David Sedaris Comes to Benedum Center April 1, 2009
By: Robert Diamond
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is proud to present David Sedaris, master of satire and one of America's greatest humor writers, at the Benedum Center on Wednesday, April 1, 2009, at 7:30 pm. Cohen & Grigsby is the season sponsor of the Trust Presents series. With his sardonic wit and sharp social critiques, this brilliant author and speaker addresses the current human condition in a hilarious, entertaining way. "David Sedaris just may be the funniest man alive" (Time Out New York).
Known for his keen ability to slice through euphemisms and political correctness, David Sedaris first gained public attention with a story he read on public radio called "The SantaLand Diaries," recounting his brief Christmas stint as a Macy's elf. Sedaris' fame has since exploded with the publication of bestsellers Barrel Fever and Holidays on Ice, and his collections of personal essays, Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, and Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim. He also edited an anthology of stories, Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules: An Anthology of Outstanding Stories. Collaborating with his sister, Amy Sedaris, under the name, "the Talent Family," David has written several plays produced at La Mama, Lincoln Center, and The Drama Department in New York City. Though he currently resides in Paris, David Sedaris' essays appear regularly in The New Yorker and Esquire, and his original radio pieces can often be heard on public radio's This American Life. In 2001, he became the third recipient of the Thurber Prize for American Humor. Additionally, he was named "Humorist of the Year" by Time Magazine in 2001 and nominated for two Grammy Awards for Best Spoken Word Album and Best Comedy Album. Sedaris' sixth book, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, was released on June 3, 2008. In this new masterpiece, he describes bizarre episodes from his daily life, including how he tried to make coffee without water and his venture to Tokyo in order to quit smoking. The essays expertly juxtapose cringe-worthy moments with laugh-out-loud ones, leaving readers begging for more. As one of America's most popular commentators, David Sedaris delights audiences everywhere with his irreverent style and impeccable humor. "Brutally honest and brilliantly eloquent, Sedaris is positively tonic" (Booklist).Ticket Information: Tickets ($42, $34, $20) may be purchased at the Box Office at Theater Square (655 Penn Avenue), online at www.pgharts.org, or by calling (412) 456-6666. To purchase 10 or more tickets at special discounted rates, please call (412) 471-6930.Videos