WriteOn Joliet presents "Fragments of Time." April 19 &20, 2024. Act 2

WriteOn Joliet presents "Fragments of Time." April 19 &20, 2024. Act I

From Fragments to a Wonderful Whole

Welcome to Day One of Recap Week.

Over the last six weeks, I was blessed to participate three different wonderful events: “Fragments of Time," an original WriteOn Joliet radio theater production, held April 19 and April 20 at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet, the Local Author Fair on April 27 at the Joliet Public Library, and Ye Olde May Fest, May 18 and 19, also at Bicentennial Park.

A link to the radio show's synopsis and details here. 

There are two ways to recap these events and measure their successes. The typical way is share the crowds they drew and the sales those crowds produced. The second typical way is do play down the fact that crowds and sales were small but a "good time was had by all."

But for all three events, the success runs much deeper than that. Still, I'll share the familiar first.

Approximately thirty people attended WriteOn's radio play the first night and thirty-five the second night, which is up by fifteen total attendees than last year - and attracted more general audience than the first year. So that felt very successful to us.

We also gave away forty-six WriteOn Joliet anthologies to attendees.

However, to stop at these facts really doesn't describe the entire experience of how a number of non-related "fragments" became a seamless show.

Nine members of WriteOn Joliet provided the fragments: Denise M. Baran-Unland, Maureen Blevins, Edward Calkins, Holly Coop, Steve Cordin, Diana Estell, Cean Magosky, Jennifer Russ, and Duanne Walton. 

Our fragments included:

1. Different personalities.

2. Different work and "life" obligations, which had to be factored into rehearsal schedules.

3. Different skills and talents.

4. The individual writings that we submitted for the show, all of which were not connected in any way to the other pieces. 

5. Varying distances people traveled to rehearse and present (up to one hour for some).

6. Most of us had little to no stage experience before last year.

From all these pieces, our director is Rachel Veres found the commonalities: a subtle, underlying theme of time. From there, Rachel devised a script, and created a cohesive show from the above six fragments.

Rachel also guided us in how dress (so our very clothes reflected our individualities and the show) where to stand, how to stand, when to enter and exit, and how to speak so our voices carried the show.

She worked with the Bicentennial Park tech crew to mic us, change the cyc wall, and in the use and implementation of sound effects (from everyday materials and sound clips), which Holly Coop masterfully oversaw and executed.

Rachel and Cean also worked closely together on the producing the emcee script. Last year, Cean wrote that script, and he did so again this year. But as the play evolved, so did that script, which underwent numerous rewritings by Cean as the show's concept became clearer to Rachel.

In other words, Rachel wove together the fragments to create one seamless show.

Other significant parts of the whole included Jan Staley and The Book Market in Crest Hill (Jan kept her store open after hours for rehearsal and provided checkout services on show days) and Bicentennial Park for giving us the opportunity.

As a cast, we also created and helped distribute our own marketing materials. And Rebekah Baran served as production assistant and helped wherever we needed help.

Now, this is not the usual way a performance comes together. For one, such a show usually starts with a script. The script isn't "imagined" along the way. Individual original pieces had to be edited for stage. For another, actors usually act, and writers write. In this case, the writer wrote and acted.

As you probably discerned, we had plenty of conflict, disagreements, short tempers, and clashing of schedules and interests.

And, somehow, we navigated all these storms by keeping our eye on the goal: show that entertained and inspired sixty-five people. 

How do we know people were inspired and entertained?

Because we saw people smiling in the lobby with their anthologies in hand. 

Because some people already put the show on their calendar for next year.

Because some people approached us and shared WHY they enjoyed it so much.

Bicentennial Park already has WriteOn Joliet's radio play on its calendar for THREE shows next year (April 25 and April 26, with a matinee and evening performance on Saturday).

A few photos follow, fragments of our complete show.

Enjoy!

Ed Calkins: "Time Piece"

Radio Play Flowers

Last weekend, nine members of WriteOn Joliet held its second annual radio-style theatre performance at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet.

A friend's daughter, also a writer, gave me the bouquet on the left before Friday night's show, along with a lovely card and an even lovelier note that said I was her role model. And she emphasized that point in person after the performance.

