POETS IN THE PARLOR FEBRUARY 11 AT VACHEL LINDSAY HOME TO FEATURE POET MARCELLUS LEONARD

SPRINGFIELD, IL --  The Vachel Lindsay Association and the Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site will present the first in the monthly 2006 "Poets in the Parlor" series, featuring poet Marcellus Leonard, at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, February 11 at the Lindsay Home, 603 South Fifth Street.

 

            Marcellus Leonard, Ph.D., teaches creative writing at the University of Illinois at Springfield, specializing in poetry and playwriting.  He organizes and performs poetry events throughout the year, often reading accompanied by jazz musicians, vocal solos or recorded music.  Leonard is often a guest at Logan Correctional Center where he works with inmate musicians to create improvised renditions of poetry and whatever kind of music the inmates play.  He has been a member of The Vachel Lindsay Association and a performer with the Vachel Lindsay Repertory Group.

 

            Leonard will read from his own works in response to a few of Lindsay's poems during the February 11 event.  His latest book, Shake the Thunder Down, published in 2005, will also be available for purchase that day.       

        

The event is free and open to the public.  Refreshments will be served following the program.  Tours of the historic home will be offered both before and after the performance.  The video "Look Into Your Heart:  The Challenge of Vachel Lindsay" may be viewed throughout the afternoon.

           

The Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (www.Illinois-History.gov), is the birthplace and longtime residence of poet, author and artist Nicholas Vachel Lindsay, 1879 - 1931.  It is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. for free public tours.