August 4, 2014
Cruising Paradise: Tales by Sam Shepard

In Cruising Paradise, Sam Shepard reveals himself an expert storyteller. The short stories and tales (some clearly autobiographical) are at once lonely and wild with humor and humility. “…these stories give readers a most intimate view of the writer who has become synonymous with the recklessness, stoicism, and solitude of American manhood.”

Some of the tales in Cruising Paradise were performed as part of our Festival of One Acts.

We are pleased to announce that our conversation will be led by Pancho Savery. Pancho Savery is Professor of English, Humanities, and American Studies at Reed College, where he teaches courses on modern and contemporary drama ( both American and European), African American literature, nineteenth and twentieth century American literature, and Reed’s required freshman course on the Ancient Mediterranean (Greece, Rome, Persia, Mesopotamia, and Egypt). For the last fourteen years he has worked with Oregon Humanities teaching Humanity in Perspective, a free course for adults; and for the last four years he has been part of the Oregon Humanities program The Conversation Project, in which he travels around the state convening community conversations. His two programs are on censorship and the second amendment. He has also given talks at all the major Portland theatres and is associated with The August Wilson Red Door Project. His poems have appeared in the Oregonian, Hubbub, and elsewhere.