Toronto-based independent publisher of chapbooks and trade books of poetry.

May 08 Events

Thomas Bradshaw (MFA playwriting, 2004), who is currently teaching in the program, will have a workshop production of his play Dawn at the Theater Bielefeld in Germany. The play will be translated and published in German by Theater Der Zeit and Fischer Verlag. The New York Theater Workshop will also be presenting a workshop of Dawn at Dartmouth this summer, while his play Strom Thurmond Is Not A Racist will have it's west coast premiere in Los Angeles in June. His most recent work, Southern Promises, will premiere in New York at Performance Space 122 in September.

Jennifer Kikoler was selected for The Parlor's First Annual Spring Emerging Writers Festival, May 24, at the Green Lantern Gallery in Chicago.

Marie-Helene Bertino's story "North Of" from Mississipi Review's Spring 2007 issue has just been selected for The Pushcart Anthology 33. She has a story in Inkwell (out now), and forthcoming in The North American Review.

Announcing: The Very Special Mother's Day Installment of the Brooklyn College Reading Series: Ian Parfrey, Amelia Kahaney, Elizabeth Harris, Drew Baughman, author of The Tree of Boon & Bane, and Melissa Christine Goodrum, author of harpy flies down. Sun 11 May, 7 pm, Freddy's Bar and Backroom (485 Dean Street in Brooklyn): plus a special guest performance by Joe Ra Yo Mama Robitaille .

Reese Kwon's story "Superhero" is appearing in the Spring 2008 issue of Narrative Magazine.

Rob Erickson aka LUMBEROB, the artist-in-residence of Dixon Place, will have his play Off The Hozzle performed at Dixon Place, 258 Bowery, 2nd Floor, between Houston & Prince: Thursdays, May 1, 8, 15, 22 at 8:00 pm. Also, on Mon 19 May, performance of Trish Harnetiaux's play, Welcome To The White Room, directed by Sam Gold. (The run has been extended to June 13 and 14).

"Four Fables," a short story by Helen Phillips (MFA Fiction 2007), will appear in the spring issue of the magazine Faultline.

"Brooklyn on My Mind": Paul Auster and Siri Hustvedt talk about their careers, books, and life in a Brooklyn brownstone. Leonard Lopate, of WNYC Radio's "The Leonard Lopate Show," moderator. May 3rd, Whitman Hall, 7 pm.

Matthew Burgess (MFA poetry, 2001) is the author of a chapbook titled Liftoff (Blue Language Press, 2002) and another one on the way this spring titled Yeah You. His poems have appeared in Hanging Loose, Lungfull, The Brooklyn Review and elsewhere. He currently teaches literature and writing at Brooklyn College.

Nora Almeida was recently named the winner of the 2008 Greg Grummer Poetry Contest hosted by Phoebe Magazine and judged by Peter Gizzi.

April 08 Events

"The Temp," a short story by Amelia Kahaney (MFA fiction, 2006), will appear in the spring issue of the magazine Crazyhorse.

Paper Beats Rock presents My Book of Storms, a play by Valerie Work, featuring Normandy Sherwood and Richard Toth (among others) on Sun 20 April, 6 pm, at Rehab, Ave B btw 2nd and 3rd Avenues.

Cassandra Clare, the New York Times bestselling author of City of Bones, will be reading from her new novel, City of Ashes. Wed 30 April, 2:00 p.m., at the Brooklyn College Library's Woody Tanger Auditorium.

April 2008 installment of the Brooklyn College Reading Series at Freddy's Bar and Backroom (485 Dean Street in Brooklyn), Sunday 13 April 13, 7pm, featuring: Ed Go, Mary Millsap, Matt Reeck, Christina Olivares, Ryan Dobran, Michael Whalen and, as always, the guidance of Joe Ra Robitaille on the ones and twos.

The novel, The Visibles, by Sara Shepard (MFA fiction, 2004) will be published by Simon and Schuster in early 2009.

The Last Summer of the World, a novel by Emily Mitchell (MFA fiction, 2006), part of which she wrote for her thesis at Brooklyn College, has been selected as a finalist for this year's NYPL Young Lions Award. She has also accepted a teaching job for the fall in the MFA program at West Virginia University in Morgantown.

The next installment of EARSHOT at The Lucky Cat, located in Williamsburg (245 Grand Street between Driggs & Roebling) will include MFAer Anna Carey as well as readers from NYU and Columbia. Friday, April 4, at 8 PM.

Robert Jones, Raina Washington, Chloe Plaunt are reading at The Perch Café in Park Slope, 365 5th Ave (between 5th & 6th Sts.) on Monday, April 14 at 7 pm.

