WORDS
People in the Berkshires love books and the writers who create them. For more than 25 years, The New Marlborough Meeting House has offered Berkshire audiences the opportunity to meet and hear from the authors whose works inform, inspire and give joy to our lives. Our Award-Winning Authors series, hosted for 20 years by New York Times senior editor Mitchel Levitas and currently hosted by author Simon Winchester, has welcomed Paul Auster, Siri Hustvedt, Calvin Trillin, Elizabeth Kolbert, William Kennedy, Mary Gordon, Roy Blount, Jr., Madhur Jaffrey, Tracey Kidder, Vivian Gornick, Nicholson Baker, Linda Greenhouse, and many others.
*PLEASE NOTE: when you click the red button above, then click on the event photo from the collection of events to access the ‘SELECT TICKETS button.
WORDS EVENTS 2024
June 22 2:00 pm
ONE TOWN, ONE READ
Edith Wharton’s classic coming-of-age novel, Summer, is likely set in the Berkshires. Her themes — class divisions, female empowerment, desire and rejection—still resonate today, more than 100 years after its publication. Get a copy from your local bookstore or library or download it. Then come and participate in a freewheeling discussion. Wharton scholar Alan Price will provide important background. A panel of local readers will jumpstart the conversation. Then it’s your turn! This free event is co-sponsored by The Mount (Edith Wharton’s home), Friends of the New Marlborough Public Library, and the New Marlborough Meeting House.
July 20 4:30 pm
CHALLENGES! TRUE STORIES, LIVE ON STAGE!
Come hear the compelling and moving true stories of some adult learners from the Literacy Network community as they share personal vignettes (Moth Radio Hour style). The theme for the event will be Challenges. Stories shared will center on life as an immigrant and will include perspectives on learning a new language and culture. The program will be followed by light refreshments. This is a FREE EVENT co-sponsored by LitNet. You can learn more about the Literacy Network at: litnetsb.org
FREE!
August 3 4:30 pm
TAYLOR MAC AND HEATHER CHRISTIAN TALK CREATIVITY
In one of the highlights of the summer, New Marlborough resident Taylor Mac and Heather Christian will discuss their individual work in the theater, their past collaborations and their music theatre consideration of Clarence Thomas entitled “Clarence, in a Pause” (a song or two from this work-in-progress will be presented). Taylor Mac is an American actor, playwright, performance artist, director, producer, singer-songwriter, recipient of a “Genius Grant” from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and a finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Singer, playwright and composer Heather Christian is a Drama Desk and a two-time Obie Award-winning composer/performer.
August 24 4:30 pm
Eric Foner And Kerri Greenidge Discuss THE LEGACY OF SLAVERY Moderated By Alice Kessler-Harris
Eric Foner, one of the country’s most prominent historians of the Civil War and Reconstruction, will be joined by Kerri Greenidge, acclaimed author of The Grimkes: The Legacy of Slavery in an American Family (finalist for the National Book Circle Award), to discuss her book and the legacy of slavery in the U.S. today. Moderating the discussion is the distinguished feminist historian of 19th-and-20th century America, Alice Kessler-Harris.
THIS EVENT IS CANCELLED!!
September 28 4:30 pm
CELEBRITY INTERVIEW: JOE DONAHUE!
WAMC’s legendary on-air personality becomes the interviewee instead of the interviewer. Come hear all about Joe’s background and listen to engaging stories of high and low lights of his career on the radio and the countless celebrities he’s interviewed. Joe will be interviewed by Barry R. Shapiro. There will be plenty of time for questions and an opportunity to chat with Joe after the event.
October 5 4:30 pm
SIMON WINCHESTER IN CONVERSATION WITH JOURNALIST LINDA GREENHOUSE: “ELECTION 2024”
In a timely event, Simon Winchester, widely acclaimed author of more than 30 books, most recently Knowing What We Know, and Linda Greenhouse, longtime reporter on the Supreme Court for The New York Times and winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1998, will discuss what is at stake in the upcoming elections. There will be plenty of time for questions.
WORDS EVENTS 2023
KAREN ALLEN
Multi-award winning actor and director Karen Allen joined us for a fast moving, interactive afternoon, sharing highlights of her exciting career. Interviewed by Barry R. Shapiro.
ALISON LARKIN
Award-winning audiobook narrator and bestselling novelist Alison Larkin joined us for a joyful sneak preview of excerpts from her new solo show Grief… a Comedy. Accompanied by composer Gary Schreiner.
TASTING THE WORLD: MELISSA CLARK & MADHUR JAFFREY
Two of today’s great cookbook writers come to New Marlborough to discuss food, cooking, and their careers crafting delicious recipes.
A WRITER AND A ROBOT WALK INTO A BAR: Writing in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Simon Winchester, Chandra Prasad, Francine Prose and Timothy Bent
Simon Winchester, acclaimed author, most recently of Knowing What We Know, returns to The Meeting House to lead a discussion on the future of writing in the age of AI with three distinguished figures in the world of letters: Francine Prose, writer of fiction and nonfiction and critic, is the author of twenty-one novels, including Blue Angel, which was a finalist for the National Book Award; Timothy Bent, Executive Editor of Trade Books for Oxford University Press; and Chandra Prasad, author of adult and young adult fiction, whose forthcoming novel focuses on the intersection between artificial intelligence, identity and environmental ethics.
Tickets were made available through Eventbrite, by mail, by phone, or at the door subject to availability (shows may sell out in advance).
Mailing address: NM Meeting House, 154 Hartsville New Marlborough Road, New Marlborough, MA 01230 Phone: 413-229-5045
ESSEX FARM EVENT: WE ARE WHAT WE EAT
The Kimballs discussed their farm, food and diet and the rising awareness of the benefits of organic food and sustainable farming.
JOHN DOUGLAS THOMPSON, ACTOR
Renowned and multiple award-winning actor, John Douglas Thompson, joined us for an interactive afternoon.
SIMON WINCHESTER WITH ALICE SEDGWICK WOHL
Simon Winchester talked to art historian Alice Sedgwick Wohl about her new book - As It Turns Out: Thinking About Edie and Andy.
WORDS EVENTS 2021
ARCHIVE OF GUEST SPEAKERS
“So many books, so little time.”