Joe Praml

Joe was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, graduated University of Minnesota (BA degree in English); Shubert Fellow in Playwriting at UofM Graduate School of Theatre. Won McKnight Foundation Humanities Award for Drama. Stage plays produced in London and US. Moved to London in 1970, lived there 14 years working in film, TV, radio and stage, as actor, writer and director. Also freelance journalist, including features for London's Time Out magazine. Professional organizations include Long-Service Member British Equity, Screen Actors Guild, Dramatists Guild of America, former member British Union of Journalists. Celtic Arts Center member since mid-80s. At Center, directed Mary O'Malley's "Once a Catholic" (Hollywood Drama-Logue Critics Award for Direction); two Eugene O'Neill sea plays, "Bound East For Cardiff" and "The Long Voyage Home" (awarded Eugene O'Neill Centennial Memorial Commendation by City of Los Angeles); compiled, directed, read "Celtic Visions and Dreams, an Evening of Poetry of Ireland, Scotland and Wales" (Celtic Arts Center's contribution to the Los Angeles Poetry Festival). Retired from entertainment business in 1980s, became community organizer and tenants' rights advocate. On Board of Directors of Coalition for Economic Survival, leading tenants' rights organization in Los Angeles area; founding member, coordinator and counselor at CES Tenants' Rights Clinic, which provides free legal aid to tenants; listed as tenants' rights resource on California Department of Consumer Affairs' website; was Rent Stabilization Commissioner for City of West Hollywood. In 2004, LAWeekly in "Best of LA" issue, cited Joe as "Best Way to Keep Your Landlord Honest", described his work at CES Tenants' Rights Clinic. Joe is active as performance storyteller and reader of poetry, directing and coordinating Celtic Arts Center's Dylan Thomas Celebration, the Bloomsday readings from James Joyce's Ulysses, and poetry readings at Center's Robert Burns Night. Other poetry readings and storytelling have been at Los Angeles colleges, libraries, churches, and museums. Joe is married, has two sons living in Twin Cities, a daughter living in Oregon, and between them he has six grandchildren.