![\"\"](\"https:\/\/hr1981.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Speakeasy-Banner-1024x566.png\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe June 17 Speakeasy will feature:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Pia Massie:<\/strong> filmmaker, teacher, activist<\/li>
- Jessica Krash:<\/strong> composer<\/li>
- Gregg Lachow:<\/strong> actor, director<\/li>
- And <\/strong>a nostalgic trip to his hometown with host Russ Gershon.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The May 20 Speakeasy featured:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Alice Randall<\/a><\/strong>: novelist, teacher, cookbook author, songwriter, screenwriter <\/em><\/li>
- Stuart Fullerton<\/a>: <\/strong> painter, teacher<\/em><\/li>
- Chris Owens<\/a><\/strong>: musician, activist<\/em><\/li>
- And<\/strong> host Russ Gershon attempts to cook some recipes out of Alice Randall’s Soul Food Love<\/a> cookbook<\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The April 15 Speakeasy featured:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Siri Smedvig<\/a><\/strong>: professional violinist, visual artist (YouTube channel)<\/a>.<\/em><\/li>
- Brenda Prescott<\/a><\/strong>: on her first novel<\/a>, Home Front Lines<\/a><\/em>.<\/li>
- Doug Fitch<\/a><\/strong>: opera director, visual artist, ace collaborator<\/a> and inspired leader. <\/em><\/li>
- Plus<\/strong> a short video feature about, well, a giant pile of salt<\/strong>. <\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
March 18 guests<\/strong> were: <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Nick Newlin<\/strong><\/a>: musician, juggler, man of the theater<\/em><\/li>
- Heather Corbally Bryant<\/strong><\/a>: poet<\/em><\/li>
- Susan Stevenson Borowitz<\/strong><\/a>: photograph<\/em>er<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Register now for the next Speakeasy<\/a><\/strong>
The Speakeasy: A series of conversations with classmates<\/strong> hosted by Russ Gershon \u201881, whose career as a touring musician has demanded his presence in speakeasies and the occasional \u201cclass joint” around the world for decades. Topics will begin but not end with classmates\u2019 work in and around the arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Speakeasy is open the third Thursday of each month from 8-10 EST, starting on March 18 and continuing until we run out of people and topics \u2013 which may not be until our fiftieth reunion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each episode features two or three classmates sharing their work via video, photos \u2013 even \u201clive\u201d \u2013 and talking with Russ about work and life. Pandemic times and our somewhat alarming age bracket inspire us to think, these days, about where we\u2019re been and where we\u2019re going \u2013 the big stuff. But as befitting a speakeasy, the tone will not be too heavy \u2013 we\u2019ll gather to enjoy the company and talk about music, art, literature, and the series of pratfalls we call \u201clife.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
After each interview, the floor is open to a bit of Q&A. And after the Speakeasy proper, the guests and host jump to HR1981\u2019s private room at Sophya, a \u201cproximity site,\u201d for the Afterparty. It\u2019s a more fluid environment than Zoom, perfect for a virtual party, and easy to navigate. (Here\u2019s the link<\/a>. Use Chrome or Edge browser.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Speakeasy does its socially distanced best to create the feel of an in-person reunion event and casual afterparty, occasions to interact with classmates we know well, not so well \u2013 or not at all. Drop by any time, and don\u2019t forget to BYO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guests will include…<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Susie Kendall \u2013 singing in the Tanglewood Festival Choir and other groups<\/li>
- Chris Owens \u2013 George Floyd: Say Their Names (music)<\/li>
- Jeanne Heifetz \u2013 visual art \u2013 graphite on paper, graphite on stone, textiles with delicate metal and glass<\/li>
- Jessica Krash \u2013 music<\/li>
- Siri Smedvig \u2013 music, visual arts<\/li>
- Elise Paschen \u2013 poetry<\/li>
- David Rothman \u2013 poetry, music<\/li>
- Lois Nesbitt \u2013 fine art and design<\/li>
- Dan Jacobs \u2013 collecting and uncollecting art<\/li>
- Cynthia Zarin \u2013 poetry<\/li>
- Stuart Fullerton \u2013 painting<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re looking for more. <\/strong>Feel free to suggest yourself or others: russ@accuraterecords.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The June 17 Speakeasy will feature: Pia Massie: filmmaker, teacher, activist Jessica Krash: composer Gregg Lachow: actor, director And a nostalgic trip to his hometown with host Russ Gershon. The May 20 Speakeasy featured: Alice Randall: novelist, teacher, cookbook author, … Continue reading
- Heather Corbally Bryant<\/strong><\/a>: poet<\/em><\/li>
- Brenda Prescott<\/a><\/strong>: on her first novel<\/a>, Home Front Lines<\/a><\/em>.<\/li>
- Stuart Fullerton<\/a>: <\/strong> painter, teacher<\/em><\/li>
- Jessica Krash:<\/strong> composer<\/li>
- Pia Massie:<\/strong> filmmaker, teacher, activist<\/li>