Kit Yan, International Slam Poet and Mr. Transman 2010
Recently Featured in the HBO Documentary Asians Aloud, Kit Yan tell stories through slam poetry from the lens of a transgender Asian American from Hawaii now lost in the big city of New York. Through touching love poems, dirty sex accounts, and comedic tales of his childhood –Kit takes you on a journey that is raw, real, heart-wrenching, and unforgettable.
Kit’s work has been taught at universities coast to coast, from San Francisco State to Harvard. He spoke to over 200,000 from the stage of the 2009 National Equality March, performed on the San Francisco Pride main stage, and is a nationally ranking slam poet. Kit Yan is first ever and reigning Mr. Transman 2010.
“Knockout spoken-word!” -New York Magazine
“Incredible slam poetry” - CurveMagazine
“The eloquence of Kit’s spoken-word delivery lies in the anti-racist, anti-homophobic, gender-inclusive, language that ties his lyrics together.”- Bitch Magazine
Kit’s work has been taught at universities coast to coast, from San Francisco State to Harvard. He spoke to over 200,000 from the stage of the 2009 National Equality March, performed on the San Francisco Pride main stage, and is a nationally ranking slam poet. Kit Yan is first ever and reigning Mr. Transman 2010.
“Knockout spoken-word!” -New York Magazine
“Incredible slam poetry” - CurveMagazine
“The eloquence of Kit’s spoken-word delivery lies in the anti-racist, anti-homophobic, gender-inclusive, language that ties his lyrics together.”- Bitch Magazine
Ben Lerman, Ukulele Comedian
If Flight of the Conchords and Zach Galifianakis had a gay lovechild, it would be NYC's musical comedian Ben Lerman. Lerman is a rising star of the New York Comedy scene, playing at all the top New York Comedy clubs and theaters like Caroline's, Gotham, Comix, and The Upright Citizens Brigade Theater.
Ben tours internationally playing colleges, theaters, festivals and clubs. His career has been propelled by appearances on Logo TV, Here TV, and Sirius Satellite Radio, where he is recurring guest and guest host on the Frank DeCaro Show. He's become a regular guest on "Keith & the Girl," one of the most popular independent podcast in the world. Ben's debut music video, "Ben Lerman Plays the Ukulele," was licensed to Atom Films for exclusive initial distribution. After that, it will be aired on Logo TV. New York Magazine featured the video in the "Lowbrow/Brilliant" quadrant of their infamous "Approval Matrix." Watch the hilarious video at www.benlerman.net/videos
Armed with his wee ukulele, powerful voice, and twisted point of view, Ben gets huge laughs because his songs have real emotion behind them. From a pirate love story to a lullaby for crazy people, Ben's songs point to the humor in all of our lives and relationships, and in the world around us. Ben writes from his personal experiences, touching upon universal truths and broadening people's ideas about what gay means. He's down-to-earth and approachable, accessible to disparate audiences. His affable nature and playful wit made Time Out Chicago rave, "Lerman's stage presence is his best asset."
Visit www.benlerman.net
"Brilliant!" —New York Magazine
“The perfect act for shattering gay stereotypes to college audiences.” —Jena Asta, University of Chicago
"Hilarious." —ThreeWeeks, Edinburgh, UK
"A real talent as a musician and lyricist." —NYTheatre.com
"So damn funny!" —TimeOut Chicago
“Hilarous… an extremely talented singer-songwriter…”—Fringe Guru, Edinburgh, UK
"Lerman is like a sought-after party guest—witty, generous, entertaining, and he never wears out his welcome... A real talent as a musician and lyricist."—NYTheatre.com
Ben tours internationally playing colleges, theaters, festivals and clubs. His career has been propelled by appearances on Logo TV, Here TV, and Sirius Satellite Radio, where he is recurring guest and guest host on the Frank DeCaro Show. He's become a regular guest on "Keith & the Girl," one of the most popular independent podcast in the world. Ben's debut music video, "Ben Lerman Plays the Ukulele," was licensed to Atom Films for exclusive initial distribution. After that, it will be aired on Logo TV. New York Magazine featured the video in the "Lowbrow/Brilliant" quadrant of their infamous "Approval Matrix." Watch the hilarious video at www.benlerman.net/videos
Armed with his wee ukulele, powerful voice, and twisted point of view, Ben gets huge laughs because his songs have real emotion behind them. From a pirate love story to a lullaby for crazy people, Ben's songs point to the humor in all of our lives and relationships, and in the world around us. Ben writes from his personal experiences, touching upon universal truths and broadening people's ideas about what gay means. He's down-to-earth and approachable, accessible to disparate audiences. His affable nature and playful wit made Time Out Chicago rave, "Lerman's stage presence is his best asset."