Poetry reading by Matthew Rotando (MFA poetry, 2000) on April 7, Bedford Lounge, College Student Center, 2 pm. He is a Fulbright grant recipient, a member of POG, a collective of artists and poets in Tucson, and is currently completing a Ph.D. in English Literature at the University of Arizona.

March 08 Events

The Wolfe Institute presents Susan Choi in a reading from her latest novel A Person of Interest on Wednesday, March 19th at 7pm in the State Lounge, Brooklyn College Student Center, Campus Road and East 27th Street.

"Brooklyn on My Mind": Michael Cunningham discusses his novels, screenplays, and running an MFA program for young writers in Brooklyn. Leonard Lopate, of WNYC Radio's "The Leonard Lopate Show," moderator. March 3rd, Whitman Hall, 7 pm.

Reading by Jon Scieszka, the award-winning author of many books for children including The Stinky Cheese Man (1994 Rhode Island Children's Book Award, 1997 Georgia Children's Choice Award) and Math Curse (an American Library Association 1996 Notable Book, and a Publisher's Weekly Best Children's Book in 1995). Wed 5 March, 7 p.m. 148 New Ingersoll, Brooklyn College.

"A Night of Poetic Entertainment" by MFA poets Lance Deal, Kelly Ginger, David Miller, Christina Olivares, Ian Parfrey, and Joe Robitaille. Th 6 March, 8:30, SUBO International Lounge (5th fl), Brooklyn College.

Reading from her novel Bee Season by faculty member Myla Goldberg at the Kane Street Synagogue’s “Y.L. Peretz Distinguished Writers Series” on Saturday March 1 at 1 p.m.

The Brooklyn College Reading Series continues on Sunday 9 March at 7 pm at Freddy's Bar and Backroom (485 Dean Street in Brooklyn) with MFAers Nora Almeida and Marie Bertino, and guests Orlando White, Tetra Balestri, Arlo Quint, and Christopher Stackhouse.

The Pacific Standard Fiction Series: Home and Away Night featuring Martha Southgate and Lydia Millet on Tuesday, March 11th, 7:00 p.m., 82 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn, New York (betw. St. Marks and Bergen).

February 08 Events

"The Joined," a story by Helen Phillips (MFA fiction, 2007), was a finalist in the Mississippi Review's 2008 prize competition and will appear in this spring's prize issue of the magazine. Ms. Phillips was also a finalist in this year's Black Warrior Review fiction contest; and she is reading at the Skylight Reading Series on Wed 27 Feb, 6.30 pm, at the Educational Alliance (197 East Broadway).

Reading by Jonathan Baumbach of his most recent work, You: Or the Invention of Memory, Wed 20 Feb, 7 pm, State Lounge, Brooklyn College Student Center on Campus Road and East 27th Street.

They Are Flying Planes editors Nora Almeida, Kate Jaeger, Joe Robitaille and Will Sanders invite one and all to a Launch Party on Sat 16 February, 8-10pm, at Unnameable Books, 456 Bergen Street, Brooklyn.

First 2008 installment of the Brooklyn College Reading Series at Freddy's Bar and Backroom, featuring Helen Phillips, Lance Deal, Philip Angel, Pat Nugent, Eddie Hopely, and Dustin Williamson and Eddie Berrigan as Pelican Tripod. Feb 10 at7 pm, 485 Dean Street, Brooklyn.

Raina Washington, Valerie Work, and Kristen Meinzer talk about their writing, the Brooklyn College MFA program, and their residencies with the Espy Foundation on Arts: Live and Local, broadcast on Astoria, Oregon's KMUN Public Radio (Feb 1, rebroadcast on the 2nd).

This year's recipients of $2000 Himan Brown Awards in Creative Writing are: playwrights Jessica Barbagallo and Annie Baker; poets Jodie Childers, David Miller, Andy Hughes, and Claudia Akyeampong; and fiction writers Erin Harte, David Greenwood, Christina Hauser, Kristen Meinzer, Hugh Merwin, and Adrianne Hopes. In addition, the following students received $1000 tuition scholarships: poets Neal Gartland and Matthew Reeck; playwrights Kristina Satter and Misha Shulman; fiction writers Wythe Marschall and James Jennings.

January 08 Events

Matrimony, a novel by faculty member Joshua Henkin, was named a New York Times Notable Book in 2007.

Elizabeth Harris's essay, "How Come" was named a finalist in The Missouri Review's annual Editors' Prize for nonfiction.

Marie-Helene Bertino is reading an excerpt from a short story at Luna Park's launch party during the AWP festival, Jan 31st, Noo Na in Prospect Heights. More info at: http://lunaparkreview.blogspot.com/2008/01/luna-parks-brooklyn-launch-event-jan-31.html

The Brooklyn College Reading Series continues with Stefanie Low, Tim Morris, Kelly Ginger, Christina Olivares, and Ian Parfrey, on January 14 at Bar 169, 169 East Broadway, on the Lower East Side, 6 pm.

This year's recipients of the $2000 Himan Brown Awards in Creative Writing are: Jessica Barbagallo and Annie Baker (playwriting), Jodie Childers, David Miller, Andy Hughes, and Claudia Akyeampong (poetry), and Erin Harte, David Greenwood, Christina Hauser, Kristen Meinzer, Hugh Merwin, and Adrianne Hopes (fiction).

A play by Sibyl Kempson (MFA playwriting, 2007), Crime or Emergency, is being performed by Mike Iveson & Sibyl Kempson on Jan 11 (noon), Jan 12 (8pm), and Jan 13 (8pm), at the Soho Rep, 46 Walker Street, 2 blocks below Canal btw. Broadway and Church (reservations@sohorep.org).

Performance of Lumberbob and his Balm of Insatiability by Rob Erickson (MFA playwriting, 2007) and Mail by Scott Lindenbaum (current MFAer, fiction) on Jan 7 at 8:00 pm, Dixon Place, 258 Bowery btw. Houston & Prince (www.dixonplace.org).

Valerie Work, Matthew Korahais, Kristen Meinzer, Raina Washington, Andy Hughes, and Nora Almeida are recipients of month-long residency awards from the Espy Foundation in Oysterville, Washington, in January 2008.

The Brooklyn College Reading Series continues in 2008, starting Monday, January 14th, in lower Manhattan, at Bar 169, 169 East Broadway, at 6 pm: Christina Olivares, Kelly Ginger,Ian Parfrey, Jared Harel (Cornell), Josh Donovick (Yeshiva), and Ray DeJesus (St. John's).

December 07 Events

Emma Wunsch’s (MFA fiction, 2004) story “Lily of the Valley,” which was published in the spring 2007 issue of the Bellevue Review and adopted for the Best of Bellevue Review Anthology, was nominated for a 2007 Pushcart Award.

MFAers Tim Morris (poetry) and Normandy Sherwood (playwriting) perform Red Steak in a Black Building on Dec 12th at Zebulon Café, Williamsburg (Wythe bet. North 3rd and Metropolitan) at 9pm. This play is inspired by the writings of Anne Carson and features the music of Tim Westberg, modern dance, togas, and feasting.

A short story by Amelia Kahaney (MFA fiction, 2006), "Fire Season," has been published by One Story. Go to http://www.one-story.com/ to read an excerpt of the story, an interview with her, and some kind words from the editor.

Announcing the Final 2007 Installment of the Brooklyn College Reading Series on Sunday December 9 at 7pm, at Freddy's Bar and Backroom (485 Dean Street at 6th Avenue in Brooklyn), featuring the following poets: Lisa Jarnot, Jennifer Kikoler, Elliot Conrad, Nora Almeida, Joe Robitaille, Kate Jaeger, Clint Krute, Sara Wintz, Will Sanders, Victoria Giardina.

Reading by MFA fiction graduates Marie Bertino, Jeannie Gosline, Dan Grushkin, Elizabeth Harris, and Felise Nguyen at The Perch Café, 365 5th Ave (between 5th & 6th Sts.), Brooklyn (718-788-2830) on Monday, December 10th, at 7pm.

Paper Beats Rock: A Weekly Reading Series of Brooklyn College Playwrights at the Midway Rock Club, 25 Avenue B on Sundays at 7pm: Dec 2nd, Four Short Plays by Chad Beckim; Dec 9th, Fitter, Happier, More Productive by Matthew Korahais; Dec 16th: Seven at Seven, 10-minute plays by Chad Beckim, Cory Einbinder, Matthew Korahais, Kalle Macrides, Kristina Satter, Normandy Sherwood, Valerie Work.

Vincent Zompa (MFA Poetry, 2007) has a new chapbook, Jacket of The Straits, coming out on December 1st, from New Michigan Press.

The One Story Cocktail Hour & Reading Series presents Mohan Sikka (MFA Fiction, 2006) on Friday 7 December, 7 pm, at Pianos, 158 Ludlow St., Manhattan. His piece, "Uncle Musto Takes a Mistress," appeared in One Story, Issue #94, June 20, 2007.

The Wolfe Institute for the Humanities and Other Rooms Press Poets present former MFAers Drew Baughman, V.L. Bond, Melissa Christine Goodrum, and L. Sze. Monday, December 3, 2007 from 2:00 to 3:30 in 329 New Ingersoll, Brooklyn College.

November 07 Events

"Memoir as Witness," a reading and discussion by Edwidge Danticat, author of Krik?Krak!, The Farming of Bones, and The Dew Breaker among other novels; her newest title, Brother, I'm Dying, has been nominated for The National Book Award: Thursday 15 November, 3129 Boylan Hall.

