Eileen Castro, Reference Librarian/Grant Coordinator
The Galesburg Public Library will launch its National Endowment for the Arts Big Read program exploring Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu with a free improv comedy show at The Orpheum Theatre this Saturday, April 1 at 8:00 PM. The NEA Big Read in Galesburg is presented in partnership with the Galesburg Public Library Foundation and the Galesburg Community Arts Center, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
The kick-off event will feature Stir Friday Night, the longest-running Asian American comedy team in Chicago. Alumni of Stir Friday Night include Danny Pudi from Community, Steven Yeun from The Walking Dead, and Mary Sohn from AP Bio. The group will perform their newest show, the Improvised Martial Art Movie, a completely improvised fight choreography experience.
An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, the NEA Big Read broadens our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the power of a shared reading experience.
Galesburg is one of 62 communities nationwide participating in the 2022-2023 NEA Big Read. During the month of April, our community will celebrate Interior Chinatown by Charles Yuwith a full calendar of events including a presentation about the “othering” of Asian Americans by educator and storyteller Dr. Ada Cheng, several free tai chi classes, multiple book discussions, and craft programs led by the Galesburg Community Arts Center. Ten other libraries in the Western Illinois region will also be holding discussions of Interior Chinatown and distributing books to their patrons as part of Galesburg’s Big Read. Check with your local library to see if they participate.
For more information about the Big Read Kickoff or any other Big Read events, please contact Eileen Castro at eileen.castro@galesburglibrary.org or (309) 343-6118 ext. 304. You also can view a full calendar of events for the NEA Big Read in Galesburg at www.galesburglibrary.org, or check the Galesburg Public Library Facebook page for a full listing of events.
The Galesburg Public Library strives to serve the community as a general center of information, and to provide opportunity and encouragement for people to use its services and materials to meet their educational, personal, professional, recreational and cultural needs. Located at 40 E. Simmons St., their current hours are Monday-Thursday 9AM–8PM and Friday-Saturday 9AM–5PM.
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