Manhattan Plaza

With his first collection of poetry, Manhattan Plaza, James B. Nicola joins the ranks of poets Frank O’Hara and Stanley Kunitz and humorist Robert Benchley as a New York author originally from Worcester, Massachusetts. James has been widely published in periodicals including The Atlanta Review, Tar River, Texas Review, Lyric, Nimrod, and Blue Unicorn stateside, and overseas in journals as exotic as The Istanbul Review and Poetry Salzburg. He also won the Dana Literary Award, a People’s Choice award (from Storyteller) and a Willow Review award; was nominated twice for a Pushcart Prize and once for a Rhysling Award; and was featured poet at New Formalist. A Yale grad and stage director by profession, his nonfiction book Playing the Audience won a Choice award. Also a composer, lyricist, and playwright, his children’s musical Chimes: A Christmas Vaudeville premiered in Fairbanks, Alaska, where Santa Claus was rumored to be in attendance on opening night.

James B. Nicola
Manhattan Plaza
AUTHOR EVENT, Saturday, NOVEMBER 22ND
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Westborough Shopping Center, Westborough, Mass.
Route 9 & Lyman St. • 508-366-4959
Open Mon - Sat 9am - 9pm, Sunday 10am - 6pm
www.tatnuck.com

An Evening NOT with Robert Benchley

Tuesday September 30, 2014, at 6:30 p.m. To celebrate Worcester-born writer and humorist Robert Benchley's 125th birthday this September, local poet and performer Paul Szlosek with present a selection of dramatic readings of the author’s work. For more information please call 508-799-1655 or visit the Events Calendar on worcpublib.org.

Location: Worcester Public Library - Main Branch - Saxe Room, 3 Salem Street, Worcester, Massachusetts

Benchley in Worcester

Theatre - Performance
Thursday, August 23, 2012, 6:30 PM-8:30 PM
Worcester (Mass) History Museum's Fletcher Auditorium

Have a glass of wine -- or two -- and enjoy the wit and whimsy of some of Worcester's greatest writers. "Benchley, Behrman, & Bishop," the final in the a three-part performance series, will be on August 23 and promises laughs with a reading of "The Sex Life of the Polyp," from Robert Benchley's 1928 outrageously hilarious short film, which documents a dim-witted doctor attempting to describe the sex life of a polyp to a women's club. Excerpts from "The End of Summer" by S.N. Behrman will also be performed. Considered to be one of Behrman's best-written plays, "The End of Summer" details the story of a liberal household threatened by a devious psychoanalyst who is able to play upon their weaknesses in his desire for wealth and power. Poetry by Elizabeth Bishop will also be read.

An honor bar and hors d'oeuvres will be available.

Benchley in Worcester

Theatre - Performance
Thursday, August 23, 2012, 6:30 PM-8:30 PM

Worcester (Mass) History Museum's Fletcher Auditorium

Have a glass of wine -- or two -- and enjoy the wit and whimsy of some of Worcester's greatest writers. "Benchley, Behrman, & Bishop," the final in the a three-part performance series, will be on August 23 and promises laughs with a reading of "The Sex Life of the Polyp," from Robert Benchley's 1928 outrageously hilarious short film, which documents a dim-witted doctor attempting to describe the sex life of a polyp to a women's club. Excerpts from "The End of Summer" by S.N. Behrman will also be performed. Considered to be one of Behrman's best-written plays, "The End of Summer" details the story of a liberal household threatened by a devious psychoanalyst who is able to play upon their weaknesses in his desire for wealth and power. Poetry by Elizabeth Bishop will also be read.

An honor bar and hors d'oeuvres will be available.

Benchley in Worcester

On Thursday, June 28th, Robert C. Benchley returned to his native Worcester, Massachsetts, for an evening at the Worcester Historical Museum. The program by American Classic Theater featured readings and dramatic presentations of works by Worcester natives Robert C. Benchley, S.N. Behrman, and Elizabeth Bishop. The highlights of the evening were dramatic recitations of "The Treasurer's Report" and "Swing Music" by guest artist Nat Benchley, grandson of Robert Benchley.

Other performers under the direction of James B. Nicola were Barbara Guertin, Rob Lynds, Anna Marie Shea, and Derek Sylvester. The program included an excerpt from S.N. Behrman's Biography and several shorter pieces by Behrman, Bishop, and such authors as Charles Olson, Frank O'Hara, and Stanley Kunitz. Robert Benchley's friend and Round Tabler Dorothy Parker was represented by readings of "Two-Volume Novel," "One Perfect Rose," and "Resume." Readings of Mr. Benchley's "Rules and Suggestions for Watching Auction Bridge," "How to Watch a Chess Match," and "Watching Baseball" kept the audience laughing.

Other dates in the series are Thursday, July 26th and Thursday, August 23rd. Robert Benchley's grandson, Nat Benchley, creator of the one-man show "Benchley Despite Himself," will be participating on all three dates.

Attending from the Boston "We've Come for the Davenport" Chapter of the Robert Benchley Society were Andrea Cormier, Christopher Morgan, and David and Mary Trumbull.

American Classic Theater is a non-profit theatre troupe dedicated to the presentation, promotion, and celebration of American plays, playwrights and the American experience.

The Worcester Historical Museum, founded in 1875, is the only organization solely dedicated to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of Worcester's unique history from all time periods and subject areas.

Benchley in Worcester

Bob Benchley returns to his native city of Worcester, Massachusetts, in a three-evening series that begins Thursday, June 28, 2012 from 6:30 p.m. through 8:30 p.m. Other dates in the series are Thursday, July 26th and Thursday, August 23rd. Robert Benchley's grandson, Nat Benchley, creator of the one-man show "Benchley Despite Himself," will be participating on all three dates.

Worcester Historical Museum is pleased to announce a partnership with American Classic Theatre for a three-part summer series: Benchley, Behrman and Bishop: Wit, Wisdom and Whimsy from the Great Writers of Worcester.

Each evening will have a unique focus, with material coming from the drawing-room comedies of S.N. Behrman, the humor of Algonquin Round Table member Robert Benchley, the exquisite poetry of Elizabeth Bishop, and their contemporaries. These three remarkably talented people called Worcester their hometown before moving on to the literary circles of New York City. American Classic Theatre's Artistic Director James B. Nicola will direct. Each performance will feature an honor bar and hor d'ourves.

The June reading will incorporate scenes from Biography. Written by S.N. Behrman and first performed in 1932, Biography is a brilliant take on media overexposure when a single woman, semi-famous for painting celebrities’ portraits, is asked to write her memoirs. The play went on to become a feature film in 1934 staring Ann Harding and Robert Montgomery. Other notable works that will be featured are "How to Watch A Chess Match" by Robert Benchley and "The Fish" by Elizabeth Bishop. The evening will also feature pieces by Dorothy Parker, Charles Olson, Frank O'Hara, and Worcester's poet laureate, Stanley Kunitz, along with a special guest.

Cost: $20.00 per person. Info info@worcesterhistory.net or 508-753-8278.