:: contact :: letters of recommendation ::
A Collection of Recommendation Letters from Colleges and Universities
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From Toby Emert,
Ph.D., Department of English, Agnes Scott College
Dear Producers, Program
Directors, and Professors:
I write to highly recommend
Stevie Jay and his one-man show Life Love Sex Death...and Other Works in
Progress. I first saw a production of
the show four years ago, and I knew immediately that it was one of the best
solo performances I’d ever encountered. Stevie Jay is a master of blending
personal accounts with comedy, rendering a show that is at once touching and
hysterically funny. If you have the opportunity to sponsor a production of this
work, I am confident your audiences will find it astonishingly relevant.
Stevie Jay, as evidenced by the
writing in the show, is a brilliant thinker. He has spent a great deal of time
considering his place in the world, and successfully conveys what he’s
discovered in this theatrical piece. He has much to share with others who are
exploring their own places in the world, as well as with those who aspire to
develop their own theatrical and creative projects.
When I first saw Life Love
Sex Death..., I was a
performance reviewer for The C-ville Weekly in Charlottesville, Virginia, and I
referred to Stevie Jay as a “wisecracking prophet.” If you have an opportunity to hear some of what he has to
say, and to bring his wisdom and humor to your students and audiences, you will
have done a very good thing.
I would be happy to talk with
you further about Stevie Jay and his show at any time. Feel free to contact me
at 404-934-6426.
Sincerely,
Toby Emert Department of English, Agnes
Scott College | |
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From
Lisa Freinkel, Associate Professor of English, University of Oregon
Dear Programmers,
I'm writing to you as both a
faculty member (I am the Director of Comparative Literature in the English
Department) and as someone who was involved in the Diversity Initiative back in
1999-2000, where I helped students and faculty think about programming designed
to increase under-represented voices on campus. I'm also writing to you as a
fan of the work of playwright/performance artist, Stevie Jay.
I saw Stevie Jay's show,
"Life Love Sex Death...and other works in progress," about a year
ago, and was floored by its wit and heart. It's a show that raises delicate and
crucial issues about gender, sexuality and identity politics, and does so with
a very loving touch. The show is also, simply, hysterically funny.
It would be wonderful if more
schools around the country would bring Stevie Jay's unique program to their
campus. Please let me know if I can be of any help in your decision making
process. (freinkel@oregon.uorgeon.edu)
Best wishes,
Lisa Freinkel
Associate Professor, Department
of English, University of Oregon
Director, Comparative Literature
Program
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From
Amy Lemley, Board Member, Live Arts Performance Center
Dear Programmers:
As
a board member of Live Arts, I have seen Stevie Jay's one-man show
approximately ten times in the past three years, and have consistently
experienced the profound effect his work has on the most diverse audiences
imaginable¾men and women from all walks of life, of all ages, nationalities,
sexual orientations, and worldviews.
With impeccable timing and a
dynamic presence, Stevie has the ability to draw people out of their heads and
into a world of passion¾delivering audience members home to their hearts¾home
to their humanity.
While certain core themes of
Stevie Jay’s work are shared with Lily Tomlin’s “Search for Signs of Intelligent
Life in the Universe,” I would have to say that Stevie’s show is far more
spontaneous, (a paradox considering its tightly-honed script) far more piercing
in its realness and vulnerability, and far more apropos of the 21st century’s
emotional climate.
To witness the inner life of
this shining human being as he earnestly tries to make sense of a bewildering
world¾to
open up and connect with Stevie Jay¾is to experience art at
its very best¾to
experience the very best of ourselves. Indeed, unless one had fallen asleep during the show, it would be impossible to
leave the theatre unchanged following this soulful tour de force.
Stevie Jay’s “Multi-Chakra
Extravaganza” is nothing less than a timeless, transformational masterpiece. I
highly recommend including this extraordinary work in your schedule of events.
Please feel free to contact me
at amyklemley@yahoo.com if I can offer any additional information.
Sincerely,
Amy Lemley
President, Amy Lemley
Communications
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From
Dietrich Willke, Vice President of Activities Programming, Indiana University
Dear Programmers,
I am writing to you about an
extraordinary performance artist named Stevie Jay who is currently on tour with
an amazing one-man show called “Life Love Sex Death...and other works in
progress.” We brought Stevie to our campus in September 2003, and the
response was so tremendous, he was invited back for subsequent performances in
each of the following school years. It is clear that Stevie’s show is destined to become an annual tradition
at Indiana University.
Stevie Jay is an enormously
talented comedian and playwright with an uncanny knack for getting inside the
heads of his audience members and giving voice to emotionally-charged topics
that are often difficult for people to discuss. The material is thought-provoking while highly entertaining,
interactive at times, and universal in content.
While Stevie’s show speaks to
people of all ages, from all walks of life, his material is notably relevant to
college-aged students as it presents cutting-edge perspectives on
relationships, sex, sexuality, and identity. I also found Stevie refreshing in his willingness to express
himself bluntly at the risk of being tagged “politically incorrect.” Our students are still quoting
lines from his clever and hilarious script.
There is no question that Stevie
Jay will soon be in high demand within the college circuit as the word about
him is quickly spreading. I hope
you will take the opportunity to bring this unique and exciting program to your
school in the coming year.
Please feel free to contact me
directly at 954-357-6356 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Dietrich Willke
Vice President of Programming,
Indiana University
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