Palace Theater Presents Author Gina Barreca “I Wrote That!” on Nov. 17

AUTHOR GINA BARRECA “I WROTE THAT!”
NOVEMBER 17th 7PM PALACE THEATER WATERBURY

WATERBURY- Gina Barreca, prolific humor writer with a feminist edge will offer her hilarious observations during her November 17 7PM presentation: Gina Barreca & Accomplices at the Palace Theater, Waterbury. Barreca’ s talk will showcase the latest anthology she edited, Fast Funny Women: 75 Essays of Flash Nonfiction. The presentation is part of the theater’s new I Wrote That! series featuring primarily CT based authors. Tickets for each presentation are available online at www.palacetheaterct.org, by phone at 203-346-2000, or in person at the Box Office, 100 East Main St, Waterbury. The book Fast Funny Women: 75 Essays of Flash Nonfiction may be purchased in advance along with the ticket. A limited number of copies will also be available for purchase the evening of the event and Barreca will sign all copies. Support for the I Wrote That! series includes: Rourke Insurance Agency, Timothy W. and Mary Ellen Rourke and OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) at UCONN Waterbury.


Fast Funny Women: 75 Essays of Flash Nonfiction Edited by Gina Barreca sweeps us into the arms of provocative, smart, funny, and brave women whose stories about what got them through life’s toughest times leave us delighted, consoled, and inspired. Perfect for students of writing, writers of humor, and all readers who welcome laughter, insight, and perspective into their lives. These 75 flash nonfiction pieces, written by internationally celebrated women authors and dazzlingly hilarious newcomers provide a feast of insights, generously garnished with wit, spice and an exhilarating attention to craft. Included in the anthology are some writers you know by heart alongside other familiar and emerging authors, who sing of strength, passion, wit, rage, loyalty, talent, and love. You’ll learn how a fierce woman, whatever world she comes from and whatever age she happens to be, uses creativity, wit, compassion, and generosity to draw herself up and draw her community together.
Hailed as “smart and funny” by People, Gina Barreca was also deemed a “feminist humor maven” by Ms. Magazine, and her pieces for Psychology Today have received over 8.5 million views. Gina, who is the Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor at UCONN.

Below are future presenting authors and dates during the 22-23 season:

DECEMBER 10 – 2pm Jack O’Brien Jack in the Box . this intimate conversation, a follow-up to the memoir Jack Be Nimble, Jack O'Brien, the Tony Award-winning director, shares memories of people, productions, and problems surmounted during his 50-year career that he chronicles in his book, Jack in the Box.

What do directors do? Jack O'Brien, the winner of Tony and Drama Desk Awards and former artistic director of San Diego's historic Old Globe, describes it like this: "One stands before a situation in which something is presented to you. You’re afforded a challenge. