RED BANK – Project Write Now (PWN) will hold its annual fundraiser, CringeFest, a fun, raucous night to support the organization’s community outreach programs at 7 p.m. Friday, April 26, at The Vogel at Count Basie Center for the Arts. Doors open at 6 p.m.
CringeFest is an annual event during which adult writers share embarrassing stories from their awkward teen years or just any mortifying event. Past stories have included a date gone wrong because of a wardrobe malfunction, reading from middle school diaries about an obsession with kissing and what happens when an artist wants to make a mold of her nether regions.
“We are back for another exciting year on stage at The Vogel,” said Jennifer Chauhan, PWN’s executive director. “We’ve lined up the performers, and we have some really funny stories coming out that we can’t wait to share with our audience.”
New for this year, a VIP ticket includes admission to the CringeFest After Party, where attendees can chat with the performers, judges, past winners, and Project Write Now friends. Drinks, light bites and music are also included.
PWN instructor and board member Tina Goodyear is one of this year’s performers. “I never dreamed I would go on stage and share my own cringe-worthy story, but after attending (and cringing!) last year, I was inspired to totally embarrass myself this year,” she said.
All proceeds from CringeFest support Project Write Now’s outreach programs, which provide writing workshops, mentoring, and other educational opportunities to underserved communities. Since 2014, PWN has partnered with more than 75 schools and mission-based organizations giving more than 8,700 people supportive spaces to explore their authentic selves through writing and sharing their stories.
For more information and tickets, visit thebasie.org. For information on PWN, visit projectwritenow.org.
The article originally appeared in the April 11 – 17, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