Reading by Lou Asekoff at Perch, 365 5th Avenue, Park Slope, November 13, 7:30 pm. Followed by open mic: expect Poetry MFAers from Brooklyn and City Colleges.

Reading by Wythe Marschall at The Lucky Cat in Williamsburg (245 Grand Street), Brooklyn, as part of the EARSHOT bi-monthly reading series: Friday, November 16th, at 8 PM.

"Periodically Speaking," an event organized by The Council of Literary Magazines and Presses and The New York Public Library, presents a reading by Stellar Kim (MFA Fiction, 2005) on Tues 13 November, 6pm, at The New York Public Library on 42nd Street.

Readings by MFA fiction candidates James Jennings and Jennifer Kikoler at the Perch Cafe on Monday, November 12, 7 pm, at the Perch Cafe in Park Slope (365 Fifth Ave., between 5th & 6th Sts., 718-788-2830).

Readings by MFA poetry candidates Nora Almeida, Philip Angel, Wendy Blake, Andrew Hughes, William Sanders and Sara Wintz on Tuesday 6 November, at the Cornelia Street Café, 29 Cornelia Street, New York NY 10014 (212) 989 9319 (www.corneliastreetcafe.com).

Marie-Helene Bertino's story "This is Your Will to Live" will be published in a forthcoming issue of Inkwell magazine.

The Third Brooklyn College Reading Series features current MFA students Emily Beall, Michelle Brule, James Jennings, Stephanie Low, Matt Reeck, Michael Schiavo, Vincent Zompa; Sunday, November 11 at 7pm @ Freddy's Bar and Backroom (485 Dean Street at 6th Ave in Brooklyn).

PEN American Center presents "An Evening on Film and Literature" featuring: Jonathan Baumbach and Noah Baumbach, Sunday, November 11, 2007, 7:00 pm,. Southpaw, 125 Fifth Ave. Park Slope, Brooklyn.

"Selections from the Immoral Fables" by Helen Phillips (MFA Fiction, 2007) appeared in the Fall 2007 issue of the Hotel St. George Press literary magazine; other "Selections" are forthcoming in the Fall 2007 online edition of Small Spiral Notebook and in the Spring 2008 print issue. She also read at the Cornelia Street Cafe on Thursday 11 October.

October 07 Events

Sunday 28 October, 7 pm: inaugural reading event of The Brooklyn Review, esteemed journal of the Brooklyn College MFA program, at Club Midway on Ave B b/t 2nd and 3rd St in the East Village. Featuring MFAers Wythe Marschall, Lance Deal, Philip Solomon Angel, Valerie Work and Matthew Korahais.

Performance by Lumberob also known as Rob Ericksen (MFA playwriting, 2007) at Mo Pitkin's House of Satisfaction on Wednesday 17 October, 7:30 pm, 34 Avenue A between 2nd and 3rd Streets.

"Brooklyn on My Mind": Paula Fox, Phillip Lopate, and Kathryn Harrison, all long-time Brooklyn residents, discuss the memoir form and read selections from their autobiographical works. Leonard Lopate, of WNYC Radio's "The Leonard Lopate Show," moderator. October 22nd, Whitman Hall, 7 pm.

The Brooklyn College Poetry Reading Series at Freddy's Bar & Back Room presents readings by Sara Wintz, Andrew Hughes, Leah Carroll, as well as Rick Pearse and Lou Asekoff, on October 10th, 8-10pm, at Freddy's Bar & Back Room, 485 Dean Street at 6th Ave in Brooklyn.

The short story, "Findings & Impressions" by Stellar Kim (MFA fiction, 2005) was published in this year's Best American Short Stories (Houghton Mifflin, Guest Editor Stephen King), and a second story, "Afterglow" was selected by Joyce Carol Oates and other judges as the first place winner in the Ontario Review's Cater Cooper Memorial Prize (Publication Spring 2008). Finally, this fall, she is a resident at the Macdowell Colony in Peterborough, NH.

Nine Days Falling, a new play by Mac Wellman with MFAers Scott Adkins, Karinne Keithley, Sibyl Kempson and Matt Korahais, among others, will be peformed on Sunday, October 7th, at 7:00 pm at Club Midway, 25 Avenue B (bet 1st and 2nd Streets).

Poetry reading by Thomas Devaney (MFA poetry, 1998), at 2 p.m., October 15, State Lounge, BC Student Center. Thomas Devaney is a senior writing fellow in the English Department at the University of Pennsylvania. His books include The American Pragmatist Fell in Love, Letters to Ernesto Neto, and A Series of Small Boxes and his poems have appeared in The American Poetry Review, Jubilat, Fence, and been translated into French in Arsenal, Java, Poesie, and Double Change.

