Open to Public
When Poetry Visits
Free Event
Sat, May 18.2024

A book event celebrating and honoring Laura Rothenberg and her posthumously published volume of poems, When Poetry Visits, featuring live readings by actors Taylor Schilling (Orange is the New Black, Dear Edward), Debra Winger(Terms of Endearment, Rachel Getting Married), Arliss Howard (Full Metal Jacket, Mank), and Babe Howard (Lapsis, With/In).
The poems in this new collection are a meditation on themes such as illness, friendship, family, death, lost innocence, survivor’s guilt, and transcendence by a talented young poet who experienced and endured more in her short life than most people do by old age.
Laura Rothenberg (1981-2003) was born in New York City. At three days old, she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a progressive genetic disease that impacts the lungs, pancreas, and other organs. In spite of many physical difficulties, she lived selflessly and courageously, always helping friends and people she met, often putting their needs before her own. In her posthumously-published memoir Breathing for a Living, Laura depicted her journey to receive the double-lung transplant, as well as the difficult road that followed it. An avid writer of poetry for much of her life, Laura’s final wish was for her poems to be published one day. When Poetry Visits fulfills Laura's wish, revealing new dimensions of her writing, and showing how vigorously and passionately she lived, examined, and expressed her life in the face of her impending death.
Learn more about and purchase Laura Rothenberg's book, When Poetry Visits: https://www.codhill.com/product/when-poetry-visits/
Cast Members
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Taylor Schilling
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Debra Winger
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Arliss Howard
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Babe Howard
Explore Projects
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Domestic ViolenceDomestic Violence Project
Addressing the impact of domestic violence on individuals, families, and communities, the Domestic Violence Project premiered in Maine in April 2013 and will be touring all five boroughs of New York City under the current PAIR residency.
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Caregiving & DeathKing Lear Project
The King Lear Project presents streamlined readings of scenes from Shakespeare’s King Lear to engage diverse audiences—including older adults, caregivers, and family members—in open, healing, constructive, discussions about the challenges of aging, dementia, and caring for friends and loved ones.
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Pandemic & Climate CrisisPoetry for the Pandemic
Using poetry as a catalyst for an Intergenerational performance and discussion during the Covid-19 pandemic.