Books on the Chopping Block at CITY LIT THEATER

City Lit Theater Company, in association with the American Library Associations Office of Intellectual Freedom, will again present BOOKS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK, a celebration of the ALAs annual BANNED BOOK WEEK, at various locations in and around Chicago. Every year since 1982, the American Library Association has released a list of the top ten most frequently challenged books as reported to their Office of Intellectual Freedom in the previous year. BANNED BOOKS WEEK, held during the last week of September, features those books. The week celebrates the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. The event draws attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted restriction of access to books across the United States. City Lit Theaters BOOKS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK is a 60-minute program consisting of short readings of excerpts from the top ten challenged books of the previous year. Each book is introduced with background on the book, including the reason it got challenged. The readings are followed by an audience discussion. City Lit Theater will present the 2022 BOOKS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK readings from September 18-22, at four different locations in the Chicago area: two Chicago Public Library branches: the DePaul University Library in Lincoln Park and the Lincoln-Belmont Library Branch; the Mt. Prospect Public Library, and the Highland Park Library. (See schedule below). The event at DePaul University, on September 21 at 1 pm, will also be available to view virtually live at https://depaul.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcvduCqrjsuEtBdOHUl6qaqpFA7OaikI5v4 BOOKS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK is adapted and directed by Katy Nielsen. The cast includes Gordy Andina, Andrea Conway-Diaz, Brandon Boler, Cat Hermes, Norine McGrath, and Eric Robinson.Sunday, Sept. 18 2:00PM at Highland Park Library, 494 Laurel Ave., Highland Park, ILTuesday, Sept. 20 7:00 PM at Mt. Prospect Library, 10 S. Emerson St., Mt. Prospect, ILWednesday, September 21 1:00 PM at DePaul University Library, 2350 N. Kenmore, ChicagoThursday, September 22 2:00 PM at Chicago Public Library, Lincoln-Belmont Branch, 1659 W. Melrose, Chicago