Fresno State’s Department of Theatre and Dance, in collaboration with the Department of English’s MFA Creative Writing Program, presents “Lit Night” at the Dec. 5 performance of “Seminar.”

Following the performance, immerse yourself in the literary world as creative writing students Soreath Hok, Yamille Moss, and Emily Peacock take the stage to share selections from their original works. The readings will be moderated by Professor Brynn Saito. This event is complimentary with the purchase of a ticket to "Seminar."

The performance is at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5, at the John W. Wright Theatre on campus. Tickets are $17 for adults, $15 for Fresno State faculty, staff, alumni and military, and $10 for students. Children under 12 are not admitted.

The Creative Writing Program enjoys a long history of literary excellence at Fresno State, dating to the late 1950s. The Master of Fine Arts graduate program was founded in 1995, and it features advanced training in the study of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction.

"Seminar," a thought-provoking comedy by Pulitzer Prize nominee Theresa Rebeck, invites you into the intriguing world of four aspiring young novelists attending private writing classes with the internationally renowned Leonard. Leonard’s unorthodox instruction creates and then destroys alliances and, using sex as a weapon, sets hearts adrift. With biting humor, Rebeck's Broadway comedy explores the collision of innocence and experience through razor-sharp wordplay.

Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance, Melissa Gibson, expresses immense pleasure in this collaborative venture, "Our enthusiasm stems from the prospect of showcasing the original creations of MFA students on the University Theatre stage. The thematic resonance of 'Seminar' made a partnership with the English Department an intuitive choice—a compelling opportunity to engage in a synergistic collaboration with our esteemed colleagues and students across diverse academic domains."

About the readers:

• Soreath Hok: A first-year MFA graduate student specializing in creative nonfiction, Soreath explores her lifelong experience with her family-run donut shop, delving into how donuts have shaped Cambodian American identity. A self-proclaimed "donut kid," Soreath, a former journalist, draws inspiration from her family business and the delectable world of donuts.
• Yamille Moss: In her second year of the MFA program, Yamille focuses on fiction writing. Her literary prowess has graced the pages of journals like Meow Meow Pow Pow and The Sprawl, and she serves as an editorial assistant for The Normal School magazine.
• Emily Peacock: A senior English major with a passion for poetry, Emily is on a mission to make creative writing more accessible to incarcerated youth. As an editorial assistant for the literary journal Flies, Cockroaches and Poets, she is actively involved with Poetic Justice, a nonprofit offering free poetry workshops to incarcerated women.

Don't miss this enchanting evening where theater and literature converge, bringing forth a unique celebration of creativity and collaboration!