2011 Archived Dates:

Jan. 30, Bowery Poetry Club, New York City Frank makes a special guest appearance with the David Amram Quartet. 8:00 PM. 308 Bowery Ave, NYC (bet Houston and Bleecker Street).

Feb. 15, National Public Radio, Frank records an interview with NPR on the subject of baseball and literature. To be aired April 1, 2011.

 Feb 24, BBC Radio Interview, Frank records an interview with the BBC.

Feb. 26, 27, 28 Port St. Lucie, Fl. Frank "reports" to spring training camp with the Mets and waxes poetic on the 2011 pre-season.

March 6, Timucua White House, Orlando, Fl., Frank makes a rare surprise appearance, doing live action painting during the performance of avant-garde jazz greats, The What? Thing featuring Kris Gruda, Michael Welch, Dan Walters, Dan Jordan. General admission seating, and limited standing room only. Early arrivals strongly suggested. 7:30PM. 2000 S. Summerlin Ave, Orlando, FL, 407-595-2713. Please note, Frank will not be reading poetry this evening. He will be painting.   

April 9, 10, Sarasota Film Festival, Frank appears in feature documentary, Jack Kerouac Slept Here, The untold story of the writer's life in Orlando, as well as the next generation of writers who will sleep where Jack once slept. This episode is the world premiere of the upcoming PBS TV Series, Diamonds Along the Highway, which will launch in the fall of 2011. Series host Gus Mollasis takes us on a journey to the Kerouac home that is now a writer's retreat. Kerouac lived here at the time On The Road was published, as he wrote Dharma Bums, the follow up to his generation defining novel. The episode documents a historic literary moment when Dr. Joyce Johnson, Jack's former lover and author of two books about him, makes her first visit to the Kerouac home in Orlando. Joyce relives the intense relationship she had with the controversial author and also shares correspondences she had with him over fifty years ago. Features appearances by actor Kevin Kline; composer David Amram; poets Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Frank Messina; authors Carolyn Cassady (wife of Neal Cassady) and Bob Kealing. Show times:  Sat, Apr 9th 2:00pm, Regal Cinemas Hollywood 20 Theater 9 $12.00; Sun, Apr 10th 2:00pm Regal Cinemas Hollywood 20 Theater 8. 1993 Main Street, Sarasota, FL 34236 Sarasota Film Festival.

April 14, University of Central Florida, Main Library, Orlando, FL. Frank Messina gives poetry reading, Q&A session and book signing. UCF Main Library, 7:00 PM. 4000 Central Florida Blvd, Bldg 2, Room 223, Orlando, FL. 407-823-5982. Limited Seating / Standing Room / Early Arrival suggested. Free Parking / Free Admission.

April 20, Jay Bergman Field, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL. Frank throws out first pitch for the UCF Knights vs. Florida Gators game, and signs copies of Full Count: The Book of Mets Poetry. 6:30PM. Televised on Bright House Networks and

April 21, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York, NY The annual reading of key selections from the Inferno by Dante Alighieri. This dramatic literary event will take place in the nave of the Cathedral, with selected Cantos read by honored guests, distinguished poets, eminent translators and visiting scholars including Michael Palma, Wyatt Prunty, Willliam Louis-Dreyfus, Charles Martin, Frank Messina, Paolo Valesio, Cynthia Zarin and others. Hosted by The Very Reverend Dr. James A. Kowalski, Cathedral Dean, and Cathedral Poet-in-Residence Marilyn Nelson. St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Ave @ 112th St. New York. 9pm-midnight. Followed by Pipe Organ meditation at midnight. Free and open to the public.

The Southern Discomfort Tour:

Tyrone Cotton / Frank Messina / Ron Whitehead

w/ special guest Col. Anthony Broy

May 1, Timucua White House, Orlando, Fl. Frank Messina, legendary Kentucky poet Ron Whitehead and blues great Tyrone Cotton and special musical guests. 7:30PM. 2000 S. Summerlin Ave, Orlando, FL, 407-595-2713. Don't Miss this special Show! Limited Seating & Standing Room. Show will sell out. Early Arrival suggested.

May 3, DiVerse Word at Dandelion, Frank Messina, legendary Kentucky poet Ron Whitehead and blues great Tyrone Cotton and special musical guests. 8:00PM. Dandelion CommuniTea Cafe. 618 Thornton Ave, Orlando, FL.

