Versified! The Human Equation

Join us for an unforgettable night where the boundaries between poetry and performance dissolve. Under the direction of Sonny Lira, our extraordinary ensemble of actors bring the life and wonder of Bob Gossom’s unique verses to the stage. Experience the profound connections that create the human equation.

About the Show

Ten years ago, Bob Gossom wrote an odd, complex poem titled “The Page Turner” that required separate female voices to be read. Experiencing presenters share the lines of the poem, passing the words between them, sent chills down his spine. Soon all of his public readings were “versified” and participatory – recruiting friends, relatives, and audience members to join him in presenting poems. “I found myself standing on a picnic table deep in the Grand Canyon, challenged to give a poem to 80 fellow hikers, so I recruited the challenger to stand beside me.” says Gossom. These experiences led to a trial show in 2020, as the pandemic broke. Last year, performing in a tap dance production Bob was again called to give a poem. This time he partnered with professional actor, Sonny Lira. Realizing Sonny's delivery was infinitely better than his own, he recruited Sonny and thus began the collaboration to create Versified! The Human Equation.

Bob Gossom, Writer

Recognized for his distinctive poetry, Los Angeles-based writer Bob Gossom is also distinguished member of the Directors Guild of America and a respected applications developer. With successful ventures in both domains, he has established multiple companies and has been a frequent presenter at DevCon, a prestigious international conference focused on software development. Bob’s community contacts have included working with youth diversion programs, hotlines, and athletic coaching. He is well known for his love of music, movies, books, hiking, body surfing, and tap dancing. Through it all Bob has created deeply moving, finely crafted, poems. Versified! The Human Equation is his second theatrical production and is based on his fifth book of poetry.

Sonny Lira, Director

Director Sonny J. Lira is an artist based in Los Angeles California. With his production company, Hyperactive Studios, he has produced several classical theatre pieces and some short form media. He is a composer, dancer, and an animator as well as a live theatre practitioner. Most recently, he produced and directed Shakespeare's Richard III in Hollywood. He is currently preparing to mount an upcoming production of Othello. Connect with him on Instagram @hyperactivestudios

There is a line running through our lives, connecting each moment, each emotion. Occasionally our lines cross and in an open glance we see our neighbor, our spouse, our daughter, the stranger in the laundromat. For a moment we recognize them and, as their gaze meets ours, we are also understood.