Writers Center Stage

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

The William N. Skirball Writers Center Stage Series brings the literary world’s best writers to 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 of America’s best and busiest library systems. All events start promptly at 7:30 PM.

Single event tickets are on sale now.

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Ann Patchett & Kevin Wilson

Ann Patchett & Kevin Wilson

Wednesday, September 27, 2023
7:30 PM

Ann Patchett is a celebrated author, devoted reader, champion of literary culture and independent bookstores. In 2012, TIME magazine named Ann one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World for her efforts on behalf of the literary community. Commonwealth, published in 2016, was selected as The New York Times Best Book of the Year. Her popular novel, The Dutch House, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and has sold more than 1 million copies. Ann’s latest novel, Tom Lake, will be released in August of 2023.

Kevin Wilson is known for writing radically inventive books filled with wit, vulnerability and heavy emotions. The Family Fang, published in 2011, was adapted into a film starring Nicole Kidman and Jason Bateman. His bestselling novel, Nothing to See Here, was named Best Book of the Year by The New York Times, Washington Post, TIME magazine and more. His latest book, Now Is Not the Time to Panic, was released in November of 2022.

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Michelle Zauner

Michelle Zauner

Thursday, October 19, 2023
7:30 PM

Michelle Zauner is best known as the Grammy nominated lead singer and guitarist for the indie pop band Japanese Breakfast. Her debut memoir, Crying in H Mart, spent over 60 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list. Crying in H Mart is a powerful memoir about growing up as a Korean American, losing her mother and forging her identity. It is currently being adapted into a film by MGM’s Orion Pictures, with a soundtrack by Zauner.

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Henry Winkler

Henry Winkler

Thursday, November 9, 2023
7:30 PM

After rising to fame playing the iconic character Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli on TV’s Happy Days, Henry Winkler has gone on to a prolific, award-winning career as an actor, producer, director and author. The man behind such memorable characters as Gene Cousineau on the HBO series Barry, will join us to discuss his new memoir, Being Henry: The Fonz ... and Beyond, which hits bookshelves in October 2023.

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Hernan Diaz

Hernan Diaz

Thursday, March 7, 2024
7:30 PM

Hernan Diaz’s first novel, In the Distance, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and PEN/Faulkner Award. Trust, his second novel, received the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and was a New York Times bestseller. It was also listed as the best book of the year by more than thirty publications. Former President, Barack Obama, listed Trust as one of his favorite books of 2022. Trust is currently being developed into a limited series on HBO.

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Rebecca Makkai

Rebecca Makkai

Wednesday, April 10, 2024
7:30 PM

Bestselling author, Rebecca Makkai is an American novelist and short story writer. Her novel, The Great Believers, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award and received an American Library Association Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction. Makkai’s most recent book, I Have Some Questions for You, released in February of 2023, was named one of “The Most Anticipated Books of 2023” by TIME magazine, NPR, The Washington Post and Oprah Daily.

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Imani Perry & Kiese Laymon

Imani Perry & Kiese Laymon

Tuesday, May 7, 2024
7:30 PM

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.

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Ticket options

    • 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

    • 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
    • Parking passes not included
    • 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.

    • One (1) ticket to attend a Writers Center Stage event in-person at the Maltz Performing Arts Center
    • Parking pass not included
    • All single in-person ticket holders who purchase a ticket to see Henry Winkler on November 9 will receive a copy of his new memoir, Being Henry…The Fonz and Beyond, on the night of the event.
    • One (1) ticket to livestream one (1) event
    • Virtual ticket purchasers will receive their livestream link via email prior to the event
    • Virtual tickets do not include physical seats at the Maltz Performing Arts Center or copies of the authors' books

Information for ticket holders

Access your eTickets

All Writers Center Stage event tickets are issued via email by Case Western Reserve University's Maltz Performing Arts Center (MPAC). Customers who have purchased Writers Center Stage tickets may view and print their tickets at anytime by logging into their MPAC account and clicking the View Orders / Print Available Tickets link.

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Parking passes

All Writers Center Stage event parking passes are issued upon purchase via email by Case Western Reserve University's Maltz Performing Arts Center (MPAC).

  • Premium parking in lot 82 at MPAC for all six Writers Center Stage events is included with Series Benefactor level subscriptions. As a courtesy, the library will provide a copy of Benefactor parking pass prior to each show.
  • Series Subscribers and Single Ticket holders may purchase parking passes from MPAC. Writers Center Stage 2023-2024 Parking Pass Bundles are available.
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Contact

For questions regarding ticket sales, refunds, seating or parking, please contact the Maltz Performing Arts Center Information Desk at 216.368.6062. For general questions, please contact the CCPL Foundation via email or by phone at 216.749.9491.

About Writers Center Stage

The 2023-2024 William N. Skirball Writers Center Stage Series is presented by the Cuyahoga County Public Library Foundation and its academic partner Case Western Reserve University. Funds raised by this series help support Cuyahoga County Public Library, one of the nation's best and busiest library systems.

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