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Demerits, Detentions and Dismissals

Underdog Productions will present Demerits, Detentions and Dismissals as part of the inaugural Fort Lauderdale Fringe Festival, Saturday, May 2, at 1:20pm and 6:50 pm in the White Box space on the downtown campus of Broward College.  Utilizing the works of former teacher, slam poet champion and teaching advocate, Taylor Mali, teacher and actor Jerry Seeger conducts “class” under the tutelage of director Elena Maria Garcia, herself a teacher of acting and Seeger’s wife.  Seeger strives to unearth the humanity of the world’s finest profession, weaving together Mali’s works with humor and pathos.  Whether it is extolling the virtues of the profession or illustrating compassion for a student’s suffering, the teacher guides his “students” through the ups and downs of the classroom.

New York City native Taylor Mali is one of the most well known poets to have emerged from the poetry slam movement. His life, words and mission speak of inclusion, not exclusion, which makes him an unexpected force among dissimilar wordsmiths.  After nine years of teaching in a regular classroom, Mali sought out a larger one, and he has performed and lectured globally ever since.  He is the author of two books of poetry, The Last Time As We Are (Write Bloody Books 2009) and What Learning Leaves (Hanover 2002), and four CDs of spoken word.

Seeger, a veteran of fourteen years in the classroom, is the Director of Drama at St. Thomas Aquinas High School and co-founder of Underdog Productions.  He is a graduate of the University of Missouri and the Burt Reynolds Institute for Theatre Training where he studied with Tony Award winning directors Jose Quintero and Charles Nelson Reilly and Emmy Award winning actor Burt Reynolds.

Garcia is a multiple Carbonell Award winner, acting teacher at New World School of the Arts in Miami, co-founder of Underdog Productions, and the Director of Education at Bluedog School of Acting for Kids in Plantation, Florida.

Demerits, Detentions and Dismissals will be performed on Saturday, May 2, 2015, at 1:20 pm and 6:50 pm at The White Box, Broward College downtown campus, 111 E. Las Olas Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301.  Tickets will be $10, and may be purchased at 954-261-4190 or at  https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/dept/1330.