Presentations, Readings, and Discussions
McCarter Theatre
Writer and humorist David Sedaris returns to McCarter Theater on October 6.
An Evening with David Sedaris: The writer, humorist, and master of satire returns to McCarter for an evening of readings and recollections, Q&A, and book signing. $25 to $85. Friday, October 6, 8 p.m.
An Evening with Jhumpa Lahiri in conversation with Zahid Chaudhary: Presented in Collaboration with Labyrinth Books and the Princeton Public Library, the noted Italian/English writer, translator, and literary critic discusses her new collection of short-stories, her life’s work, and the power of translation. $30. Thursday, November 2, 7:30 p.m.
91 University Place, Princeton. 609-258-2787. www.mccarter.org.
State Theater of New Jersey
John Cusack, a film veteran with more than 70 titles to his credits, will talk about his career and introduce a showing of one his most noted films, “High Fidelity.” $39 to $129. Thursday, October 12, 7:30 p.m.
Comedy Series: “Scared Scriptless,” an unscripted live evening with the improvising TV comedy duo featuring Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood. $29 to $59. Saturday, September 16, 8 p.m.
“Penn & Teller,” the legendary American duo shares a night of comedy and magic. $59 to $99. Saturday, September 23, 8 p.m.
Penn & Teller come to the State Theater on September 23.
“Comedy Night Live!”: Featuring five comedians currently working crowds and air waves across America: Joe Matarese, Matt Lopes, Jackie Fabulous, Rishi Mathur, and Vinnie Brand. $25 to $35. Friday, September 29, 8 p.m.
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. 732-247-7200. www.stnj.org.
Luci Tapahonso of the Navajo Nation participates in the Princeton Poetry Festival on November 17.
Princeton Poetry Festival
The biennial Princeton Poetry Festival, organized by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon, returns with a full day of readings, panel discussions, and a lecture featuring poets Mei-mei Berssenbrugge, Joyelle McSweeney, John Okrent, Roger Reeves, and Philip Schultz of the United States; Valzhyna Mort of Belarus; Padraig Regan of Ireland; and Luci Tapahonso from the Navajo Nation. Presented by the Lewis Center for the Arts in McCarter’s Berlind Theater, 91 University Place, Princeton. Free. Friday, November 17, 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
More information: arts.princeton.edu.
Atelier@Large Series
“Conversations on Art-making in a Vexed Era”: A series of conversations organized by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon that brings guest artists to the Princeton campus to discuss what they face in making art in the modern world. Guests this fall will include Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Hernan Diaz and mathematician Sarah Hart, who explores the links between math, culture and creativity; New York Dance and Performance Award-winning choreographer Kyle Marshall and O. Henry Award-winning writer Lorrie Moore; and bestselling writer and past president of PEN Ukraine Andrey Kurkov and novelist and physicist Alan Lightman. Presented by the Lewis Center for the Arts’ Princeton Atelier, in Princeton University’s Richardson Auditorium. Free. Tuesdays, September 12, October 10, and November 14, 7:30 p.m.
More information: arts.princeton.edu.
Labyrinth Books
New York novelist Lynn Steger talks discusses her book, “Wednesday’s Child: Short Stories,” at Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. Thursday, September 21, 7 p.m.
Music writer and Princeton grad Jonathan Taplin discusses his new book, “The End of Reality: How 4 Billionaires Are Selling a Fantasy Future,” at Princeton Public Library. Monday, September 25, 7 p.m.
Media study scholar Florian Fuchs will share thoughts on “Civic Storytelling: The Rise of Short Forms and the Agency of Literature” at Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street, Princeton. Wednesday, September 27, 6 p.m.
Cultural and intellectual historian and Rutgers University professor Jackson Lears will talk on his book “Animal Spirits: The American Pursuit of Vitality from Camp Meetings to Wall Street,” at Labyrinth books. Monday, October 2, 6 p.m.
Irish historian and Princeton professor Peter Brown will appear with his book “Journeys of the Mind: A Life in History” at Labyrinth Books. Wednesday, October 4, 6 p.m.
