Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 3 pm
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
Hollywood, CA
Free and Open to the Public

Award-winning Reuters journalist Susan Zeidler will read, sign and discuss her debut novel, “The Practice Room” at St. Stephen’s Hollywood on Saturday, February 27 at 3:00 PM. Zeidler appears as a part of the parish’s ongoing Arts & Reconciliation series. Her visit will be of particular interest to teen readers.

“The Practice Room” tells the story of protagonist Zoey Browne, a young musician who discovers she has the ability to travel back in time through the power of music. Zoey embarks upon a magical journey into a musical world that transforms each time she returns, bringing her closer to uncovering secrets about her family and discovering things about herself she never believed were possible.

“The Practice Room” weaves history and music into a literary ride that takes the reader to settings as varied as Harlem in the 1930s, Woodstock in 1969, the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and a 2002 rock concert in Los Angeles.

Zoey’s journey not only tells the story of one teen’s coming of age and growth as a musician, but also shows how music transcends all boundaries.

Author Susan Zeidler grew up in Baldwin, Long Island, where she developed an early love for the arts. As a musician, Susan has performed around the world in cities as varied as Oslo, Manhattan, and Los Angeles.

Susan holds a B.A. from State University of New York at Albany and an M.S. from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

Admission to the event is free. Free parking is offered in the church lot at Carlos and Gower. St. Stephen’s is located at 6125 Carlos Avenue, Hollywood, 90028.

For more information about “The Practice Room” click here.

Saturday, December 19th, Matinee show at 4:00 p.m., Evening show at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 20th, Evening show at 7:00 p.m.
$10 adults; $5 for ages 17 and under

During the holiday season, Write Act Repertory Company is teaming up with St. Stephen’s to bring you, La Posada (the inn), a wonderful play/musical by Jose Cruz Gonzalez. This is a festive holiday treat for the entire family to enjoy. Aurelio and Anita, an elderly Mexican-American couple, prepare their home to receive guests celebrating Las Posadas. This traditional Christmas custom involves the entire neighborhood reenacting the Holy Family’s journey seeking shelter. Filled with music and nostalgia, Aurelio and Anita recall their first encounter. They transform back magically. We see them fall in love and get engaged, only to face El Nino, Anita’s former fiancé. He takes exception to an “Americano” wooing away his girl. El Nino is a Mexican macho who won’t accept defeat. So Aurelio and El Nino face off in a Mexican showdown where eating spicy “chiles” will win the hand of Anita. La Posada will embrace the hearts and bring laughter to audiences of all ages.

A Christmas concert and holiday bazaar featuring artists from the just-released Dream Records/Universal CD, “Dream Christmas” will celebrate the season at St. Stephen’s on Sunday afternoon, December 13th at 4:00 PM.

The event will include holiday food items and merchandise for sale. Children will be invited to decorate the parish Christmas tree along with other activities.

Guest artists include singer/songwriter Steven Wrabel; pianist and vocalist Joel Bodker; r & b newcomer Sada K and St. Stephen’s 2009 artist-in-residence, Stephen Petree. Additional artists are expected to join the line-up shortly.

The concert will be preceded by a brief bilingual communion service at 3:30. All regularly scheduled Sunday morning classes and services will be cancelled on December 13th to provide for maximum attendance at the afternoon concert event.

Emerging novelist, Christine DeMaio-Rice will read from her book, Blue Valley, at 7:00 PM on Saturday, November 21 at St. Stephen’s.

DeMaio-Rice’s literary work is a historical fantasy that focuses on the relationship between agriculture and the environment, the effect of war on the family, and evolving gender roles after World War II.

Her reading will officially launch St. Stephen’s ‘Emerging Artists Series’, showcasing the artistic talents of our fellow parishioners.

Christine won a prestigious Chesterfield Writing Fellowship and holds an MFA from USC’s cinematic writing program. The screenplay version of Blue Valley won a Monterey County On-Location Award and was a finalist at the Sundance Writing Labs.

The reading will also facilitate fund raising for our Hope in Hollywood Community Garden; details to follow soon.

Admission to the event is free. Parking is free in the church lot at 6125 Carlos Avenue; one block north of Hollywood and Gower.

Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 7 pm
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
Hollywood, CA
Free and Open to the Public

Attorney Mitchell Kamin, President/CEO of the legal rights organization Bet Tzedek, will lead a discussion on justice issues and Judaism as a featured speaker in St. Stephen’s Arts & Reconciliation series on Saturday evening, November 7 at 7:00 PM on the church campus.

Bet Tzedek provides free legal services to more than 10,000 people of every racial and religious background. With a staff of over 60 and more than 1,000 volunteers, Bet Tzedek offers legal advice and representation to the most vulnerable and under served residents of Los Angeles County.

Their services range from Landlord-Tenant issues and Elder Abuse/Neglect cases to Unlawful Debt Collection; Social Security, Medi-Cal & Medicare cases; Alzheimer’s issues; Veteran’s Benefits; Grandparents Raising Grandchildren; Consumer Fraud and Holocaust Reparations, among others.

The organization’s name means “House of Justice” in Hebrew and is a reflection of the central Jewish tenet charging each person with the obligation to advocate the just causes of the poor and helpless.

Mitchell Kamin attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he graduated with a B.A. degree, Phi Beta Kappa and with highest honors, in 1989.  He graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1993.  Following a clerkship with the U.S. Court of Appeals in New York, Mitchell began his legal career as a Skadden Fellow at the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem in New York City.

He is an Adjunct Professor at Loyola Law School and proudly serves as the President of the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Association of California. Mitchell also served as a California delegate to the White House Conference on Aging in Washington D.C. in December of 2005.

Admission to the event is free.  Parking is free in the church lot at 6125 Carlos Avenue; one block north of Hollywood and Gower.

Click here to read about a major legal victory by Bet Tzedek.