PEORIA --"Why The Great Gatsby Is Great," a free
presentation by retired Illinois Central College English-journalism professor
Mike Foster, will be sponsored by the ICC English Department's Travels Through
Literature series at 7 p.m. Tuesday March 2 at ICC North's Arbor
Hall.
This is one of many event involving the Fitzgerald novel. Here are more, from the news release from the Peoria Public Library:
Peoria Area Jumps on The Great Gatsby Bandwagon
for
Ninth Year of The Big Read: Peoria Reads
With close to 40 public and private events scheduled,
including 17 book club discussions, the Peoria area is ready to read and
discuss the classic The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald during the
ninth year of The Big Read Peoria Reads.
This year’s The Big Read Peoria Reads features
NPR’s Fresh Air book critic, Maureen Corrigan; Zelda Fitzgerald reenactor
Debra Conner; Gatsby Night at Live at the Five Spot; a Family Kick-Off Event; a
movie showing at The Apollo; and numerous book discussions as well as other
events. All events are listed at www.thebigreadpeoriareads.org.
Everyone is invited to “read the book and get involved!”
An expert on The Great Gatsby, Maureen
Corrigan, National Public Radio book critic, is one of the featured
speakers on The Great Gatsby Audio Guide being made available to the
public during The Big Read: Peoria Reads. She says, “I think if I
were on a desert island and I had to pick the American novel of the 20th
century, it would be this one.” Corrigan will appear in Peoria:
·
Wednesday, March 10, ICC Performing Arts Center,
9:00 a.m.
·
Wednesday, March 10, Peoria Public Library,
Lakeview Branch, 7:00 p.m.
·
Thursday, March 11, Luncheon, Childer’s
Banquet Center, 3113 N Dries Lane, Noon, Tickets $18 each, Call Common Place at
674-3315
Take yourself back to the Jazz Age, dress like a flapper or
just enjoy the atmosphere. Admission $7 for members, $10 for non-members. For
more information call William at Contemporary Arts Center, 674-6822.
Family Kick Off Event - March 6 Saturday– 2:00
to 4:00 pm. Come and explore the “Roaring Twenties” with
activities, snacks, dance, vintage cartoons, and live old-time piano music.
ICC North, Arbor Hall, 5407 North University, Free and open to the public.
Join us for the 1974 film version of The Great Gatsby,
starring Robert Redford, Friday, March 12 at 7:00 p.m. at the Apollo Theater,
311 Main Street, Peoria. Suggested admission is $5 for adults and $4 for
seniors and students. Steve Tarter will provide introductory comments.
Free popcorn and soft drinks will be available.
“Jay Gatsby, Then and Now”
takes place Thursday, March 18. This panel discussion features Dr.
James Decker, Carol May, Farrell Davies and Barbara Harnett at ICC North Arbor
Hall Auditorium, 5407 North University, 2:00 p.m. Free and open to the public.
A panel of literary experts chose Jay Gatsby, F. Scott
Fitzgerald’s Jazz-Age rogue, as its top fictional character since
1900. Join in a panel discussion with social service professionals and
academics as they talk about the pursuit of the American Dream in
Gatsby’s day and now.
Debra
Conner has been bringing literary personalities to life since 1997
through a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Be
sure to come and meet Debra as she portrays Zelda Fitzgerald, wife of F. Scott
Fitzgerald and the original American flapper, on Wednesday, March 24, Lakeview
Branch Library, 7:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Remember to check www.bigreadpeoriareads.org for
more information.
The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for
the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The NEA
presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library
Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. Support for The Big Read is
provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Transportation for The Big Read is
provided by Ford. This program/project has been made possible by a grant from
The Literacy Fund and The Yeomans Fund of the Community Foundation of Central
Illinois. This program is sponsored in part by Friends of Peoria Public
Library. -30-
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