Timothy and Jasmine, who both know I love fresh flowers (although I can't inhale too deeply due to my many allergies) gave me the next two bouquets respectively after the Saturday event. Jasmine stressed that her flowers had "BryonySeries purple" and Rebekah, who put all three bouquets in vases, chose the purple one on purpose for Jasmine's flowers.

There's an old saying that says, "friends are the flowers in the garden of life."

I only need to step into my kitchen to know it's true.

Have a beautiful Thursday.

WriteOn Joliet Radio-Player: Denise M. Baran-Unland

WOW!

Nine members of WriteOn Joliet presented “Fragments of Time," an original radio theater production, last night at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet.

And what an opening night it was!

Not only did the performance go well, we had approximately thirty people attend, which was about twenty-five more than we expected for a Friday night with an unknown group of writers performing in a community theater.

We heard some high praise in the lobby from  few people who took a chance on it, who are already making plans for the 2025 event and asking for flyers so they can tell their friends.

If you missed it, we have one more show tonight...and one more opportunity to experience a really unusual and enjoyable production.

Admission is just $5. 

One of the author/performers is, well, me!

And even I have an official biography:

Denise M. Baran-Unland is the author of the phantasmic BryonySeries, which includes the “drop of blood” vampire trilogy for young and new adults, a Gothic prequel for adults, the Limbo trilogy, a standalone werewolf novel, the Adventures of Cornell Dyer mystery series for grade and middle school students, the Girls of the BryonySeries series for tween girls, and the Bertrand the Mouse series for young children.

She has six adult children, three adult stepchildren, nineteen total grandchildren, six godchildren, and four cats.

She is the co-founder of WriteOn Joliet and has published several anthologies for the group.  She previously taught features writing for a homeschool coop, with the students' work published in the co-op magazine and The Herald-News in Joliet.

Denise blogs daily and is currently the features editor at The Herald-News. To read her feature stories, visit theherald-news.com.

For more information about Denise's writings and to follow her on social media, visit bryonyseries.com and dmbaranunland.com.

The other authors and performers tonight are Maureen Blevins, Edward Calkins, Holly Coop, Steve Cordin, Diana Estell, Cean Magosky, Jennifer Russ, and Duanne Walton.

Director is Rachel Veres.

Lobby doors open at 6 p.m. Concessions and drinks will be available for purchase. WriteOn Joliet books and anthologies will be available for purchase one hour before the show, during intermission and immediately after the show’s conclusion.

The Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre is at 201 West Jefferson Street, downtown Joliet, 60432.

For tickets and more information, visit bicentennialpark.org or contact the office: 815-724-3761 or bipark@joliet.gov.

For more information, visit writeonjoliet.com.

WriteOn Joliet Radio Player: Rebekah Baran

No show can go on without a production assistant that does the miscellaneous behind-the-scenes grunt work: running errands, stuffing scripts, picking up and distributing flyers, helping to collect sound effect items, assisting with technology at rehearsals, filling in for performers during scheduling conflicts, looking for clothing in the right colors, and running WriteOn Joliet meetings as needed.

But that's exactly some of the tasks WriteOn member Rebekah Baran has executed since January.

In case you missed previous posts, nine members of WriteOn Joliet will present “Fragments of Time," an original radio theater production, at 7 p.m. April 19 and April 20 at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet.

Admission is $5.

Rebekah Baran has a knack in learning technology very quickly and easily taught herself the basics of website design, formatting manuscripts for print books and eBooks, book cover design, and the basics of self-publishing.

She is the to-go production person for all of the BryonySeries books and the WriteOn Joliet anthologies and website.

Rebekah earned an Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts from Joliet Junior College in 2016 and has worked as a pastry chef, prep cook, and assistant sous chef in Will County restaurants.

She loves, baking, cooking, reading, researching new products, and all things pertaining to Asian culture.

Contact Rebekah at dmbaranunland@gmail.com. 

The authors and performers on April 19 and April 20 are Denise M. Baran-Unland, Mauverneen Blevins, Edward Calkins, Holly Coop, Steve Cordin, Diana Estell, Jennifer Russ, and Duanne Walton.

Lobby doors open at 6 p.m. Concessions and drinks will be available for purchase. WriteOn Joliet books and anthologies will be available for purchase one hour before the show, during intermission and immediately after the show’s conclusion.

The Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre is at 201 West Jefferson Street, downtown Joliet, 60432.

For tickets and more information, visit bicentennialpark.org or contact the office: 815-724-3761 or bipark@joliet.gov.

