American Literary Heroes
Part of the Celebrating America250: Arts Projects Honoring the National Garden of American Heroes funded by the NEA.
- Launch Party Sun March 15th 1-3:30pm at
The Cosmopolitan Hotel, Old Town - Touring Literary Heroes Performances available
March – September 2026
Press: Susan Clausen * Clausen Communications * 619-933-0038 * theatersusan@gmail.com
February 24, 2026: San Diego: *** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
Write Out Loud – an organization founded in 2007 with a commitment to inspire, challenge and entertain by reading literature aloud for a live audience announces American Literary Heroes, part of the Celebrating America250: Arts Projects Honoring the National Garden of American Heroes funded by the National Endowment for the Arts.
American Literary Heroes is a unique program highlighting four iconic American writers who have left a lasting impact on the social consciousness of the United States, as well as across the globe. Actors will bring Emily Dickinson, Henry David Thoreau, Mark Twain and Walt Whitman to life in libraries, schools, museums and other community venues across San Diego County, using selections of their works and bits of their lives. Performances will be presented from mid-March through September 2026, kicked off by a launch party on March 15th at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Old Town from 1-3:30pm. https://writeoutloudsd.com/american-literary-heroes/
Write Out Loud Artistic Director, Veronica Murphy shared “Write Out Loud is thrilled to be one of only 50 recipients across the country to receive NEA funding for “Celebrating America250: Arts Projects Honoring the National Garden of American Heroes.” Literature is at the heart of all we do, and Dickinson, Thoreau, Twain and Whitman have left an indelible mark on the American literary canon. We are excited to share the work of these literary giants across the San Diego community.”
American Literary Heroes Performances Feature:
Emily Dickinson
Written and Performed by Rhianna Basore
Emily Dickinson’s innovative use of form and syntax made her a pioneer in modernist literature.
Henry David Thoreau
Written by Richard Platt
Performed by Steve Smith
Henry David Thoreau was a philosopher and political ally for human rights and respect for nature and the environment.
Mark Twain
Written by Rachael VanWormer
Performed by Paul Maley
Mark Twain was a prolific writer and humorist, who has been called “the father of American literature.”
Walt Whitman
Written and Performed by Todd Blakesley
Walt Whitman’s focus on the common man and his break from poetic structures caused him to be known as “the father of free verse.”
American Literary Heroes is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and sponsored by Fiesta de Reyes. Emily Dickinson is co-produced by Miz. Understood Media.
American Literary Heroes will perform inschools, libraries, museums, and community centers throughout San Diego County from March to September 2026. Booking and touring information can be found at https://writeoutloudsd.com/american-literary-heroes/
The American Literary Heroes Launch Party will take place on Sunday, March 15th from 1pm – 3:30pm at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Old Town at 2660 Calhoun St., San Diego, CA 92110. Attendees will enjoy appetizers & signature cocktails on the patio, enjoy performance excerpts from each of the four authors followed by dessert and coffee. Launch Party Tickets can be found at https://writeoutloud.ticketspice.com/american-literary-heroes-celebration-
Performer Bios
Rhianna Basore (Emily Dickinson)
Rhianna Basore is an international actor, award-winning director, and published writer who made her feature filmmaking debut in Reykjavik with Crapshoot! She’s appeared Off-Broadway and abroad, co-created the web series In The Zoom Room, and founded Self Trust Fund and Miz. Understood Productions. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, LA Times, and New York Times, exploring the surreal intersections of identity, desire, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are meant to be.
Steve Smith (Henry David Thoreau)
Steve Smith is an actor, director, and teaching artist specializing in Shakespeare, stage combat, and developing new plays. Most recently, he’s been recognized with a Best Actor award for his work in Perseids at the Hollywood Short + Sweet Festival. Elsewhere around San Diego, he most frequently works as a director and actor/mentor at the Theatre School at North Coast Rep, has served as Shakespeare Consultant and New Works Festival Producer for New Village Arts, an instructor for Playwrights Project, and more.
Paul Maley (Mark Twain)
Paul Maley graduated from UCLA’s Theatre program in 1984. He and his wife Sharon moved to San Diego in 1990 to work at Lamb’s Players Theatre, where Paul spent 20 years on staff as a performer/educator. LPT credits include The Boys Next Door, See How They Run, Metamorphoses, and over 2,000 educational outreach performances. He has also performed with SeaWorld, the San Diego Symphony, Oceanside Theatre Co., Scripps Ranch Theatre, The Salvation Army, and his family’s own company StageWorks!
Todd Blakelsey (Walt Whitman)
A native San Diegan, Todd has worked as a theater artist and administrator for more than 60 years. Founded Theatre: Research & Development, Inc. (1971) developing the Dream Immersion Theater experience; Artistic Director of the Crystal Palace Theatre (‘71-’76) dedicated to developing new works. Co-founded Women’s Repertory Theatre (2001). San Diego Critics
Circle nominee: Best New Play for Cigars & Stripes – 1984; Outstanding Featured Actor Eurydice – Moxie Theatre – 2010; Outstanding Solo performance TRU – Diversionary Theatre 2014. His original film CRAPSHOOT or Why Al Voted for Trump: a love story opened the 2020 Reykjavik Fringe Festival in 2020. – More? www.toddblakesley.comas
Write Out Loud serves over 30,000 people annually with their core programs: In their six show season of Story Concerts, Poefest – a celebration of Edgar Allan Poe and writers of the macabre, Kamishibai StoryBox – for elementary students; Poetry Out Loud for high school students; Read Imagine Create for teens; Let Your Voice Be Heard – Student Poetry Initiative, Ripples From Walden Pond – a one-man play about Henry David Thoreau; and Stories for Seniors.
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