Writers Center Stage

New CSU Partnership Offers Students Access to Nationally Known Writers

September 20, 2011

Elizabeth Strout won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for Olive Kitteridge, a collection of 13 linked stories about a retired schoolteacher. She is also the author of Abide With Me and Amy And Isabelle, which won numerous literary awards..

October 24, 2011

Michael Pollan writes about the places where nature and culture intersect: on our plates, in our farms and gardens, and in the built environment. Written with clarity, concision and wit that has become this bestselling author's trademark.

November 8, 2011

Billy Collins has published nine collections of poetry, including Questions About Angels, The Art of Drowning, Picnic, Lightning, Taking Off Emily Dickinson's Clothes, Sailing Alone Around the Room: New & Selected Poems, Nine Horses, The Trouble With Poetry and Other Poems, and Ballistics. A collection of his haiku, titled She Was Just Seventeen, was published in 2006.

March 20, 2012

Abraham Verghese MD's first book, My Own Country, about AIDS in rural Tennessee, was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and was made into a movie by Mira Nair. His second book, The Tennis Partner, was a New York Times notable book.

April 17, 2012

Anne Lamott is the author of seven novels including, Hard Laughter, Rosie, Joe Jones, Blue Shoe, All New People, and Crooked Little Heart (the sequel to Rosie), as well as five bestselling books of non-fiction, including Operating Instructions, an account of life as a single mother during her son's first year and Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life.

May 1, 2012

Colm Toibin studied at University College Dublin and lived in Barcelona between 1975 and 1978. Out of his experience in Barcelona he produced two books, the novel The South and Homage to Barcelona, both published in 1990.This prolific author counts many novels, short story collections and plays among his published works, and is currently Leonard Milberg Lecturer in Irish Letters at Princeton University.

Tickets: purchase online.

A limited number of free tickets are available to CSU students, faculty and staff. All CSU alumni are entitled to a $5 discount off individual tickets or $30 off season tickets.

Cleveland State University continue its innovative partnership with the William N. Skirball Writers Center Stage Program that allows CSU students unusual access to work and interact with renowned writers throughout the year.

Presented by the Cuyahoga County Public Library Foundation, this year's series includes programs with Elizabeth Strout, Michael Pollan, Billy Collins, Abraham Verghese, Anne Lamott and Colm Toibin. Before their scheduled programs in the Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square, each author will interact with students on CSU's campus.

"We are very proud to offer our students this kind of personal access to nationally recognized writers," said Kay Shames, director of CSU's Center of Arts and Innovation. "This is the type of hands-on engaged learning that has become a CSU signature."

As part of the arrangement, CSU will sponsor various special events surrounding the Writers Center Stage series. For example, students, faculty and alumni will have the opportunity to participate in online book discussions led by the Cuyahoga County Library staff and attend a special presentation by the author in a class or before an audience on campus. Alumni also have the opportunity to buy discounted tickets to the series.

CSU faculty members whose courses include Writers Center Stage authors will incorporate supporting materials from Cuyahoga County Public Library into lectures, coursework and other assignments.

Now in its eighth season, the Writers Center Stage public programs begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Ohio Theatre at PlayhouseSquare at 1511 Euclid Ave. Each program will be followed by a question-and-answer period and a book signing.

The Writers Center Stage Program is the Cuyahoga Public Library Foundation's signature fundraising event. Funds raised enable the library system to develop programs that reconnect the community to reading, empower children to reach their maximum potential, and connect with new Americans. Subscribing to the program is a great way to support the community.

For more information, please contact the Center for Arts and Innovation at 687-5022 or 687-5018.