For more information, visit writeonjoliet.com.

WriteOn Joliet Radio Player: Rachel Veres

No one, but especially writers who aren't actors and have no theater training, can deliver an entertaining and polished performance without a director.

We have one - and you should have seen her at work during "tech night" last night. Thanks to Rachel Veres, we now understand terms we didn't understand until our first show last year: Blocking, Q2Q, and cyc wall.

In case you missed previous posts, nine members of WriteOn Joliet will present “Fragments of Time," an original radio theater production, at 7 p.m. April 19 and April 20 at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet.

Admission is $5.

Rachel Veres has a deep love for life and has spent every day in pursuit of her purpose. She lovingly keeps house for her family as a wife and mother and serves women as a home birth and bereavement doula. She spent most of her childhood in the fine arts and so is thrilled when an opportunity to create art with others comes her way. A long-time writer herself, she is pleased to be directing WriteOn Joliet's second radio play. She and her husband recently purchased five acres of land in Montana where they will soon build their dream home and homestead.

You can watch her on Refresh, an independent sci-fi drama hosted on Amazon, and find her work as a doula on her website littlebirdbirth.com. Connect with Rachel on Instagram at @littlebirdbirth and @rachelbonarek.

The authors and performers on April 19 and April 20 are Denise M. Baran-Unland, Mauverneen Blevins, Edward Calkins, Holly Coop, Steve Cordin, Diana Estell, Jennifer Russ, and Duanne Walton.

Lobby doors open at 6 p.m. Concessions and drinks will be available for purchase. WriteOn Joliet books and anthologies will be available for purchase one hour before the show, during intermission and immediately after the show’s conclusion.

The Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre is at 201 West Jefferson Street, downtown Joliet, 60432.

For tickets and more information, visit bicentennialpark.org or contact the office: 815-724-3761 or bipark@joliet.gov.

For more information, visit writeonjoliet.com.

WriteOn Joliet Radio-Player: Duanne Walton

Nine members of WriteOn Joliet will present “Fragments of Time," an original radio theater production, at 7 p.m. April 19 and April 20 at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet.

Admission is $5.

One of the author/performers is Duanne Walton. 

Duanne, who is working on a mystery thriller, is known as an intrepid videographer and writes nicely structured stream of consciousness pieces.

He said, "Writing is my gift from God and it's been with me forever. It's seen me through rough times and brought me to WriteOn Joliet where I've found support, encouragement and friends. 

"I've also discovered other talents as an intrepid videographer, interpretive dancer or mime, and comic strip writer artist. I am blessed and thankful."

Unlike many of us, Duanne is extremely relaxed and confident in front of a microphone. Give him any piece and he can execute brilliantly on the first read. Come out and see for yourself!

The other authors and performers on April 19 and April 20 are Denise M. Baran-Unland, Mauverneen Blevins, Edward Calkins, Holly Coop, Steve Cordin, Diana Estell, and Jenny Russ.

Director is Rachel Veres.

Lobby doors open at 6 p.m. Concessions and drinks will be available for purchase. WriteOn Joliet books and anthologies will be available for purchase one hour before the show, during intermission and immediately after the show’s conclusion.

The Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre is at 201 West Jefferson Street, downtown Joliet, 60432.

For tickets and more information, visit bicentennialpark.org or contact the office: 815-724-3761 or bipark@joliet.gov.

For more information, visit youtube.com/@4thtroika and writeonjoliet.com.

 

Watch For These Nine Key Phrases

Next Friday and Saturday night, nine members of WriteOn Joliet will present “Fragments of Time," an original radio theater production, at 7 p.m. April 19 and April 20 at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet.

Admission is just $5.

And here's a game you can play at the event. Below are nine phrases that WriteOn Joliet Radio-Player Mauverneen Blevins has periodically posted on her Facebook page over the last couple of weeks.

Pay attention to the phrases during the show. When you hear it, match the phrase to the piece in which it appears.

If you find them all, stop at the BryonySeries table on your way out the door for a small gift.

Have fun!

"Consult your crystal ball and get back with me."

 "...live from a place no dirtbag has gone before."

 "Knit one, purl two"

"What about the sledgehammer?"

"Or maybe we just make you an offer you can't refuse."

"Objection, your honor."

"I am here to thwart you foul villain!"