May 4, WPRK 91.5 Radio, Rollins College, Winter Park, FL. Frank Messina, blues great Tyrone Cotton, Kentucky legend Ron Whitehead, and former NASD Supervisor and Wall Street maverick Col. Anthony Broy discuss why art matters in a world of greed, bad politics and revolution. Hosted by Julie Norris, Front Porch Radio, Rollins College Campus. 4:00PM.

May 5, Civic Media Center, Gainesville, FL. Tyrone Cotton, Frank Messina, Ron Whitehead. Civic Media Center, 9:00PM. 433 S. Main St, Gainesville, FL, 32601, 352-373-0010. Don't Miss this special Show! Limited Seating & Standing Room. Early Arrival suggested.

May 6, Bellamy Road Fine Arts, Melrose, FL. The David T. Warner Foundation hosts a "Friday at Sundown" show. Bellamy Road, 5910 Hampton Street, Melrose, Florida 32666. Show begins at sundown. Four paintings by Frank Messina will be exhibited in the main gallery. A reception will follow.

MAY 7, University of Hangoutology Cape Coral, FL. Col. Anthony Broy hosts the salon: "A Night of Art & Revolution" featuring Tyrone Cotton, Frank Messina, Ron Whitehead, and guests. Limited to 50 attendees. Click Here to obtain a pass. Include your name, phone number and amount in your party.

June 15 - Aug. 30 NYC, Filming for HBO's Boardwalk Empire Frank makes his debut appearance in a minor featured role on HBO's Boardwalk Empire. Directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Steve Buscemi, Michael Shannon.

July 27, Rockwood Music Hall, New York City Frank makes a special guest appearance with NY cult group, Mojo Mancini. Mojo Mancini is the "love child" of celebrated NYC musicians Shawn Pelton (Long time SNL drummer), John Leventhal (Grammy award winning producer/guitar player), Rick DePofi (Paul McCartney, NYNoise), Brian Mitchell (Bob Dylan, Levon Helm), and Conrad Korsch (Rod Stewart). Rockwood Music Hall, 196 Allen Street, NYC, 10002 between Houston St. and Stanton St. 212 477 4155. 9:00PM.

Sep. 11, The September 11 Memorial Ceremony, Jersey City, NJ Frank is a guest speaker at this year's ceremony, sponsored by the Jersey City 9/11 Memorial Committee. 8:30AM-11AM, at the foot of Grand Street and Hudson River, Jersey City, NJ. 07302

Sep. 11, September 11 Tenth Anniversary Commemorative Concert at Symphony Space 2537 Broadway at 95th Street, New York, NY 10025-6990, 7:00PM. Free and Open to the Public. 212-864-5400.

Frank is honored to be reading a poem, accompanied by longtime friend, legendary composer David Amram.

New York Chamber Music Festival presents, in a coproduction with Symphony Space, a commemorative tribute to the 10th Anniversary of September 11. This free concert, performed by musicians from the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera, is dedicated to the people of New York City. The evening's program includes specially selected music and poetry poignant to the events of 9/11, and will feature appearances by some of New York's most illustrious artists, actors, athletes and politicians.

Music by: David Amram, Brahms, Samuel Barber, Chopin, Lera Auerbach, Liszt, Schumann, Laura Kaminsky (New York Premiere), Astor Piazzolla, Jon Deak (World Premiere), Wagner, Drew Hemenger (World Premiere), Sean Hickey, Simon Mulligan (New York Premiere), Justin Tokke, Franco Alfano (American Premiere).

Poetry by: Emily Dickinson, Dylan Thomas, Emily Brontė, Emma Lazarus, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Karen Karpowich, Frank Messina, Alphonse de Lamartine, and others.

October 1-30, Frank works on new book at an undisclosed location.

December 5, Cornelia Street Cafe, New York City, Frank makes a special guest appearance with the David Amram Quartet. Kevin Twigg, drums; John Dewitt, bass; Elliott Pepper, percussion. 8:30pm   Cornelia Street Cafe,  29 Cornelia St, New York, NY. 212-989-9319

More Dates Announced Soon

ARCHIVED DATES