Cure for Summertime Blues: Theater, Poetry & Rock this Sat., Aug. 14 at Parkside Lounge (LES)

This Saturday, Aug. 14, Three Rooms Press presents a sizzling book launch for Peter Carlaftes' latest release, Triumph for Rent: 3 Plays, which will feature a torrid New York premiere of his uproarious play, Spin-Dry, along with poetry and live music.

"Spin-Dry" is a rollicking comedy anchored at Second Wind: A designer celebrity rehab center, set smack-dab in the 90s, where MTV mavens rub elbows with rockers and movie stars. The wild ride features Sara Kinetic (her mom died at Altamont; her dad in outer space), as she weaves her way through trysts and turns to get back on top of her game. The play stars Puma Perl, David DeCuir, Natalie Rose, Max Carlaftes, Kat Georges & Peter Carlaftes.

Also on tap will be sizzling readings from current and upcoming Three Rooms Press authors Jane Ormerod, Matthew Hupert, Thomas Fucaloro, Ryan Buynak, and Ronnie Norpel. In addition, the beloved downtown r'n'b band The JD's (featuring Bob Musial) will round things out with a swinging set of smokin' tunes.

Doors open 6:45. Show starts at 7:00. Tickets $10 at the door. Parkside Lounge is at 317 E. Houston (at Attorney). Reservations: info@threeroomspress.com.

ABOUT PETER CARLAFTES: Peter Carlaftes began his theatrical career on the playgrounds of the Bronx, and after seeing the world, branched out to Manhattan and beyond. He served as artistic director of San Francisco's Marilyn Monroe Memorial Theater from 1993-2000. Nine of his plays have been staged, to critical acclaim, among them Anity, Frontier A-Go-Go, Spin-Dry and Closure. He also created and staged a deconstruction of Knut Hamsun’s classic novel Hunger, and created and starred in a one-man rendition of Harold Pinter’s The Homecoming. He has recently written and performed his solo work, Lenny Bruce: Dead & Well, and starred in numerous Off-Broadway plays including Arsenic & Old Lace and Barefoot in the Park, and will soon be seen in a revival of the 1995 Stephen Adly Guirgis black comedy, Den of Thieves.In 2010, he's authored three books on Three Rooms Press, including A Year on Facebook (humor), DrunkYard Dog (poetry) and Triumph for Rent: 3 Plays.

ABOUT THREE ROOMS PRESS: Since 1993, Three Rooms Press has been a leading voice in the independent poetry, literature and dramatic fields, publishing more than 30 books of poetry, theater, and literary fiction, with a focus on the work of the best current New York underground writers. In addition, Three Rooms Press produces and promotes a variety of events; in the past 16 years it has staged more than 400 events in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Las Vegas and Europe.

Baseball Karma & The Constitution Blues Book Launch April 16 at Connie's Ric Rac in Philly

It’s Opening Day for “Baseball Karma & The Constitution Blues,” a new ficto-memoir by Ronnie Norpel (Three Rooms Press). A book launch party will be held at the infamous Connie's Ric Rac (*NOTE NEW LOCATION), 1132 S. 9th Street in South Philadelphia on Friday, April 16th, 9 pm. Admission: $10. Featured artists include:

• a reading & book signing by author Ronnie Norpel
• readings by the Three Rooms Press All-Stars (Peter Carlaftes, Larry Myers, Jane Ormerod, & Susan Scutti)
• live music (including blues-influences bizarro weird rock energy by Gondola, Baltimore psychedelic hipsters Crazy Dreams Band, hypnodelic madness by Curanderos, and mystery sonic mayhem by NYC's Dirty Princess)

In "Baseball Karma & The Constitution Blues," Norpel provides a play-by-play, behind-the-scenes account of a young woman’s education in life, luck, love and superstition while working for her hometown major league baseball team. The book stems from Norpel’s days as a front office representative for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Norpel’s ficto-memoir brims with insider insight, detailing the fastballs, curveballs and errors experienced by main character Mary Katharine “Mick” Carmichael when she gets involved with a rookie on the Constitution Blues team. "Baseball Karma and The Constitution Blues" overflows with heart and humor, without glossing over the despair of karmic growing pains for both Mick and the Blues. Underneath it all, we discover how one woman's real-life curse changed destiny—until it was finally lifted for good. Norpel’s rookie novel is must-have read for summer.

Following the official launch, Norpel will go on the road and hold events in conjunction with Phillies away games in Boston (6/12), New York (6/16) and Pittsburgh (7/3). She will also hold impromptu appearances with painter Lilliana Didovic at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, where their PHILANATIC statue, created for the Phillies’ Phanatic Around Town project, will be on exhibit this summer.

To schedule interview with author Ronnie Norpel, or to request photos or additional information about Baseball Karma & The Constitution Blues, please contact email info@threeroomspress.com