Fireside at the Miles: The Disclaimers - Dez Hope, Joshua Silverstein & In-Q

Program will be announced from the stage.

Artists:

Los Angeles based writer, rapper, actor, host, teacher, and award winning spoken word artist, IN-Q is a unique voice in performance poetry. His work has been featured on HBO's Def Poetry Jam, Verses & Flow, ABC, NBC, A&E, Nickelodeon, and the Disney Channel. IN-Q is a National Poetry Slam Champion who has shared the stage with everyone from De La Soul, to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, to President Barack Obama. His one-man show has toured nationally since 2009 and has been seen at over 60 universities across the country. He teaches creative writing workshops in high schools, junior highs, colleges, libraries, and prisons around California, as well as instructing a yearly program to UCLA Young Writers at their annual conference in Lake Arrowhead. IN-Q's first full-length poetry CD, When Two Worlds Collide, was released to critical acclaim. URB Magazine wrote, "IN-Q's brand of Hip-Hop, a penetratingly fluent account of what he's been through, paired with retro-funky sampling, is believable and heartbreaking even. His newest album puts true mastery of rhythmic-artistic-poetry on exhibit." Currently IN-Q is signed to a publishing deal with RMR Music Group and has written songs for various artists including Miley Cyrus, Rock Mafia, Sick Puppies, and Aloe Blacc. He also co-wrote Selena Gomez's hit single, Love You Like A Love Song, which went double platinum and reached #1 on the Billboard Dance charts. Most recently, IN-Q penned 7 songs for Disney's first Hip-Hop movie, Let It Shine. To date, Let It Shine is the highest viewed TV Movie of 2012 and the soundtrack for the film went #1 on the Billboard Hip-Hop charts. An accomplished stage and screen actor, IN-Q has been seen in films like The Magnificent Cooly-T and Speechless, and has television credits that include The Cleaner, Svetlana, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. IN-Q founded the Los Angeles based Actors' Lounge in 2004, a monthly open mic for actors held at The Greenway Court Theatre. Most recently, he starred in the premiere theatrical run of Jumping the Median, an original play that was held at the Santa Monica Playhouse, and was produced by television legend Norman Lear.

Dez Hope: The problem is all inside your head She said to me. The answer is easy if you take it logically Id like to help you in your struggle to be free These words repeated in my head so perfectly. Staring at the wall At my desk In a ball. Always a mess Afterall, I confessed before Why again must I press Down? So damn hard on my chest. I just want to lay down. Apart from the stress But Im at work And nothing is left But to sell my heart on this internet. I start to get into it. But my boss passes by and asks me about a fed ex package And wonders if I sent it yet I said yes And cried inside A grown man in flip flops Trying to hide A swallowed pride, chapped lips And Tired feet that smell FUNKY. 9 to 6, 5 days out of the week Is somethingLike heartbeats pumping Drums thumping, people running, Racing to the weekend, always seeking beacons of hope, Begging D.J.s they believe in To supply the dope. Cause Dez always Hope. Hanging from ropes, dangling like reminder notes. And just when I forget Its 6 oclock and Im outside the box

Los Angeles native Joshua Reuben Silverstein is an actor, writer, beatboxer, host, youth mentor, educator, and all-around-beacon of sunshine. He can be seen co hosting monthly Westside-based events; THE BEATDOWN (a comedian emcee battle at UCB) with Eliza Skinner and DOWNBEAT 720 (a bi-monthly open mic event for high-schoolers) with Joe Hernandez-Kolski and DJ Jedi. He has been beatboxing since the age of 5, and many people know Joshua as the West Coast’s most sought after beatboxer. His various collaborations with poets, musicians and other performers across the globe have earned him the title of “the hardest-working beatboxer in L.A.” His professional beatboxing career was sparked in 1999 by jazz legend Cal Bennett, who began inviting Joshua to perform at many of his events. Since then, Joshua has performed alongside and toured the world with some of the nation’s most inspiring performers and leaders. Joshua has had the pleasure of rocking the mic with such talents as Jerry Quickly, Slash, Medusa, and Doug E. Fresh. In 2003, Joshua took part in PANIFEST in Ghana, West Africa and in 2005, Joshua completed a 3-year tour for Norman Lear’s DECLARE YOURSELF where he helped rally the American people to register and vote. Later on, Joshua joined Gina Loring and Brandon Coleman as the first Hip Hop artists to perform in Kuwait under the U.S. Embassy. Joshua also received rave reviews for his role in the two-man show SO FRESH AND SO CLEAN with his writing partner Joe Hernandez-Kolski, being deemed “danger, baring its soul” by comedian Craig Robinson. This production, and its follow-up DIRTY, put Joshua’s beatboxing, writing, and acting skills on display. Joshua has worked with youth from all over the world, facilitated uncountable workshops and in-school residencies, all designed to create a safe and open space where youth indulge in the freedom of creative expression. Using spoken word and or theater as a artistic device, Joshua has worked with young men and woman of all ages, encouraging them to discover the potential of their voice and the power of their consciousness.

It's all part of Fireside at the Miles, the annual celebration of up-close performances by the warmth of the fireside, featuring local jazz, opera, dance, poetry and more every weekend beginning at 8pm. Doors open at 7:15pm so come by to warm up and get a snack! December 14th, 2012 through January 26, 2013 in Santa Monica’s landmark Miles Memorial Playhouse in Reed Park.

Tickets are just $10 for adults, $5 for students, seniors and kids 17 or under. Free parking at the Miles parking structure across from the park (mention "Miles" for validation). For reservations and information please call 310-458-8634 or email milesplayhouse@smgov.net.