THE WINDY CITY, Stories From and About Chicago Opens Monday, 10/23

Write Out Loud - an organization founded in 2007 with a commitment to inspire, challenge and entertain by reading literature aloud for a live audience - announces The Windy City, the second production in their American Season XI, a season that focuses on American stories by American authors. Write Out Loud Story Concerts bring literature to life - aloud - with rehearsed readings by professional actors. Each program explores specific themes by weaving a variety of stories and poems together into a literary tapestry. David Fenner, Monique Gaffney, Catalina Maynard, Veronica Murphy and Walter Ritter will perform in The Windy City, Stories From and About Chicago. A complimentary pre-show reception starts at 6:15pm with a 7:00pm curtain.

Write Out Loud Artistic Director, Veronica Murphy shared, "With The Windy City we examine the culturally, economically and racially diverse literary center that Chicago has become. The city also boasts a rich community of tenacious immigrants from other parts of the country and the world. With these stories we look to find commonality amidst diverse voices - the shared experience that makes us all American."

The Windy City - Selection of Readings

• Catalina Maynard to read two pieces - Eleven and Barbie Q - by Hispanic American author Sandra Cisneros.

• Monique Gaffney and Veronica Murphy to read The Lovers of the Poor by Gwendolyn Brooks.

• Monique Gaffney to read To Be Young Gifted and Black, Excerpt from Chicago: South Side Summers by Lorraine Hansbery

• Veronica Murphy to read the Chicago - the iconic poem by Carl Sandburg.

• David Fenner to read the wonderfully whimsical poetry of Shel Silverstein including The Winner and selections from Where the Sidewalk Ends.

• Walter Ritter to read Sympathy - by Stuart Dybek.

Tickets for The Windy City are $25. There are discounts for seniors, students and military. Purchase tickets on line at www.writeoutloudsd.com or by calling 619-297-8953.

In addition to their six show season of Story Concerts, Write Out Loud provides the community six other core programs serving over 18,000 people annually. Additional programs include TwainFest - a free literary celebration each August in Old Town State Park, Stories for Seniors, StoryBox Theatre for elementary students, NEA BIG READ - Read Imagine Create for teens, Poetry Out Loud and, new this year, Ripples From Walden Pond for high school students.