SPEAKeasy Series Returns Friday Night At Newtown Gallery

NEWTOWN, PA — The ArtWRKD Exhibition Space in Newtown continues its monthly Friday night SPEAKeasy series on April 24 with a guest poet, songwriter, and storyteller.

The audience will enter through a secret bookcase and will then watch as an ever-changing cast of poets, songwriters, and storytellers take the mic each month.

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"In a world of algorithms and alternate timelines, storytelling events are more important than ever," says co-organizer Joe Montone. "These are people in your neighborhood, someone you might find in the grocery aisle, this is a way of understanding our world better ... plus, it's a lot of fun."

One poet, one songwriter, and one storyteller are featured each month in a casual lounge environment. And food and beverages are served downstairs at Triple Sun Spirits.

This month, renowned Doylestown songwriter Andrea Carlson headlines the evening.

Often described as a “Renaissance Woman,” Andrea has always been driven by her passions of creativity and artistic
expression in a variety of areas in the arts. As a singer and guitarist, she has toured throughout the United States and Europe.

Andrea has been performing for the past 11 years at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, with her band “The Love Police”. As a recording artist, she has released six albums, along with
many singles.

Yardley native Patricia L. Mervine is the featured storyteller. After a 30-year career in Central Bucks schools, she has become immersed in researching local history. She will be recounting a story from her second book, "Slavery, Friends, and Freedom in Bucks County,” which tells the forgotten stories of 50 people, both black and white, who were engaged in the abolition movement and Underground Railroad.
For her volunteerism and advocacy, Pat was the honored recipient of the 2025 Bucks County Women’s History Month award.

Curtis Spence is the featured poet this month. In 2019, while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Spence began experimenting with watercolor painting as a personal creative practice. What started as a therapeutic outlet gradually evolved into a sustained artistic exploration combining visual abstraction and reflective writing.

Spence’s work invites viewers to engage both emotionally and intellectually, encouraging dialogue around identity, memory, community, and the human search for belonging.

SPEAKeasy is a collaboration between gallerist and curator of ArtWRKD Ashara Shapiro and Joe Montone, founder of Stage United. The duo also co-hosts the evening. For tickets and more information, visit stageunited.org. ArtWRKD is located at 126-128 S. State Street, No. 300, Newtown 18940.