FreeWord Poets from Davidson College.

This month’s meeting of Charlotte Writers’ Club North will feature the Davidson College slam poetry group FreeWord Poets. The meeting is Thursday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m., at Davidson College Presbyterian Church, room 201.

FreeWord Poets is a 2-year-old group that tells stories, plays with words and offers new perspectives on social justice issues. Last April, FreeWord placed in the top 10 at the national College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational (CUPSI) at Emerson College in Boston.

Founded in 1922, Charlotte Writers’ Club is a membership organization whose mission is to support Charlotte’s community of writers. Charlotte Writers’ Club North meets at 7 pm on the first Thursday of each month at Davidson College Presbyterian Church. The public is welcome to attend. More info about Charlotte Writers Club North at www.charlottewritersclub.org.

‘KOKORO’ SYMPOSIUM

Davidson College has planned a series of lectures and literary events around the upcoming stage production of “Kokoro (True Heart)” by Velina Hasu Houston.

The play chronoicles the story of young Japanese mother struggling to adapt to a new life in the United States. This struggle has dire consequences for herself and those around her, especially her young daughter. The heart-wrenching events of the play prompt the audience to question the ways in which culture and spirituality shape our perceptions of truth and morality.

The production runs Feb. 16 to 20. Symposium events are running now through the end of the play’s run. They include discussions about the play, its background and the playwright and a visit by Ms. Houston herself, on Feb. 18. For a full schedule and details, visit the college website.

The symposium is a collaboration of the college theater department, Dean Rusk International Studies Program, Vann Ethics Center, and the Departments of Anthropology, History, English and Political Science, as well as the Asian Studies program. (More information about the play is at the end of this column.)

LITERARY CALENDAR

TUESDAY, FEB. 1

Reading ‘Kokoro’, 11 a.m., Smith 900 Room, Alvarez College Union, Davidson College – Elena Creef, professor of Asian American Women’s Studies at Wellesley College, will speak about “A Playwright with Heart: Reading Kokoro and the Work of Velina Hasu Houston” as part of a series of events connected to the theatre department’s performance of “Kokoro.” Free. For information call 704-894-2440. (More information about “Kokoro” below.)

THURSDAY, FEB. 3

FreeWord Poets, 7 p.m., Davidson College Presbyterian Church, room 201 – Charlotte Writers’ Club North presents Davidson College’s slam poetry group FreeWord Poets. The 2-year-old group tells stories, plays with words and offers new perspectives on social justice issues. Last April, FreeWord placed in the top 10 at the national College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational (CUPSI) at Emerson College in Boston. More info about Charlotte Writers Club North at www.charlottewritersclub.org.

THURSDAY, FEB. 10

Davidson Reads: college authors, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Alvarez College Union Smith 900 Room – 13th annual “Davidson Reads,” a celebration of writing by faculty members. Professor of English Shireen Campbell, director of the writing center, will read from her forthcoming memoir, Frogheart. Professor of English Alan Michael Parker, director of creative writing, is the author of two novels including the just-published Whale Man, and six collections of poems. Free. For information call 704-894-2254.

MONDAY, FEB. 14

Novelist Cris Mazza, 5 p.m., Davidson College Philanthopic Hall, upstairs – A free reading by novelist Cris Mazza, professor in the program for writers at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

FRIDAY, FEB. 18

Conversation and Coffee with Velina Hasu Houston: the playwright of “Kokoro (True Heart)”, 4 p.m., Davidson College Alvarez College Union, Sprinkle Room.

Kokoro: Post-Show Talk Back with the Playwright, Director and Cast (time: after performance) – Davidson College Cunningham Theater Center, Barber Theatre. 704-894-2254.

TUESDAY, MARCH 8

Kevin Prufer Poetry Reading, 5 p.m., Davidson College Carolina Inn, Main Street – Free poetry reading with Kevin Prufer, author of “Fallen from a Chariot,” and “The Finger Bone.” He also is co-editor of “New European Poets” and “Pleiades: A Journal of New Writing.” He is Professor of English and Coordinator of the Creative Writing Program at the University of Central Missouri. More information on the college Website.

THURSDAY, MARCH 17

Art and literature: “10 Days”, 7:30 p.m., Davidson College Alvarez College Union, 900 Room – Alan Michael Parker, an English professor, and Herb Jackson, an art professor, present an art and literature event titled “10 Days.” Free.

MONDAY, MAY 2
U.S. poet laureate W.S. Merwin, 8 p.m., Davidson College, Duke Family Performance Hall. U.S. Poet Laureate W.S. Merwin, a 2-time Pulitzer Prize winner, gives the annual Joel Conarroe Lecture. For more information call 704-894-2254. Free, but tickets required.

KOKORO ON STAGE

FEB. 16-20 – The Davidson College theatre department invites the public to a production of the play “Kokoro,” written by contemporary Asian-American playwright Velina Hasu Houston. “Kokoro” chronicles the story of a young Japanese mother struggling to adapt to the very foreign culture of the United States, and illuminates the degree to which culture and spirituality shape our perception of truth and morality. The play contains adult language and themes and is recommended for ages 14 and up. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 16, 17, 18 and 19, and at 2 p.m. on February 20. All performances are in The Barber Theatre of Cunningham Theatre Center. General admission is $8, or $5 for seniors and $4 for students. Call the Union Ticket Office at 704-894-2135 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays or purchase online at www.davidson.edu/tickets. For general information call 704-894-2930.