Visit www.benlerman.net
"Brilliant!" —New York Magazine
“The perfect act for shattering gay stereotypes to college audiences.” —Jena Asta, University of Chicago
"Hilarious." —ThreeWeeks, Edinburgh, UK
"A real talent as a musician and lyricist." —NYTheatre.com
"So damn funny!" —TimeOut Chicago
“Hilarous… an extremely talented singer-songwriter…”—Fringe Guru, Edinburgh, UK
"Lerman is like a sought-after party guest—witty, generous, entertaining, and he never wears out his welcome... A real talent as a musician and lyricist."—NYTheatre.com
Julie Goldman, Comedian
Coming Soon...
C.C. Carter, Spoken Word Artist
NARRATIVE
C.C. Carter is a Chicagoan with national prominence on the performance poetry scene. Her first book, Body Language, a collection of poetry, was nominated for a 2003 Lambda Literary Award. She is the winner of a host of poetry slams including winning the Fifth Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Competition and the First Annual Behind Our Masks Poetry Slam. She has created and maintained several traditions in the poetry community, including national and local poetry slams for people of color, and the women of color night at Mountain Moving Coffeehouse. She has participated in hundreds of women’s music festivals, including the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival, and has sold out performances on both coasts. Recently she was a guest performer with Nedra Johnson and Mimi Gonzalez on an Olivia Cruise, receiving standing ovations for all three appearances. Her performances have been earned her opening credits for Nikki Giovanni, Maya Angelou, Cheryl Clarke and Dorothy Allison and headlining credits on bills with Staceyann Chin, Alix Olson, and Andrea Gibson.
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ACTIVISM
In 2003 C.C. founded POW-WOW, Inc, a weekly spoken word venue that has received honors and award recognition for being a safe space for women to develop, showcase and listen to other women artists. POW-WOW is a staple for the international and national poetry elite – having showcased Stacyann Chin, sharon bridgforth, Eve Ensler and a host of Def Poetry Jam artists who list POW-WOW as a “must do” on their tour schedules. C.C. has produced large scale events for the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Chicago Gay Games.
AWARDS AND HONORS
As a result of her arts and activism work, she has received numerous awards and honors, including being inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame for her work as an advocate in Arts and Culture and the 2004 Trailblazer Award for her work and curation of Lesbian theatre projects. In 2005 C.C. Carter was one of six international recipients to be dubbed the esteemed title by Eve Ensler of Vagina Warrior for her work in creating a safe space for women artists who are survivors of violence. She received the 2006 Model of Hope Award by Pride and Equality Magazine.
C.C. holds an M.A. in Creative Writing from Queens College, B.A. from Spelman College, in English Literature with a minor in Performing Arts. She has taught master classes and conducted lectures throughout the country at various colleges and universities.
