Faculty

Sleep Cinematic: A Golem’s Quartet is a book-length poem that was published by Gnashing Teeth in 2022. It’s follow up, Lorenzo by the Ghost Light is also now available.

A tale of a Golem in pursuit of community and a greater purpose for a man of clay who has trouble dating and simply relaxing. “Sleep Cinematic” is a quartet of books which follows the Golem, Pearl, seeking to be a part of a congregation, unsatisfied by his role of protector. Sent to protect his community he feels alienated by not having a choice., He begins to step away from his alienation when he is help up by a Quebecoise Rabbit (Jarry), who has considered a life of crime following a ghastly lawnmower accident that destroyed his family. Lost in anger, he tries to start a life of crime starting by mugging Pearl. Proved to be a failure as a thief, Pearl welcomes Jarry into his world. An opera-loving mouse (Fred) found in an alley during a rainstorm completes the story’s main trio. Fred discovered in a trap lives to meet the love of his life – an opera singer he calls Soprano Jo. When Pearl suggests the Evil Eye has thus far plagued and limited them, the trio steals a model fo the Santa Maria in search of a special fish needed to thwart such a curse. Finding guidance from various spirits, Pearl, Jarry, and Fred step away from being wanderers to finding purpose. The Evil Eye proved to be whatever held them from taking the right risks. Perhaps this might be considered a modern beast fable. It is certainly a story of lost souls during rather troubling times.

Les Epstein is a poet, playwright, opera librettist and educator.  His work has appeared in journals in the United States, Philippines, India and the U.K., including Slant, The Bacopa Review,  Mojave River Review, Clinch Mountain Review, and Jelly Bucket as well as the anthologies Heat the Grease (Gnashing Teeth Publishing) and Pain & Renewal (Vita Brevis Press).  His work was honored by the Writers Guild of Gainesville (FL) in 2021 and has been featured in the podcast, “Sunflower Sutras,” broadcast out of Washburn University. His chapbook, “Kip Divided,” will appear from Finishing Line Press in 2022.  As a playwright, his work has been staged by such theaters as the Belfast Maskers (Maine), Greenbrier Valley Theater (WV), Stone’s Throw Dinner Theater (Missouri) and the Roy Arias Studio (New York). He contributed libretti for two operas, Barefoot (1997 premiere) and Miss Lucy (2011 premiere). Cyberwit released a collection of his short plays and libretti (Seven) in 2018.  Epstein’s bi-lingual collaboration with Claudia de Franko, Llorona of the River is available through Silver Birchington Plays. He received undergraduate degrees in Theater Performance and English from Otterbein College, and MA in English from Miami (Ohio) University and continued with studies in Literature at New York University and in Theater Education at The Ohio State University.  He completed his teacher training at Mary Baldwin College.  In addition to work with theater, opera and ballet companies from North Carolina to New York City, he spent ten seasons as Education Director and Production Coordinator for Opera/Columbus and another seven as Executive Director for the Children’s Theater of Winston-Salem before settling in as a teacher with Community High School for which he has staged more than forty productions.

Les Epstein’s first book, Seven, was published in 2018 and consists of short plays he wrote in the early 2000s that have received productions.  It ends with the libretto for the opera, Miss Lucy, which was produced at Community High School in 2011.

A cemetery in a rural area at the end of the 20th century. The cemetery is old and run over by nature. Vines and weeds curl over the headstones. A faded, white picket fence encloses the small cemetery. Kudzu consumes a tree that overlooks the headstone of Ruby Plumb. Her stone simply reads: “And Lord Taketh: Ruby Plumb, April 1, 1905 September 15, 1942.” As the lights come up we hear the voices of Jack and Esther Plumb an aging couple that have come to clean up the cemetery. They carry buckets, rakes, and paint. A second stone, looking rather new reads: “The Marvel of Montpelier, Mr. Charles Gregory, B 1884, D 1912. Actor, Humanitarian. The Marvel’s Still in the Crypt.”