Welcome to Monday Night MarshStream!
As many of you know, The Marsh has postponed all in-person shows until further notice, but that won’t stop Monday Night Marsh from continuing to bring you the unique stories we all love. Monday Night MarshStream is our new Monday Night Marsh with a few twists. Every Monday at 7:30pm, we bring you 4 live pieces from performers, both familiar and new, via zoom. Audience members who attend the live stream will also get the chance to perform a short 5 to 10 minute piece! Will it be you?
Join us every Monday at 7:30pm. Wonderful things can happen.
“THE BUS RIDE & THEN SOME!” by Tony Cyprien
Tony was born and raised in Watts, California, by his loving mother and grandmother–and neighborhood gang members. He soon was in juvenile hall and the California Youth Authority. His mother died suddenly and Tony returned home to find strangers living in his house. Months later, at age 17, he was sentenced to San Quentin. In prison he learned to weld, and26 years and 8 days later, paroled to Berkeley, he got a job he loves assembling robotic arms used in medicine. He has also discovered improv and storytelling. He won the very first Moth StorySLAM that he entered, and has been featured at two Moth Mainstage events, as well as two broadcasts on NPR. He has performed solo piece sat TheMarsh, StageWerx, and Shotgun Players. He joined the Marin Shakespeare Returned Citizens TheatreTroupe, for which he is now program manager. Marin Shakes lets him fulfill one of his dreams–to go back into prison and juvenile hall to talk to thousands of those likehimself and tell them “Man, I got a doover. I’m here to tell you what things will look life if you don’t stop!”
“SUCCESS IN MINOR” by Freddy Lee Johnson
Music has always been important to Fred–ever since he walked by the pawnshop at age 15, saw a beat-up trumpet in the window, and knew he had to have it. Sentenced to prison at age 18, a turning point for Fred was joining the San Quentin Stage Band, where he had the opportunity to play with a diverse ensemble and share the stage with legends such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sheila E., and Vic Damone. When Fred was paroled in 1995, he became involved with Harm Reduction Coalition, a national organization that promotes the health and dignity of individuals and communities impacted by drug use. eventually, he became their director of policy, in which role he traveled the world–including testifying before the US Congress twice–to advocate for needle exchanges and HIV awareness.
Fred was active in harm reduction in Washington D.C., New York City was the Interim Executive Director of the New York Harm Reduction Educators [NYHRE], and in Atlantas the Executive Director of the Atlanta Harm Reduction Coalition, Inc.. Since retiring, he has focused on his music, as well as acting in the two-person play Solitary Man based on letters from solitary confinement. “Hearing voices of formerly incarcerated individuals is a must. The overall impact will continue to chip away at the inhumane injustices of the incarcerated and broader community. It is time, and society as a whole benefits.”
“CEO PASTOR” by Ronnie Muniz
A recognized leader in faith-based supportive services, Pastor Ronnie Muniz has worked tirelessly to help the homeless, youth and formerly incarcerated people of San Francisco. Since his release from prison in 1989 he has worked with a number of high profile organizations as a gang prevention coordinator and youth advocate, with focus on overcoming criminal and addictive thinking, anger management, life skills and relapse prevention. He is the founder and CEO of Saved by Grace Re-Entry Ministries, which helps formerly incarcerated youth and adults with services for employment, education, housing and recovery. As an ex-felon, former gang member, and former drug dealer, Ronnie knows what it takes to turn a life around. “Throughout my life I have made some good and bad decisions, but through it all I truly believe God had, and still has, His hand on my life.” Although More Than That marks his first time appearing on stage, he brings to this project extensive public speaking experience as a preacher, facilitator, and educator. He is celebrating the recent publication (2020) of his life story, I was lost as a man and found by the Son of man, Jesus.
Calling all Storytellers!
Want the chance to tell your story on Monday Night MarshStream? Use the submission link below to submit your short 5 to 10 minutes piece. We feature new performers every week.
Submit Here!
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