Author and satirist George Saunders brings observations and insights to the stage
Join author and satirist George Saunders for an evening of cultural observations and a discussion about the role of humor, kindness, and empathy — in fiction writing and in life — at 7:30 p.m. on April 1
“An Evening With George Saunders,” presented by the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech in collaboration with the Department of English in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, will be held in the Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre, located within the Moss Arts Center’s Street and Davis Performance Hall at 190 Alumni Mall.
In addition to performing, Saunders be meeting with Virginia Tech faculty and students from the Department of English and University Honors program to discuss the craft of writing as part of his visit.
Saunders has written four collections of short stories, a novella, and a book of essays. The contemporary fiction writer’s most recent collection, “Tenth of December,” was the winner of the 2014 Story Prize and the 2014 Folio Prize, a finalist for the 2013 National Book Award in fiction, and chosen as one of the 10 best books of 2013 by the New York Times Book Review.
Saunders’ upcoming book, “Congratulations, by the way: Some Thoughts on Kindness,” is based on a convocation address the author delivered at Syracuse University in 2013. The New York Times posted a transcript of the speech on its website, where the simple yet inspirational message was shared more than a million times.
Saunders’ work appears regularly in The New Yorker, GQ, and Harper’s Magazine, and has appeared in the “The Best American Short Story,” “The Best American Nonrequired Reading,” and “The Best American Travel Writing” anthologies.
In 2006, he was the recipient of both a MacArthur Foundation “genius grant” and a Guggenheim Fellowship and was named to Time Magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2013. Saunders has taught creative writing at Syracuse University since 1997 and has served as a visiting writer at Wesleyan University and Hope College.
Saunders has appeared on “The Charlie Rose Show,” “Late Night with David Letterman,” and “The Colbert Report.”
“An Evening with George Saunders” is recommended for mature audiences, as it may contain adult themes and language.
Immediately following the performance, Saunders will be available in the Moss Arts Center Grand Lobby for a free book signing event. His books will also be available for purchase.
Tickets
Tickets are $25 for general admission and $10 for students and youth 18 years old and under. Tickets can be purchased online; at the Moss Arts Center's box office, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday; or by calling 540-231-5300.
Parking is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street. Virginia Tech faculty and staff possessing a valid Virginia Tech parking permit can enter and exit the garage free of charge. Limited street parking is also available. Parking on Alumni Mall is free on weekdays after 5 p.m. and on weekends.
