George Saunders News

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Mark Mulcahy returns with his brand-new LP, The Gus, which will be available on Friday, June 7 on the Mezzotint Label. The Gus is Mulcahy's sixth solo record and follows 2017's dynamic The Possum in the Driveway and his celebrated 2013 return record, Dear Mark J Mulcahy I Love You. Consequence of Sound premiered the album's first song, 'Taking Baby Steps,' today via a new video directed by Jason Mazzotta and features fellow musician Andy Goulet.

Collaboraction will reunite 200+ Chicago artists involved in the creation of this year's third annual PEACEBOOK Festival for a one-day-only, marathon celebration showcase of more than 20 world premiere short works about peace Sunday, October 7 at The Chop Shop, 2033 W. North Avenue in Bucktown. 

The Metropolitan Opera is preparing to kick off its 2018-2019 season tomorrow, September 24, under the leadership of new Music Director Yannick Nezet-Seguin. According to The New York Times, he company is making its future plans, including its first-ever commissions of operas written by women. Among them are new works by Jeanine Tesori and Missy Mazzoli.

Presented by Collaboraction, Chicago's social issue-driven contemporary theater, PEACEBOOK is a free, city-wide festival of theater, dance, music, visual art and spoken word that travels to three Chicago Parks over three consecutive weekends in September, all focused on cultivating peace in Chicago.

Today, the Chicago Humanities Festival announced a number of headliners for the Fall iteration of its first year-long theme, Graphic! This group of acclaimed presenters include two-time Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks, Broad City co-creator Abbi Jacobson, Two Dope Queens co-creator Phoebe Robinson, presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, artist Chris Ware, writer Alice Walker, columnist Rebecca Traister, Maestro Daniel Barenboim and his West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, historian Jill Lepore, chef Jose Andres, Getty Images photographer John Moore, photographer and Folded Map creator Tonika Johnson, and comic book artist Alex Ross.

Marking its 40th anniversary as one of New York's most vital cultural institutions,Symphony Space is proud to announce a new season of bold programming, presented in a uniquely warm and welcoming environment. From September through June, Symphony Space offers an exciting lineup of events that connect art, ideas, and the city's rich mosaic of communities.

Word for Word celebrates this 25th season with a rare production "Anniversary! Stories by Tobias Wolff and George Saunders" featuring Wolff's "Deep Kiss" and Saunders' "Victory Lap," works by two of the companies favorite authors, directed by Joel Mullennix and Delia MacDougall. "Anniversary! Stories by Tobias Wolff and George Saunders" opens with a press night Saturday August 11, 8pm (Preview Aug 8, 9 & 10) running through September 2 at Z Space Main Stage in San Francisco's Mission/SOMA district. Tobias Wolff and George Saunders are brilliant performers in the short story form, and the company feels lucky to be staging their stories for its 25th Anniversary. Over the past quarter century, Word for Word has had the pleasure and the honor to work with some of the best writers of all time.

Vice President Joe Biden today announced a highly-acclaimed group of moderators for the final nine dates of his 39-city American Promise Tour. Former Charlotte Mayor and Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx will join the Vice President for the Charlotte stop of the tour taking place at Belk Theater on June 13th.  American journalist Cokie Roberts, New York Times bestselling author Curtis Sittenfeld, and Bestselling Author Celeste Ng will also join the tour as moderators throughout remaining dates of the tour.

Forty years ago, two visionary leaders - Isaiah Sheffer and Allan Miller- took over an abandoned Upper West Side theater for an all-day free marathon concert called Wall to Wall Bach.  This event founded Symphony Space, and every year since 1978, Symphony Space has been presenting free marathon Wall to Wall events, hailed by The New York Times as 'an annual gift to the city of New York.'  In its 40th anniversary year, Symphony Space's signature concert event celebrates the centennial of a cherished American composer: Leonard Bernstein.  This FREE marathon concert will honor Bernstein's legacy with music, dance, conversation, film clips, and more, exploring the many facets of his creative life (May 19th, 3pm-11pm, Peter Jay Sharp Theatre, 95th and Broadway).