September 07 Events

Two plays (Strom Thurmond Is Not A Racist and Cleansed) by Tom Bradshaw (MFA playwriting, 2004) were nominated for Outstanding Original Full Length Script by the New York Innovative Theater Awards. The ceremony was held on September 24th. Cleansed will be published in the compilation Plays and Playwrights 2008 in February, and both plays will be published by Samuel French this fall.

Tom Grattan (MFA fiction, 2006) was recently chosen as the winner of the Colorado Review's Nelligan Prize for Short Fiction. The story, entitled "I Am a Souvenir," comes out in the Fall issue of the Colorado Review.

Reading by Lisa Jarnot at 8 pm on September 26th at The Poetry Project at St. Marks Church (131 E. 10th Street, Manhattan).

Reading by Ed Go at Freddie's Back Room (6th and Dean, Brooklyn), 8-10 pm on September 23rd.

Reading of a new play entitled Dawn by Thomas Bradshaw (MFA playwriting, 2004) at the New York Theater Workshop on September 10 at 3pm (83 E. 4th street in Manhattan).

Marie Bertino's story, "Free Ham," won third place in the Kurt Vonnegut Short Fiction Prizes, run by the North American Review; it will appear in their Fall 2007 issue.

Joseph Rogers, Helen Phillips, Marie-Helene Bertino are reading at the Brooklyn Book Fest on Sunday, September 16, 2007 at 12 noon (Brooklyn Historical Society at 128 Pierrepont St, corner of Clinton St.)

August 07 Events

Other Rooms Press presents ORP chapbook series authors Drew Baughman, V.L. Bond & melissa christine goodrum, among others. Hosted by Ed Go and Michael Whalen. Saturday, August 11 2007, 4:00pm - 6:00pm, at The Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery and First Street. All of the aforementioned are MFA Poetry 2005 graduates.

July 07 Events

Emily Mitchell (MFA fiction, 2005) is reading from her first novel, The Last Summer of the World, on July 30th at Barnes and Noble in Park Slope.

"The Extraordinary Fecundity of Life" by Helen Phillips appeared in the summer 2007 issue of the Hotel St. George Press literary magazine alongside an image by Brooklyn College art MFA student Adam Thompson.

June 07 Events

Reading of the play "Kate and Ann Marie" by Deron Bos at Club Midway, June 24th, 7 pm, 25 Avenue B..

BRING A WEASEL AND A PINT OF YOUR OWN BLOOD FESTIVAL: featuring three new works ("For Every Spot Appeared Wholly Occupied By What Once Had Been," "The Life and Opinions of the Nanny Goat Jane," and "Maggie Come Down") that explore adaptation by Erin Courtney, Karinne Keithley, and Kate E. Ryan, June 21-30 at the Thirteenth Street Theatre, located at 136 E. 13th St.

May 07 Events

This year's winners of the Himan-Brown Awards ($2000 each) writing competition are: Fiction-2nd year: Jeanie Gosline, Joseph Rogers, Elliott Holt; Fiction-1st year: Adrianne Hopes, Reese Kwon, Scott Lindenbaum; Playwriting-2nd year: Rob Erickson; Playwriting-1st year: Trish Harnetiaux; Poetry-2nd year: Vincent Zompa, Matthew Maggio; Poetry-1st year: Philip Angel, Leah Moreau Carroll.

Young Jean Lee (MFA playwriting, 2006), won an Obie Award in the category of emerging playwrights. The award, created by the Village Voice in 1955, was handed out May 21 at New York University. Lee’s plays have been published in New Downtown Now (University of Minnesota Press, 2006), an anthology she co-edited with BC professor Mac Wellman, and in Three Plays by Young Jean Lee (Samuel French, 2006). Last year, she received grants from the Foundation for Contemporary Arts, the Rockefeller MAP Foundation, and the Greenwall Foundation.

Vincent Zompa is doing a poetry reading associated with the Best New Poets 2006 anthology at The Ear Inn, 326 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, on Sat.12 May, 3 p.m..

Hugh Merwin's short story, Think of Paramus, won the 2007 Meridian Editor's Prize contest and will be published in its May issue.

Tom Devaney (MFA poetry, 1998) is currently the coordinator of Kelly Writer's House and the Penn Senior Writing Fellow in the English Department at U. Penn. His book, A Series of Small Boxes, will be published this month by Fish Drum Press.

Jess deCourcy Hinds (MFA fiction, 2006) is now the Book Review and Features Editor of Small Spiral Notebook (www.smallspiralnotebook.com), an acclaimed print and online journal of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, interviews, and reviews.

April 07 Events

Jared Bezzant is reading in a Graduate Poetry Series event at the Cornelia Street Café on April 24th at 6 pm. (29 Cornelia Street, Manhattan; www.corneliastreetcafe.com).

Joseph Rogers's story "Proof" is appearing in the April issue of Opium4 magazine.

