Scranton’s ‘Native Son’ Returns to Celebrate Weinberg Memorial Library’s 20th Anniversary

The University of Scranton’s celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Memorial Library continues with an event that features a library director nationally recognized for his interviews and an award-winning New York playwright from Scranton.

“Native Son: Stephen Karam in Conversation with Paul Holdengraber” will take place on Monday, Dec. 3, at 5:30 p.m. in the Royal Theatre of the McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts. The event is free of charge and open to the public. A reception will immediately follow the discussion.

Karam is the author of the play “Sons of the Prophet,” which was a 2012 Pulitzer Prize finalist and winner of the Drama Critics Circle, Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards for Best Play. His other plays include “Speech & Debate” and “columbinus,” both of which were performed by The University of Scranton Players.

Holdengraber is the director of public programs at the New York Public Library. Since joining the library in 2004, he has been responsible for hundreds of “LIVE from the NYPL” events. His programs have become known nationwide for providing a forum in which audiences can engage with some of the world’s most influential public figures, including writers, historians, artists and politicians. Participating speakers have included Ken Burns, Thomas Friedman, Spike Lee, Norman Mailer, Frank McCourt, Charlie Rose and many others.

Their conversation will center on the life and work of Karam, who said, “No matter how long I live in New York, Scranton will always be home.”

The event, originally scheduled in October, was postponed because of superstorm Sandy.

The Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library, in collaboration with the Schemel Forum, a program of the Weinberg Memorial Library, are dedicating a lecture series to the 20th anniversary celebration. The final lecture of the series, entitled “War and Peace: Current Issues,” will take place Tuesday, March 5, 2013, and will be presented by Daniel Serwer, scholar, Middle East Institute, and professor, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University.

For more information or to register for any of the Weinberg Memorial Library 20th anniversary events, contact Kym Fetsko, events coordinator, at 941-7816 or kym.fetsko@scranton.edu.