Big Read in Wayne County highlights Dawidziak

The Wayne Center for the Arts is working closely with Northeast Ohio writer and Twain scholar Mark Dawidziak as a part of THE BIG READ IN WAYNE COUNTY this March and April. Dawidziak will be the keynote speaker for the Big Read and with the Largely Literary Theatre Company, will perform “Twain by Three” on April 1..Dawidziak  has also provided  the Wayne Center which many pieces from his Twain memorabilia collection.

Dawidziak has been the television critic at the Cleveland Plain Dealer since July 1999. During his fifteen years at the Akron Beacon Journal, he held such posts as TV columnist, movie critic and critic-at-large.

The Center for the Arts, all seven branches of the Wayne County Public Library, the Orrville Public Library, The Wooster Book Company and area schools have come together to get adults as well as students to read, discuss and examine the work and  life of Samuel Clemens at the one hundredth anniversary of his death. A Kickoff Event is scheduled for Friday, March 12 from 6 to 8 pm at the Wayne Center for the Arts.

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. Wayne County is one of 268 communities nationwide participating in The Big Read from September 2009-June 2010.

Here are evnts:

* Friday, March 12 with an opening reception at the Wayne Center for the Arts celebrating an exhibition entitled, Mark Twain in Wooster. The exhibition will feature information on Mark Twain’s life and will include photos, memorabilia, artifacts and early editions of Twain books. A special section will highlight Twain’s visit to Wooster in January of 1872.

•  Tuesday, March 16 Keynote Speaker Mark Dawidziak at Main Branch of the Wayne County Public Library will present a program entitled, "Mark Twain: The Reports of His Death Are Greatly Exaggerated," at the Main Branch of the Wayne County Public Library, at 7 pm .

•  Thursday evening, April 1 at 7 pm. Twain by Three at Wayne College in conjunction with the Orrville Public Library The Largely Literary Theatre Company’s production of Twain by Three, will be performed in the J. M. Smucker Room of the new Student Life building.  The play begins with  Twain working at his desk. He talks to the audience about his frustrations with critics, editors and publishers, and this talk leads to a succession of stories. Three actors play all of the characters in these sketches.

•  Public programs at libraries around the County include Tom Sawyer movies, speakers and gamew.

• March 26 and March 27. Twain’s Tales  Storytime Family Theatre production at the Wayne Center for the Arts, a collection of five short stories by Twain.

•  Book discussions: At least twelve book discussions will be held during The Big Read.at the sponsoring locations. .The Wooster Book Company, College of Wooster, and Muddy Waters Café.