Hiro Murai has signed a first look producing deal with FX Productions, it was announced today by Eric Schrier and Nick Grad, Presidents of Original Programming for FX Networks and FX Productions. Under the agreement, Murai will develop new television projects for FX Networks and other outlets.

Forty years ago, two visionary leaders - Isaiah Sheffer and Allan Miller- took over an abandoned Upper West Side theater for an all-day free marathon concert called Wall to Wall Bach.  This event founded Symphony Space, and every year since 1978, Symphony Space has been presenting free marathon Wall to Wall events, hailed by The New York Times as 'an annual gift to the city of New York.'  In its 40th anniversary year, Symphony Space's signature concert event celebrates the centennial of a cherished American composer: Leonard Bernstein.  This FREE marathon concert will honor Bernstein's legacy with music, dance, conversation, film clips, and more, exploring the many facets of his creative life (May 19th, 3pm-11pm, Peter Jay Sharp Theatre, 95th and Broadway).

Project Broadway returns to Symphony Space

Word for Word celebrates this 25th season with a rare production "Anniversary! Stories by Tobias Wolff and George Saunders featuring Wolff's "Deep Kiss" and Saunders' "Victory Lap," works by two of the companies favorite authors, directed by Joel Mullennix and Delia MacDougall. "Anniversary! Stories by Tobias Wolff and George Saunders opens with a press night Saturday  August 11, 8pm (Preview Aug 8, 9 & 10) running through September 2 at  Z Space Main Stage in San Francisco's Mission/SOMA district. On August 15th, "An Evening With Tobias Wolff and George Saunders"  a post-show event with Tobias Wolff and George Saunders in conversation with Z Space Playwright-in-Residence Peter Nachtrieb.

DENVER - The American Library Association (ALA) selects 'Manhattan Beach,' by Jennifer Egan, published by Scribner, as the winner of the 2018 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, and 'You Don't Have to Say You Love Me: A Memoir,' by Sherman Alexie, published by Little, Brown, as the winner of the 2018 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction. The selections were announced this evening at the Reference and User Services Association's Book and Media Awards (BMAs) sponsored by NoveList, during the ALA Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado.

Symphony Space, one of New York's best-loved cultural destinations, is pleased to announce the return of FUSE PROJECT conceived by Artistic Director Andrew Byrne. Back for its third year, FUSE celebrates the creative process with new work, commissions, and fresh collaborations (February 3 - 17).

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and Bill Blumenreich Presents announce 'Vice President Joe Biden: American Promise Tour' at the Walt Disney Theater, Monday, January 29, 2018 at 7 p.m. Starting at $68, tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, December 22, 2017 at 10 a.m. and include a copy of his new book, Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose (on sale now, $27, Flatiron Books). VIP Meet & Greet tickets are also available. General audience tickets and VIP tickets may be purchased online at drphillipscenter.org, by calling 844.513.2014 or by visiting the Dr. Phillips Center Box Office at 445 S. Magnolia Avenue between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday. Online and phone ticket purchases are subject to handling fees.

Syrian clarinetist and composer Kinan Azmeh described as intensely soulful by the New York Times and spellbinding by the New Yorker returns to Symphony Space's Leonard Nimoy Thalia on November 30, 2017 for the world premiere of his newest song cycle, Songs for Days to Come, Volume 2, commissioned by St Urban Salon series.

Symphony Space, one of New York's best-loved cultural destinations, is pleased to announce the return of SOURCE PROJECT from December 13 - 19, 2017, with a focus this season on the music, culture, and history of New Orleans.

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world's largest retail bookseller, announced the return of its Black Friday Signed Editions program, a customer favorite, with over a half-million autographed books by more than 150 highly acclaimed authors. The largest promotion of its kind kicks off on Black Friday, November 24, at Barnes & Noble stores nationwide, while supplies last. The autographed books span many genres and interests, and were signed by authors for Barnes & Noble customers.