2020 Hibernian Hall Poetry Experiential Theatre Series
Kelly Lydon
Hibernian Hall presents a five-day poetry series showcasing local artists who inspire, educate, entertain, and connect with people from all walks of life.
Join us as we give local artists the platform to perform their works online!
Paloma Valenzuela is a Dominican-American writer, director and actress originally from the city of Boston. She is the creative director of the production operation La Gringa Loca Productions. She is the writer/producer/creator of the comedic web series “The Pineapple Diaries”. In 2017 the show was featured in Latina Magazine’s “5 Web Series Every Latinx Needs to Watch Right Now”. Her work has participated as Official Selection at film festivals such as the New Orleans Film Festival and Miami Short Film Festival among others. In 2019 Paloma was featured in Boston Magazine’s “Boston’s New Creative Guard” and selected as one of the WBUR The Artery 25, a series highlighting millennials of color making an impact in the Boston arts scene. In 2019 Paloma won Best Supporting Actress at the Premios IRIS Dominicana Movie Awards for her role as Lolita in the film “Un 4to de Josue” which is streaming on HBO. Paloma has collaborated with the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum as a museum Neighborhood Salon Artist Luminary. She is the recipient of the 2016 Creative City Grant and in 2019 she was granted the City of Boston Artist Fellowship. In March 2020 Paloma finished editing and launching the third season of “The Pineapple Diaries”. She is currently planning for future projects and also has been working as a teaching artist teaching screenwriting and productions for organizations such as GrubStreet in Boston and the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston.
Amanda Shea is an International multidisciplinary artist residing in Boston,Massachusetts. Shea has performed spoken word poetry at numerous venues throughout Boston and globally (including the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre (NYC), the Peace Institute (D.C.), National Press Club (D.C.), and the Institute of Contemporary Art). She achieved status as an International Artist when she performed virtually in Africa for ArtGlo based in Malawi; as well as the Jos Literary and Arts Festival in Nigeria. Amanda has been published in several articles such as The Boston Globe, WBUR, Boston Hassle and appeared on local news station NBC Boston. Shea sat down with Pebbles on HOT96.9 Boston for the “Voices” segment. Most recently, Shea was internationally published in Times Group, a news outlet based in Malawi. She served as an official host for the 2018 and 2019 Boston Art & Music Soul Festival as well as the 2019 Arts Equity Summit. Shea is a radio host on LFOD Radio, which has been nominated for two Boston Music Awards. Amanda is a full time educator who facilitates youth workshops for spoken word poetry, visual arts, and public speaking throughout a plethora of schools and non profit organizations in Boston. Amanda will be embarking on her third tour, to Africa, in 2021 with two other Boston poets. The “Awake” tour seeks to explore the role of art as both a revolutionary and spiritual tool for social justice and human spiritual awakening.
Born in Chicago, Alexandria Danielle King is an actor, poet, songwriter, educator, youth advocate, director, choreographer and nature enthusiast. She received her BA in Drama from Tufts University and advanced theatre training certification from The Moscow Arts Theatre School. She believes that performance art is a divine tool for revealing and examining the condition of the heart. Some of her previous acting credits include: Nya in Pipeline (WAM & Central Sq. Theater), Antigone in Antigone (Classical Theatre of Harlem), Chelle in Detroit ‘67 (New Horizon Theatre), Lorraine Hansberry in Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart (PBS American Masters).
Ashley-Rose is a Haitian-American educator, writer and restorative justice specialist from Boston, Ma. She has worn many hats, including being the Lead Organizer responsible for implementation of Participatory Budgeting in Boston, to teaching S.T.E.A.M, peacemaking and poetry in schools, drug rehabilitation and community centers for over 15 years. Ashley-Rose has earned countless accolades her work in the arts and organizing, including winning the Boston Music Awards Spoken-word Artist of the Year, San Diego National Poetry Award in 2016, the OneIn3 Impact Award for the being the most influential person under age 35 in Massachusetts, and also being honored as the Extraordinary Woman of the Year for the City of Boston. Currently Ashley Rose works at Suffolk University CRJ hosting trainings for educators, corporations and institutions in the area of Restorative Justice.
