Event Program
THALIA BOOK CLUB: JAMES MCBRIDE, THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE
THALIA BOOK CLUB: JAMES MCBRIDE, THE HEAVEN & EARTH GROCERY STORE
THUR, NOV 02
READING
Ato Blankson-Wood
DISCUSSION
James McBride & Colum McCann
A CONVERSATION WITH THE AUDIENCE
There will be a book signing following this event.
If you would like to have your book signed, please remain seated after the event and you will
be called up by row.
The Artists (in alphabetical order)
Ato Blankson-Wood
Ato Blankson-Wood recently starred in The Public Theater’s production of Hamlet at the Delacorte Theater, directed by Kenny Leon. In 2020, he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in Slave Play, and for a Lucille Lortel Award in 2019 for the off-Broadway production. He was also recognized for his 2017 breakout performance in the Public Theater musical The Total Bent, receiving Drama League and Lucille Lortel Award nominations, and in 2019 he starred in Chris Urch's The Rolling Stone at Lincoln Center. Blankson-Wood’s film and television credits include BlacKkKlansman, The Kindergarten Teacher, Detroit, It’s Kind of a Funny Story, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, She's Gotta Have It, and The Good Fight. Ato can currently be seen alongside Michael Keaton, Stanley Tucci, and Amy Ryan in the Netflix biographical drama Worth.
Ato Blankson-Wood recently starred in The Public Theater’s production of Hamlet at the Delacorte Theater, directed by Kenny Leon. In 2020, he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in Slave Play, and for a Lucille Lortel Award in 2019 for the off-Broadway production. He was also recognized for his 2017 breakout performance in the Public Theater musical The Total Bent, receiving Drama League and Lucille Lortel Award nominations, and in 2019 he starred in Chris Urch's The Rolling Stone at Lincoln Center. Blankson-Wood’s film and television credits include BlacKkKlansman, The Kindergarten Teacher, Detroit, It’s Kind of a Funny Story, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, She's Gotta Have It, and The Good Fight. Ato can currently be seen alongside Michael Keaton, Stanley Tucci, and Amy Ryan in the Netflix biographical drama Worth.
James McBride
James McBride is the author of the New York Times–bestselling Oprah’s Book Club selection Deacon King Kong, the National Book Award–winning The Good Lord Bird, the American classic The Color of Water, the novels Song Yet Sung and Miracle at St. Anna, the story collection Five-Carat Soul, and Kill ’Em and Leave, a biography of James Brown. The recipient of a National Humanities Medal and an accomplished musician, McBride is also a distinguished writer in residence at New York University. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store was published on August 8th.
James McBride is the author of the New York Times–bestselling Oprah’s Book Club selection Deacon King Kong, the National Book Award–winning The Good Lord Bird, the American classic The Color of Water, the novels Song Yet Sung and Miracle at St. Anna, the story collection Five-Carat Soul, and Kill ’Em and Leave, a biography of James Brown. The recipient of a National Humanities Medal and an accomplished musician, McBride is also a distinguished writer in residence at New York University. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store was published on August 8th.
Colum McCann
Colum McCann is the author of several international bestselling novels including Apeirogon, TransAtlantic, Let the Great World Spin and Dancer. He is also the author of three story collections: Everything in this Country Must, Fishing the Sloe-Black River, and Thirteen Ways of Looking. Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, he has been the recipient of many international honors, including the U.S National Book Award, the International Dublin Literary Prize, a Chevalier des Arts et Lettres from the French government, election to the Irish Arts Academy, several European awards, the 2010 Best Foreign Novel Award in China, and an Oscar nomination. His work has been published in over 40 languages. He lives in New York and is the co-founder of the global non-profit story exchange organization, Narrative 4.
Colum McCann is the author of several international bestselling novels including Apeirogon, TransAtlantic, Let the Great World Spin and Dancer. He is also the author of three story collections: Everything in this Country Must, Fishing the Sloe-Black River, and Thirteen Ways of Looking. Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, he has been the recipient of many international honors, including the U.S National Book Award, the International Dublin Literary Prize, a Chevalier des Arts et Lettres from the French government, election to the Irish Arts Academy, several European awards, the 2010 Best Foreign Novel Award in China, and an Oscar nomination. His work has been published in over 40 languages. He lives in New York and is the co-founder of the global non-profit story exchange organization, Narrative 4.
MORE INFORMATION
The Thalia Book Club is made possible thanks to the generous support of Susan Bay Nimoy, Estate of Douglas M. Matheson, Seedlings Foundation, MacMillan Family Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller Fund, Charina Endowment Fund, The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, PECO Foundation, Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, Mustang Foundation, Michael Tuch Foundation, Jody and John Arnhold and the Arnhold Foundation, The Grodzins Fund, and The Isambard Kingdom Brunel Society of North America.
This program is also made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
Symphony Space thanks our generous supporters, including our Board of Directors, Producers Circle, and members, who make our programs possible with their annual support.
Kathy Landau Executive Director
Peg Wreen Managing Director
Isaiah Sheffer*
Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director (1978-1988)
Artistic Director (1988-2010)
Founding Artistic Director (2010-2012)
Allan Miller
Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director (1978-1988)
Jennifer Brennan Director of Literary Programs
Drew Richardson Lead Producer of Literary Programs
Vivienne Woodward Producer of Literary Programs
Mary Shimkin Director of Broadcast & Literary Initiatives
Matthew Love Consultant for Literary Programs
Magdalene Wrobleski Literary Assistant
Sophia Raimondi Literary Intern
Lulu Chatterjee Literary Intern
*in memoriam