Joyce Carol Oates discusses her new book at Labyrinth Books on October 5.
Prolific American novelist and retired Princeton University professor Joyce Carol Oates will engage in a conversation about her new book, “48 Clues into the Disappearance of My Sister & Zero-Sum: Stories,” at Labyrinth Books. Thursday, October 5, 6 p.m.
British physicist and broadcaster Jim Al-Khalili discusses his new Princeton University Press book, “The Joy of Science,” at Labyrinth Books. Monday, October 9, noon.
New Jersey-based writer and performer Boo Trundle will be present to discuss her new book, “The Daughter Ship: A Novel,” at Princeton Public Library. Tuesday, October 10, 7 p.m.
Past Harvard president Drew Gilpin Faust will discuss her book “Necessary Trouble: Growing up at Mid-Century” with past Princeton University president Shirley Tilghman at Labyrinth Books. Thursday, October 12, 4:30 p.m.
Writer, musician, and English professor Sara Marcus talks on “Political Disappointment: A Cultural History from Reconstruction to the Aids Crisis” at Labyrinth Books. Monday, October 24, 6 p.m.
Russian scholar, professor, and ethnographer Kristen Ghodsee and her book “Everyday Utopia: What 2,000 Years of Wild Experiments Can Teach Us about the Good Life” are the focus of a discussion at Princeton Public Library. Wednesday, October 26, 7 p.m.
Writers and translators Ilya Kaminsky, Katie Farris, Maya Chabra, Andrew Janco, and Olga Livshin present Ukrainian Poetry in Translation at Labyrinth Books. Wednesday, November 1, 6 p.m.
Economist and Princeton University professor emeritus Angus Deaton and Princeton sociology professor Matthew Desmond discuss Deaton’s new book, “Economics in America,” at Labyrinth Books. Wednesday, November 8, 6 p.m.
Princeton University professor of African American studies Eddie Glaude will interview Brown University professor Melvin Rogers about his new book, “The Darkened Light of Faith: Race, Democracy, and Freedom in African American Political Thought,” at Princeton Public Library. Thursday, November 9, 7 p.m.
Susan Stewart leads a poetry-centered event at Labyrinth on November 28.
Princeton University professor of politics and human values Philip Pettit and Irish Times columnist and chair of Princeton University’s Fund for Irish Studies Fintan O’Toole share thoughts on Petit’s book, “The State,” at Labyrinth Books. Wednesday, November 15, 6 p.m.
Princeton University professor emeritus of English Michael Wood talks about his new book, “Marcel Proust,” at Labyrinth Books. Thursday, November 16, 6 p.m.
Princeton University professor, poet, and critic Susan Stewart and Princeton University Press poets Simon West and Myronn Hard engage in a public event centered around the books “Prickly Moses: Poems” and “Aurora Americana: Poems” at Labyrinth Books. Monday, November 28, 6 p.m.
Princeton University professor of politics and director of the Center for Human Values Melissa Lane will talk on her book “Of Rule and Office: Plato’s Ideas of the Political” at Labyrinth Books. Tuesday, November 29, 6 p.m.
More information: www.labyrinthbooks.com.
Fund For Irish Studies
Diarmaid Ferriter, professor of modern Irish history at University College Dublin, lectures on the Irish Civil War. He is introduced by Visiting Leonard L. Milberg ’52 Professor in Irish Letters Fintan O’Toole. Friday, September 15.
Lecture by University of Notre Dame professor of Irish studies Barry McCrea. Thursday, October 27.
Award winning Irish short story writer and novelist Louise Kennedy reads from her work. Friday, November 10.
A presentation by Irish writer Caoilinn Hughes, author of the award winning novel “The Wild Laughter.” Thursday, December 1.
Events are free and open to the public. All events begin at 4:30 p.m. in Princeton University Lewis Center’s James Stewart Film Theater at 185 Nassau Street, Princeton, unless noted otherwise.
More information: fis.princeton.edu.