"Take a twirl with me..."

"Things could always be worse..."

Authors and performers on April 19 and April 20 are Denise M. Baran-Unland, Maureen Blevins, Edward Calkins, Holly Coop, Steve Cordin, Diana Estell, Cean Magosky, Jennifer Russ, and Duanne Walton.

Director is Rachel Veres.

Lobby doors open at 6 p.m. Concessions and drinks will be available for purchase. WriteOn Joliet books and anthologies will be available for purchase one hour before the show, during intermission and immediately after the show’s conclusion.

The Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre is at 201 West Jefferson Street, downtown Joliet, 60432.

For tickets and more information, visit bicentennialpark.org or contact the office: 815-724-3761 or bipark@joliet.gov.

For more information, visit writeonjoliet.com.

WriteOn Joliet Radio-Player Jenny Russ

Good morning!

If you've popped into this blog in the past, you may know that nine members of WriteOn Joliet will present “Fragments of Time," an original radio theater production, at 7 p.m. April 19 and April 20 at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet.

Admission is $5.

One of the author/performers is Jennifer Russ.

Jennifer Russ is a freelance writer focusing on animal welfare and human rights. They are the author of “The Heart’s Bone,” a fictional account of Tibet’s youngest self-immolators, and “Whitewallsville: One Man’s Journey Through Tigers, Frozen Birds, and Suicide,” a story of grief and redemption set within the walls of a mental institution. 

She also recently published a third book under a pen name, which reached the number one spot on Amazon in its category.

When Jennifer is not tackling the serious topics, they enjoy petting dogs, smelling old books, cosplay, and traveling the world.

The other authors and performers on April 19 and April 20 are Denise M. Baran-Unland, Mauverneen Blevins, Edward Calkins, Holly Coop, Steve Cordin, Diana Estell, Cean Magosky, and Duanne Walton.

Director is Rachel Veres.

Lobby doors open at 6 p.m. Concessions and drinks will be available for purchase. WriteOn Joliet books and anthologies will be available for purchase one hour before the show, during intermission and immediately after the show’s conclusion.

The Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre is at 201 West Jefferson Street, downtown Joliet, 60432.

For tickets and more information, visit bicentennialpark.org or contact the office: 815-724-3761 or bipark@joliet.gov.

For more information, visit writeonjoliet.com.

WriteOn Joliet Radio-Player: Cean Magosky

Good morning! 

Nine members of WriteOn Joliet will present “An Evening With WriteOn Joliet: Readings to Entertain and Inspire You” on April 22 at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet.

Admission is $5.

One of the author/performers is Cean Magosky. 

You might recognize the Magosky name. Cean's family had owned the P. Seth Magosky Museum of Victorian Life and Joliet History and generously let us film the Bryony book trailer and the music video to the BryonySeries theme song (also named "Bryony) in the museum in April 2012.

Cean's family also let us take photos of their wonderful museum and help promote it to the community. Some of us shot photos in the doll room, our filmmakers shared some stills, and Sarah shared her impressions (and a few photos) in this post.

The Magoskys lent us clothes for shooting the videos and for our VampFest fundraiser and opened up the museum more than once for BryonySeries photo shoots, including this one for The Morris Herald News. 

Cean is returns to radio play for the second year. A WriteOn Joliet member, Cean is a surgical nurse by day and writer and musician in the remaining time. Current writing projects include researching and writing on the life of Joliet architect F. S. Allen and 19th century school architecture, which has made him an accidental postcard collector.

As surgical nurse, Cean has presented on the regional and national level and was a member of Northwestern Medicine Nursing Ambassadors for the Fine Arts and contributed to their project Listening to Life.

His children’s story Oatmeal Raisin Bear was featured in LocalLit, a newsletter I conceived and wrote for The Herald-News for several years.

Cean also writes and publishes a blog on Joliet history and architecture. He is also republishing the books his brother and father wrote on Joliet history and Shorewood history.

The other authors and performers on April 19 and April 20 are Denise M. Baran-Unland, Mauverneen Blevins, Edward Calkins, Holly Coop, Steve Cordin, Diana Estell, Jenny Russ, and Duanne Walton.

Director is Rachel Veres.

Lobby doors open at 6 p.m. Concessions and drinks will be available for purchase. WriteOn Joliet books and anthologies will be available for purchase one hour before the show, during intermission and immediately after the show’s conclusion.

The Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre is at 201 West Jefferson Street, downtown Joliet, 60432.

For tickets and more information, visit bicentennialpark.org or contact the office: 815-724-3761 or bipark@joliet.gov.

For more information, visit historicimpressions.blogspot.com and writeonjoliet.com.

WriteOn Joliet Radio-Player: Diana Estell

Good morning!

Nine members of WriteOn Joliet will present “Fragments of Time," an original radio theater production, at 7 p.m. April 19 and April 20 at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet.

Admission is $5.

One of the author/performers is Diana Estell.

The joy and pains of Diana's personal story, as well as her educational background, have shaped her writing style.

Diana has a Bachelor of Arts from Northern Illinois University and it was there, while writing for her classes in anthropology, that her love of writing re-awoke.

Growing up, Diana had a book in her hand constantly, books like Little House on the Prairie, Little Women, and countless others.  

The love of words is a deep passion of hers. She enjoyed reading the dictionary, taking words and changing them into new words.  

Words were her imaginary playground, a veritable lush garden, springing out blossoms of creativity.

When Star Wars blasted into orbit, so too did Diana’s love for all things fantasy. Dungeon and Dragons and Star Trek played a significant role in her private imaginary world. 

Now the worded playground, with its abundant flora, sprung forth thorns of sharpened steel. Planets and creatures emerged with ease. This passion for fantasy has never left but has grown stronger.

Diana has traveled extensively, most recently to Paris, France. Her love for history, martial arts and weapons is woven into her writings. She has a black belt in a martial arts blend of Taekwondo and Jujitsu. 

She had anticipated she would be going on archeological digs after graduating, but childhood dreams never die.  No matter how many layers of her past accumulated, nothing could stop a story from emerging in her mind.

Diana's first novel, Abyss of the Fallen, was released by Brimstone Fiction in 2020.

For more information, visit dianaestell.com.

The other authors and performers on April 19 and April 20 are Denise M. Baran-Unland, Mauverneen Blevins, Edward Calkins, Holly Coop, Steve Cordin, Cean Magosky, Jenny Russ, and Duanne Walton.

Director is Rachel Veres.

Lobby doors open at 6 p.m. Concessions and drinks available for purchase. WriteOn Joliet books and anthologies will be available for purchase one hour before the show, during intermission and immediately after the show’s conclusion.

The Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre is at 201 West Jefferson Street, downtown Joliet, 60432.

For tickets and more information, visit bicentennialpark.org or contact the office: 815-724-3761 or bipark@joliet.gov.

For more information, visit dianaestell.com and writeonjoliet.com.

                                                                                                                                                                                        

WriteOn Joliet Radio-Player: Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara

This past week, I've shared posts about the individual performers in WriteOn's upcoming and second radio theater-style performance.

Here is one who already gets plenty of attention on this blog and is now about to get a little more: Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara.

Ed is one of nine members of WriteOn Joliet who will present “Fragments of Time," an original radio theater production, at 7 p.m. April 19 and April 20 at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet.

Admission is $5.

Ed Calkins is a real, 60-something, proud of his Irish-heritage computer programmer and amateur writer who has also spent his entire life working in newspaper circulation. Years ago, Calkins invented a "ruthless dictator" alter ego, also known as "The Steward of Tara."

With Calkins' permission, BryonySeries author Denise M. Baran-Unland furthered altered him to create a minor character in "Bryony," making Calkins the first Irish vampire of any significance. 

Of course, Calkins claims "Bryony" is really all about him, so he’s held his own book signings, which he is calls, "The Ed Calkins Tour." There must be some truth in his sentiments, because Calkins' plot importance does grow with each novel in the original BryonySeries trilogy

The post "Twenty Questions With Ed Calkins" will give more insight into the man, the myth, the character, and the author.

Calkins is the author of "The Fifth," (his backstory) “Ruthless” (also his backstory) and “Denise M. Baran-Unland's Irish Genealogy.” He also shares his writings on the BryonySeries blog. Email him at bryonyseries@gmail.com.

The other authors and performers on April 19 and April 20 are Denise M. Baran-Unland, Mauverneen Blevins, Holly Coop, Steve Cordin, Diana Estell, Cean Magosky, Jenny Russ, and Duanne Walton.

Director is Rachel Veres. 

