Event—Public Programming

A Child of the Century: A Theatrical Reading

—Adapted for the Stage by Scott Jacobs

Join us for this new dramatization of Ben Hecht’s memoir, adapted by playwright Scott Jacobs.

This program will be held in-person at the Newberry. Please register below.

A Child of the Century, Ben Hecht’s autobiographical memoir, was first published in 1954 to great critical acclaim. In it, Hecht offers philosophical meditations on the nature of God and the self, as well as keen firsthand portraits of big-city newsrooms, postwar Germany, 1920s New York intellectuals and artists, and golden-age Hollywood.

Join us for a theatrical reading of this new play put on in partnership with the Shakespeare Project of Chicago, adapted by the late writer and film producer, Scott Jacobs and directed by J. R. Sullivan, illustrated with images drawn from the Newberry’s collection of Ben Hecht’s papers.

This program is generously supported by the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation.

Cost and Registration

This program is free and open to all. Advance registration required.

Registration opens February 1.

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Past Public Programs

Check out video recordings of past Newberry public programs on our YouTube channel.

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