Linda Susan Jackson's (MFA poetry, 2004) book, What Yellow Sounds Like, will be published by Tia Chucha Press this month. Ms. Jackson was also a finalist in last year's National Poetry Series.

Paul Muldoon is reading at the BC Student Center on April 23, 2-3:30 pm. He is an honorary fellow at Hertford College at the University of Oxford, where he was Professor of Poetry until 2004. His 2002 collection, Moy Sand and Gravel, earned him the 2003 Pulitzer Prize. Other prizes include a 1996 American Academy of Arts and Sciences award, the 1994 T. S. Eliot Prize, and the 2006 European Prize for Poetry. He has been described by The Times Literary Supplement as "the most significant English-language poet born since the second World War."

Andrew Huges is reading for EARSHOT on April 20th at 8 pm, at The Lucky Cat in Williamsburg.

Scott Lindenbaum is reading for THE ENCLAVE III: THE FESTIVAL OF FORNICATION-READING THE PAPERS on Saturday, April 28th 3:30-6:30 PM at Kenny's Castaways, 157 Bleecker Street, Manhattan.

March 07 Events

Matt Reeck is reading for EARSHOT on March 23rd at 8 pm, at The Lucky Cat which is located at 245 Grand Street in Brooklyn, between Driggs and Roebling.

Lisa Jarnot is reading her poetry at the BC Student Center on March 13, 2 to 3:30. Her publications incude three full-length collections of poetry, a forthcoming biography of the San Francisco poet Robert Duncan, and a novel. She not only teaches at BC, but also at Naropa University's Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics, and has given readings throughout the United States and Europe.

"Crime or Emergency" written and directed by Sibyl Kempson will be peformed at Dixon Place, 258 Bowery, New York, NY 10012 on Thursdays and Fridays March 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16 at 8 pm (reservations 212 219 0736, ext.110).

Marie Bertino has just won The Mississippi Review's 2007 Fiction prize; her story ("North Of") will be published in their Spring issue. She has also just been made editorial assistant at One Story after 2 years of reading for them.

Helen Phillips's strange little 3 minute play entitled "The Morton Umbrella Girl Daily Competition: Day 33,945" is being performed at 8 pm on Monday 26 March at Tonic (107 Norfolk Street, Lower East Side) as part of their Little Theatre evening, along with 3-4 other short plays.

February 07 Events

Marcella Durand (MFA poetry, 1995) will be reading in the State Lounge, Brooklyn College Student Center, on Wednesday, February 21 from 2 to 3:30 pm. Her publications include The Anatomy of Oil, Western Capital Rhapsodies, and City of Ports, and her poetry has appeared in Conjunctions, Verse, Ecopoetics, and other journals and anthologies. She has also worked as a poetry editor for Erato Press and other publishers, and served as the program coordinator for the Poetry Project at St. Mark's.

Elliott Holt won 2nd prize in the 2006 Zoetrope: All-Story short fiction contest judged by Mary Gaitskill for her short story, "Evacuation Instructions." She was also one of three finalists for the 2006 Missouri Review Editors' Prize for a story called "Fem Care."

January 07 Events

Six MFAers received one-month residency awards to the ESPY Foundation in Oysterville, WA: Maggie Hill and Jeanie Gosline (Fiction); Andrea Berger and Matthew Maggio (Poetry); and Sibyl Kempson and Amanda Weir (Playwriting).

Fall 06 Events

Prof. Patkowski was away teaching at the University of Paris (Vincennes-Saint Denis) and this column was dormant. Nevertheless, two important events could not be ignored:

Stellar Kim (MFA fiction, 2005) won the First Prize in the Fiction category of the 2006 Iowa Review Awards for Findings and Impressions.

Joseph Rogers won the 2006 fiction contest for Verb: An Audioquarterly (www.verb.org). It is out on cd, and is downlaodable. It's music, poetry, and fiction.

Summer 06 Events

Vincent Zompa's poem 13 Stories was selected for the U. Virginia anthology Best New Poets 2006.

"Grab On To Me Tightly As If I Knew The Way" by Bryan Charles (MFA fiction, 2003) is being published in June by Harper Perennial. This is his debut novel and tells the story of Vim Sweeney as he stumbles towards adulthood.

"From the Air," a novel about World War I by Emily Mitchell (which is based upon her 2004 MFA thesis), will be published by Norton. Her writing has also appeared in The Nation, Utne Reader, and Index on Censorship magazine. She currently teaches English literature and composition at Lehman College in the Bronx.

"Wilderness," a short story by Helen Phillips, is appearing in The L Magazine's Summer Fiction Issue (published August 16). The issue includes stories by Jonathan Ames, Ben Greenman and Cornell MFA-graduate Patrick Somerville. An online edition is available at www.thelmagazine.com.

