LOUISVILLE, Ky. — “Agnes of God” playwright John Pielmeier and current and former Axton literary fellows will read from their works during the spring Axton reading series, which also features a workshop, master class and an April literary festival.
UofL’s English department brings in distinguished writers through the Anne and William Axton Reading Series of free, public literary events funded by and named for Anne Axton and her late husband, a former English professor.
Here’s the spring reading series on UofL’s Belknap Campus:
—Jeffrey Bean, Central Michigan University assistant professor of English and the 2006-08 Axton fellow in poetry at UofL. His first poetry collection, “Diminished Fifth,” was published last year, and his poems also have been published in several journals and poetry reviews. He will read from his work at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28 in Ekstrom Library’s Bingham Poetry Room, and lead a master class at 10 a.m. Jan. 29 in Room 300, Bingham Humanities Building.
—John Pielmeier, playwright, screenwriter and former Actors Theatre of Louisville performer. He is best known for the 599-performance run of “Agnes of God” on Broadway but he also has written dozens of scripts for film and screen. His film “Sins of the Father” will be shown at 4 p.m. Feb. 4 in Room 205, Bingham Humanities Building. Pielmeier will give a reading at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Cressman Center for Visual Arts, 100 E. Main St., and lead a 10 a.m. workshop Feb. 5 in Room 300, Bingham Humanities Building.
—Heather Slomski, the current Axton fellow in fiction. Her work has been published in several journals including Poet Lore and Columbia: A Journal of Literature and Art. She will read from her work at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25 in Ekstrom Library—s Bingham Poetry Room.
—Axton Literary Festival: The Story of Form, April 1-2. The festival will explore the idea of form across the arts, ranging from literature to baking to music, beginning with Ukrainian emigrant author Yuriy Tarnawsky’s reading and discussion of his mininovel. The festival schedule and locations will be announced later in the spring.