Marc Kelly Smith to Bring One Act Plays to Raven Theatre, 11/22-24

Evermore! - Raven Theatre's quarterly showcase of performers from a variety of disciplines - will present its fall programs on two weekends in November. On Sunday, November 17, at 7:30 pm, the program will be Songwriters with Switchback - with the headlining duo Switchback joined by the singer-songwriters Anna Fermin and Al Rose. The following weekend, poet Marc Kelly Smith will perform his trio of original one act plays called Flea Market Friday, November 22 and Saturday November 23 at 8 pm and Sunday, November 24 at 3:30 pm.

Songwriters with Switchback
Sunday, November 17

Switchback - the duo of Brian FitzGerald and Martin McCormack - has entertained crowds with their unique American Roots ~ Celtic Soul blend of music. Brian and Martin play an exciting mix of mandolin, guitar, and bass. Their harmonies have won them comparisons to famous duos, such as the Louvin Brothers, the Everly Brothers, and Simon and Garfunkel. Music Connection Magazine said of Switchback: "The words 'American Roots & Celtic Soul' only begin to describe this unusual act, whose vocal prowess is as pure as it is unique...there is no denying the stunning vocal blends that are achieved by this duo."

On the program with Switchback will be Anna Fermin (backed by Alton Smith) and Al Rose (with sideman Steve Doyle).

An award-winning singer/songwriter, Anna Fermin is well known as the front woman for the Chicago alt-country band Trigger Gospel. Her first solo album The Contender was originally released in 2009 and includes the notable songs "Dragging On" and "Lovely." Her latest EP is Someday Afternoon, released in March 2013. Anna has opened for many notable artists including Johnny Cash, David Crosby, and Neko Case, among others.

Al Rose is a striking songwriter and musician with a unique and powerful vision that continues to jell and focus on his sixth and latest release (2012), "Sad Go Lucky". His previous albums have received extensive airplay on AAA and Americana stations throughout the US along with a bevy of critical praise. He is a mesmerizing transformer when performing live as a solo or with any number of his band, The Transcendos, in any configuration. This drives the songs each night, but the songs have always been what drive the musicians in what The Chicago Tribune has called "one audaciously entertaining ride."

An Evening with Marc Kelly Smith
Performing his trio of one-act plays - Flea Market
Friday, November 22 through Sunday, November 24

Mr. Smith will perform Flea Market - his program of three original one act plays, directed by Jimmy Binns, with Tim Stafford as the Kid.Smith's Flea Market explores the treasures and heartache old men buy at a dear cost and refuse to sell cheap.

Marc Kelly Smith is the founder of the Poetry Slam, a new style of poetic presentation that has spawned one the most important social/literary arts movements of our time.

Born on the southeast side of Chicago, Smith's innate sense of rhythm and unflinching realism has made him one of the country's most compelling performers. Full of grit, his performances break poetic boundaries, giving audiences an acute vision of what poetry is and what it can be. Smith has performed at The Smithsonian Institute, The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, The Art Institute of Chicago, The Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art and many other venues. He has been featured on CNN, 60 Minutes, NPR's Whadda Ya Know, and numerous other TV and radio shows.

Smith continues to host and perform at the Uptown Poetry Slam, held weekly at Chicago's Green Mill for over 20 years. Smith has chalked up more than 1000 performances at the Green Mill, performing to standing room only houses.