An evening with: Mac Wellman, Young Jean Lee, Jeffrey M. Jones, Barbara Cassidy; Will Eno; Elana Greenfield; Madelyn Kent; Kevin Oakes; Alice Tuan; Anne Washburn; Erin Courtney to honor the debut publication of New Downtown Now - Ten New Plays (Mac Wellman and Young Jean Lee, editors - Introduction by Jeffrey M. Jones). Reading of excerpts from the plays and discussion, at the Martin E. Segal Theatre Center, The Graduate Center, CUNY (June 20).

Workshop production of Erin Courtney's play "Quiver and Twitch" directed by Sarah Benson at the Powerhouse Theater at Vassar (in Poughkeepsie) produced by New York Stage and Film (July 21-23).

Brian Parks's play "Americana Absurdum" at PS 122 (First Ave and 9th Street) Wednesdays and Thursdays through June 25th.

Scott Adkins's play "For the Nation" at The Flea (41 White Street, Manhattan), June 18th.

May 06 Events

Publication Party for the Brooklyn Review (issue 23) at Heathers Bar in the East Village (13 St and Ave A) featuring readings and performances by MFAers Jared Bezzant, Crystal Brandt, Kelly Copper, Rob Erickson, Tom Grattan, Lindsay Merbaum, and Lou Asekoff. Hosted by Noah Grossman. (May 20th, 7-9 pm)

Trish Harnetiaux' s play I Will Come as a Thief is at the 78th Street Theatre Lab from May 13 to June 4. (236 W 78 St at Bway, 212 868 4444)

Readings by second year students Elliott Holt, Adam Schrader-Brown, Jessica Stillman, Lindsay Merbaum, Richard Louissaint, Luba Burtyk, Mohan Sikka (May 15), and Tom Grattan, Margaret Zamos, David Ellis, Karla Greenleaf-McEwan, Anne Ray, Amelia Kahaney (May 19), at 6 p.m. at Night and Day, 230 Fifth Ave (at President St) in Park Slope (718-399-2162).

2006 CUNY Arts Gala readings by Mary Millsap and Noah Grossman (poetry), Daniel Grushkin (fiction), and Rob Erickson (playwriting), at the Martin E. Segal Theatre, The Graduate Center, CUNY, 365 Fifth Avenue (& 34th Street), May 18, 6:30-8:00 p.m. (212 817 2005).

April 06 Events

Reading by Mac Wellman from a play, Left Glove, and a book of poems, Strange Elegies. Wednesday 5 April, Seminar Room, 2231 Boylan Hall, Brooklyn College.

THE STORYTELLER IN THEATER or BRING A WEASEL AND A PINT OF YOUR OWN BLOOD: new plays by Bianca Bagatourian, Laura Jones-Katz, Sibyl Kempson, and Kristen Kosmas, all past & present Brooklyn College MFA Playwrights at the East 13th St. Theater 136 E. 13th st. between 3rd and 4th aves, March 27 through April 8

Jeffrey Burandt's (MFA fiction, 2005) comic makes its appearance in the April issue of the magazine Details where it will run through the fall.

March 06 Events

Susan Choi reads on Sunday, March 26 at NIGHT & DAY, 320 Fifth Ave., Park Slope, Brooklyn

A reading of Little America by Deron Bos, Sunday March 26 @7:30 PM, 64 Wooster Street (btwn Spring and Broome)

FRAGMENT: assembled from fragments of the lost plays of Euripides and Sophocles, text by Kelly Copper, at Classic Stage Company, 136 East 13th Street, March 22nd through April 9th, Tuesday - Friday at 8, Saturday at 2 & 8, Sunday at 3.

Jessica Treat (MFA fiction, 1989) and author of two books of fiction, and the program's own Jonathan Baumbach read at Night and Day, 230 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn 11215 (Park Slope) on March 20.

Kelly Copper is reading at the next installment of EARSHOT at The Lucky Cat (245 Grand Street), located in Williamsburg on Friday, March 17th, 2006 at 8 PM.

Brooklyn writers Colson Whitehead, Jonathan Lethem, and Phillip Lopate talk about writing in the Borough of Kings in "Brooklyn on My Mind," March 6, at 7 p.m. in Whitman Hall. Tickets are $5, available at the Brooklyn Center box office. For information, call (718) 951-4500.

February 06 Events

Readings by fiction students Hellen Phillips and Lindsay Merbaum for the EARSHOT Series at The Lucky Cat, 245 Grand Street, Williamsburg, on February 10th, 8 pm.

Night and Day, 320 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn 11215 (Park Slope): Feb 26, Reading by Michael Cunningham

January 06 Events

Anselm Berrigan (MFA poetry, 1998), current director of the St. Marks Poetry Project, is publishing his latest full-length collection, Some Notes on My Programming, with Edge Books press.

