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Kiese Laymon & Imani Perry

The William N. Skirball Writers Center Stage Series

Presented by the Cuyahoga County Public Library Foundation and Case Western Reserve University.

Kiese Laymon is a bestselling author, social critic and essayist known for his savage humor and clear-eyed perceptiveness, which earned him comparisons to Ta-Nehisi Coates, Alice Walker and Mark Twain. He is the author of the award-winning memoir, Heavy which won the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction in 2019 and was named 50 Best Memoirs of the Past 50 Years by The New York Times. His genre-defying novel, Long Division, which won the NAACP Image Award, combines elements of science fiction, satire and social commentary.

Imani Perry’s work reflects the deeply complex history of Black thought, art and imagination. Her book Breathe: A Letter to My Sons explores the terror, grace and beauty of coming of age as a Black person in contemporary America and was a finalist for NAACP Image Award for Excellence in Nonfiction. Her latest book, South to America: A Journey Below the Mason Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation, is an essential journey through the history of the American South. South to America won the National Book Award and was named best book of 2022 by The New Yorker, TIME magazine and Oprah Daily. 

Ticket Options 

Series Benefactor - $275

• One (1) ticket to all six (6) shows with the flexibility to come in-person or live stream from home
• Admission to an exclusive 2024-2025 season announcement party
• Advanced access to PREMIUM seating in sections EE-KK
• Invitation to a preshow Benefactor Reception with one author
• Hardcover copy of Henry Winkler’s memoir, Being Henry: The Fonz … and Beyond
• Free Parking at the Maltz Performing Arts Center
• A post-event video link will be sent via email shortly after each event

Series Subscriber - $175

• One (1) ticket to all six (6) shows with the flexibility to come in-person or live stream from home
  Advanced access to PREFERRED seating in sections A-N 
• Hardcover copy of Henry Winkler’s memoir, Being Henry: The Fonz … and Beyond
• A post-event video link will be sent via email shortly after each event
• Virtual Subscriber - $75 
• A ticket to live stream all six (6) events
• A livestream link will be sent via email approximately 1 hour before each event
• A post-event video link will be sent via email shortly after each event
• Virtual subscriptions do not include physical seats at the Maltz Performing Arts Center or copies of Henry Winkler’s memoir, Being Henry: The Fonz … and Beyond

Single Event Tickets (In Person) - $35

Single event tickets to attend Writers Center Stage events at the Maltz Performing Arts Center go on sale September 1, 2023.

Single Event Tickets (Virtual) - $20 

Single event tickets to livestream Writers Center Stage events go on sale September 1, 2023. Virtual ticket purchasers will receive their livestream link via email approximately 1 hour before the event.

The 2023-2024 William N. Skirball Writers Center Stage Series

Ann Patchett & Kevin Wilson
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 / 7:30 PM

Michelle Zauner
Thursday, October 19, 2023 / 7:30 PM

Henry Winkler
Thursday, November 9, 2023 / 7:30 PM

Hernan Diaz
Thursday, March 7, 2024 / 7:30 PM

Rebecca Makkai
Wednesday, April 10, 2024 / 7:30 PM

Kiese Laymon & Imani Perry
Tuesday, May 7, 2023 / 7:30 PM

About Writers Center Stage

The William N. Skirball Writers Center Stage Series brings the literary world's best writers to Greater Cleveland. The 2023-2024 series is presented by the Cuyahoga County Public Library Foundation and Case Western Reserve University. Funds raised by this series help support Cuyahoga County Public Library, one the nation's best and busiest library systems.