Writer Emma Donoghue to Appear at Pride Arts Center

Novelist, playwright and screenwriter Emma Donoghue will be appear at the Pride Arts Center hours before Pride Films and Play's U.S. premiere of her first play, I KNOW MY OWN HEART. The Irish-born Donoghue is a writer of contemporary and historical fictional novels, stage plays, screenplays and short stories.

Her novels include the international bestseller ROOM (her screen adaptation was nominated for four Oscars and she has also adapted it for the stage), and FROG MUSIC, SLAMMERKIN, THE SEALED LETTER, LANDING, LIFE MASK, HOOD, AND STIRFRY. Her story collections are ASTRAY, THE WOMAN WHO GAVE BIRTH TO RABBITS, KISSING THE WITCH, and TOUCHY SUBJECTS. Her stage plays include I KNOW MY OWN HEART (1993), LADIES AND GENTLEMEN (1996), DON'T DIE WONDERING (2005), KISSING THE WITCH (2000), THE TALK OF THE TOWN (2012) and ROOM (2017). She also writes literary history and plays for radio. She lives in London, Ontario, with her partner and their two children. Donoghue will discuss her body of work with Catey Sullivan, theater editor for WINDY CITY TIMES and the CHICAGO READER and a freelance theater critic who was written for the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, CHICAGO MAGAZINE, CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS among other local outlets, will lead the discussion with Donoghue.

The conversation will be held in the Buena Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway, Chicago, on Sunday, January 13 at 4:30 pm. Admission is free, but seating is limited. Reservations are recommended and may be made by calling 773-857-0222.

The press opening of Donoghue's I KNOW MY OWN HEART will be at 7:30 pm that evening. The drama was inspired by the secret coded diaries of Yorkshire gentlewoman Anne Lister. It details Lister's affairs with various women in the early 19th Century. The production is directed by Elizabeth Swanson and features a cast including Vahishta Vafadari as Lister, and Jessie Ellingsen, Eleanor Katz, and Lauren Grace Thompson. The design team includes Melissa Perkins (costume design), Blake Cordell (sound and lighting design) and Elyse Balogh (scenic painting).

Tickets for I KNOW MY OWN HEART are available now at www.pridefilmsandplays.com or by phone at 866-811-4111 or 773-857-0222. Reservations for A CONVERSATION WITH EMMA DONOGHUE may be made at 773-857-0222.