Night and Day, 320 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn 11215 (Park Slope): Jan 22, Readings by Sapphire, Scott Adkins

The first Himan Brown Creative Writing Awards have been announced. The awards, based on a writing competition held last semester, range from $3000 to $4500, and the recipients are: Marie Bertino, Brian Parks, Karinne Keithley, Sibyl Kempson, Lindsay Merbaum, Amber Reed, Mohan Sikka, and Joanne Steglitz.

Robert Travieso's (MFA fiction, 2005) story "Pool" was published in the Winter 2006 issue of Tin House.

December 05 Events

The Ethyle R. Wolfe Institute for the Humanities and the MFA Program present a fiction reading by faculty members Stacey D'Erasmo and Josh Henkin. The reading will be held in the State Lounge, Brooklyn College Student Center, Tuesday 6 December, 7:00 p.m.

November 05 Events

The Brooklyn Review presents a reading with Mac Wellman, director of our MFA playwriting program, and MFA students Scott Adkins and Kathleen Tolan (playwriting), Mary Millsap (poetry), and Anne Ray and Marie Bertino (fiction) at Pete's Candy Store (709 Lorimer Street, Williamsburg) on 11/11/05 at 6:30 p.m.. For directions: www.petescandystore.com

Joseph Rogers (fiction student) read at 87, which is located at 87 Ludlow Street on the Lower East Side, as part of the EARSHOT series, on November 4th.

October 05 Events

Sapphire, winner of a MacArthur Scholarship for poetry, who received her MFA from Brooklyn College and who is presently teaching in the program, will be reading from her award-winning novel Push in the Gold Room, Brooklyn College Student Center, on October 27th at 12:30 and 3:30 pm.

The new play Bellagio; or Of All Things Made of Metal; or When Grandpa Had Daddy Shot by Mac Wellman, the director of the Brooklyn College MFA playwriting program, was given a staged reading at the Elebash Recital Hall earlier this month.

Erin Courtney, who teaches in the playwriting program, presented a staged reading of her newest play, Quiver and Twitch, at the Segal Theatre last month. The production was directed by Sarah Benson.

September 05 Events

Kelly Copper's new play, Still Life: An American Gothic, will be performed at the New York Theater Workshop on Thursday 8 September, 7:30 pm, 83 East 4th Street. The play, directed by Pavol Liska, features Anne Gridley, Rebecca Henderson, Robert M. Johanson, Fletcher Liegerot, Jackson Lynch, Zachary Oberzan, and Dakota Scott.

Robert Travieso was nominated for a Pushcart Prize for "Bouncing" published in the Summer 2005 issue of Tin House.

May 05 Events

GUEST READING Sydney Lea, founder of the New England Review and Pulitzer Prize finalist Monday 16 May1:40 pm State Lounge, BC Student Center

FACULTY READING Alison Solomon presents a reading of her new play Nan, an imprint, at the Sixth Floor Series, Soho Think Tank, 64 Wooster Street (212 966 9844) Mac Wellman's work-in-progress The Invention of Tragedy will be read by 1001 children of all ages at the Schubert Theater, fifth floor of 721 Broadway, on May 14 7:00 pm, and again the following weekend at the Classic Stage Company, 136 East 13 Street, May 20 and 21, 7:30, and 4:30 + 7:30 pm.

STUDENT READINGS MFA Fiction Student Readings at Brooklyn College

Wednesday, May 11
7 p.m.
State Lounge – Student Union

Polly Brewster
Lewis Braham
Jeffrey Burandt
Alexei Esikoff
Cari Luna

Friday, May 13
7 p.m.
Room 2231, Boylan Hall (the Wolfe Institute)

Stellar Kim
Amy Fox
Philip Kadish
Jennifer Lack
Rob Travieso
Marie Victor

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MFA Fiction Student Readings at other venues

The Frequency Reading Series at the Four-Faced Liar (212 366 0608)
165 West 4th Street
Sunday 15 May - 2:30 pm

Victoria Bond
Drew Baughman
Ed Go
Melissa Goodrum
Chip Livingston
Katy Resch
Lena Sze
Michael Whalen

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2005 CUNYarts Gala (212 817 2005)
Elebash Recital Hall
CUNY Graduate Center
5th Ave/34th Street
Thursday 12 May - 6:30 p,

Drew Baughman
Victoria Bond
Ed Go
Whitney Griffin
Noah Grossman
Amanda Schapel
Mohan Sikka
Lana Sze

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Mohan Sikka is also reading at Cafe Ludlow (EARSHOT series) 87 Ludlow Street
(Manhattan) on Fri 13 May at 8:00 pm
(http://somechick.orangeoblivion.com/ludlow/earshot.html )