Lobby doors open at 6 p.m. Concessions and drinks available for purchase. WriteOn Joliet books and anthologies will be available for purchase one hour before the show, during intermission and immediately after the show’s conclusion.

The Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre is at 201 West Jefferson Street, downtown Joliet, 60432.

For tickets and more information, visit bicentennialpark.org or contact the office: 815-724-3761 or bipark@joliet.gov.

For more information, visit bryonyseries.com and writeonjoliet.com.

WriteOn Joliet Radio-Player: Steve Cordin

Good morning! 

The introductions to the 2024 WriteOn Joliet Radio-Players and details about this year's show continue today. If you missed meeting the other authors and performs, don't worry. I'm including a complete cast list in this blog and a link to the two performers already featured. 

Here we go!

Nine members of WriteOn Joliet will present “Fragments of Time," an original radio theater production, at 7 p.m. April 19 and April 20 at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet.

Admission is $5.

One of the author/performers is Steve Cordin.

Steve usually lurks in the outskirts of Joliet, Illinois, to pay the bills and bar tabs. He has worked in banking as a repo man, foreclosure guru, and fraud investigator.  

He writes about fraud and crime, and he also writes horror fiction. Cordin is currently working on a collection of crime fiction short stories. 

Steve was a contributor to Jacked: A Crime Fiction Anthology. The book is available on Amazon. 

Another of Steve's crime fiction, Tiger by the Tail, was recently published by Storiaverse, a new platform for read-watch stories.

Contact Steve Cordin at sjcordin@gmail.com.

The other authors and performers on April 19 and April 20 are Denise M. Baran-Unland, Maureen Blevins, Edward Calkins, Holly Coop, Diana Estell, Cean Magosky, Jenny Russ, and Duanne Walton.

Director is Rachel Veres.

Lobby doors open at 6 p.m. Concessions and drinks available for purchase. WriteOn Joliet books and anthologies will be available for purchase one hour before the show, during intermission and immediately after the show’s conclusion.

The Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre is at 201 West Jefferson Street, downtown Joliet, 60432.

For tickets and more information, visit bicentennialpark.org or contact the office: 815-724-3761 or bipark@joliet.gov.

For more information, visit writeonjoliet.com.

WriteOn Joliet Radio-Player: Holly Coop

Good morning! 

As I promised yesterday, I'm planning to introduce you to each of the 2024 WriteOn Joliet Radio-Players and flood this blog with show details over the next couple of weeks.

Of course, this is for marketing purposes...because I want you to see our unique and diverse talents and make you curious how we are taking that to create one seamless show.

Nine members of WriteOn Joliet will present “Fragments of Time," an original radio theater production, at 7 p.m. April 19 and April 20 at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet.

Admission is $5.

One of the author/performers is Holly Coop, for whom touching hearts with words has become a life purpose.

Holly writes and publishes inspirational poetry, motivational quotes, and spiritual insights. As the author of five poetry collections, Holly hopes her words will stir hearts and inspire others in their purpose.

She also enjoys sketching, creating photo notecards and art, and featuring her poetry. at hollycoopcards.Etsy.com.

At hollycoopauthor.wordpress.com, Holly shares reflections, nuggets of wisdom, and anything that comes to mind.

She also blogs for the Romeoville Art Society at romeovilleartsociety.org/blog.

Holly resides in Joliet, Illinois with her husband, children, and furry friends.

Her poetry collections are available for purchase at: HollyCoopBooks.com and The Book Market Sales and Trading Center in Crest Hill.

Holly's books are also available in the local author collection at the Joliet Public Library. 

The other authors and performers on April 19 and April 20 are Denise M. Baran-Unland, Mauverneen Blevins, Edward Calkins, Steve Cordin, Diana Estell, Cean Magosky, Jenny Russ, and Duanne Walton.

Director is Rachel Veres. Holly also coordinated all of the sound effects for "Fragments of Time."

Lobby doors open at 6 p.m. Concessions and drinks available for purchase. WriteOn Joliet books and anthologies will be available for purchase one hour before the show, during intermission and immediately after the show’s conclusion.

The Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre is at 201 West Jefferson Street, downtown Joliet, 60432.

For tickets and more information, visit bicentennialpark.org or contact the office: 815-724-3761 or bipark@joliet.gov.

For more information, visit writeonjoliet.com.