PUBLICATIONS
C.C.’s work can be found in the following collections:
Lambda Literary Nomination Best Lesbian Poetry 2003 - Body Language
Chapbook - Letters to My Love
Chapbook - Sonlight, The Poetic Diary of a First Time Mother
On CD: EarCandy – The Erotic Works of C.C. Carter
Anthologized in -
Best Lesbian Erotica (two different editions),
Does Your Mama Know,
Best Black Women's Erotica
Word Warriors: 35 Women Leaders in the Spoken Word Revolution
Dykes With Baggage
Windy City Stories (upcoming TBA)
In The Spirit: African American LGBTQ talk about Spirituality
Mighty Real - (2011 release)
Dykes on Mics - (2011 release)
OUTspoken! Your Silence Will Not Protect You (2011 release)
Saved by a Poem - (her work is mentioned and referenced in anthology)
WHERE TO FIND C.C.
www.CCCarter.com
http://www.facebook.com/#!/C.C.CarterPoet
http://www.outmedia.org/performingarts/C.C.Carter.htm
http://glhalloffame.org/ C. C. Carter (2002)
C.C. Carter is a Chicagoan with national prominence on the performance poetry scene. Her first book, Body Language, a collection of poetry, was nominated for a 2003 Lambda Literary Award. She is the winner of a host of poetry slams including winning the Fifth Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Competition and the First Annual Behind Our Masks Poetry Slam. She has created and maintained several traditions in the poetry community, including national and local poetry slams for people of color, and the women of color night at Mountain Moving Coffeehouse. She has participated in hundreds of women’s music festivals, including the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival, and has sold out performances on both coasts. Recently she was a guest performer with Nedra Johnson and Mimi Gonzalez on an Olivia Cruise, receiving standing ovations for all three appearances. Her performances have been earned her opening credits for Nikki Giovanni, Maya Angelou, Cheryl Clarke and Dorothy Allison and headlining credits on bills with Staceyann Chin, Alix Olson, and Andrea Gibson.
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND ACTIVISM
In 2003 C.C. founded POW-WOW, Inc, a weekly spoken word venue that has received honors and award recognition for being a safe space for women to develop, showcase and listen to other women artists. POW-WOW is a staple for the international and national poetry elite – having showcased Stacyann Chin, sharon bridgforth, Eve Ensler and a host of Def Poetry Jam artists who list POW-WOW as a “must do” on their tour schedules. C.C. has produced large scale events for the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Chicago Gay Games.
AWARDS AND HONORS
As a result of her arts and activism work, she has received numerous awards and honors, including being inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame for her work as an advocate in Arts and Culture and the 2004 Trailblazer Award for her work and curation of Lesbian theatre projects. In 2005 C.C. Carter was one of six international recipients to be dubbed the esteemed title by Eve Ensler of Vagina Warrior for her work in creating a safe space for women artists who are survivors of violence. She received the 2006 Model of Hope Award by Pride and Equality Magazine.
C.C. holds an M.A. in Creative Writing from Queens College, B.A. from Spelman College, in English Literature with a minor in Performing Arts. She has taught master classes and conducted lectures throughout the country at various colleges and universities.
PUBLICATIONS
C.C.’s work can be found in the following collections:
Lambda Literary Nomination Best Lesbian Poetry 2003 - Body Language
Chapbook - Letters to My Love
Chapbook - Sonlight, The Poetic Diary of a First Time Mother
On CD: EarCandy – The Erotic Works of C.C. Carter
Anthologized in -
Best Lesbian Erotica (two different editions),
Does Your Mama Know,
Best Black Women's Erotica
Word Warriors: 35 Women Leaders in the Spoken Word Revolution
Dykes With Baggage
Windy City Stories (upcoming TBA)
In The Spirit: African American LGBTQ talk about Spirituality
Mighty Real - (2011 release)
Dykes on Mics - (2011 release)
OUTspoken! Your Silence Will Not Protect You (2011 release)
Saved by a Poem - (her work is mentioned and referenced in anthology)
WHERE TO FIND C.C.
www.CCCarter.com
http://www.facebook.com/#!/C.C.CarterPoet
http://www.outmedia.org/performingarts/C.C.Carter.htm
http://glhalloffame.org/ C. C. Carter (2002)
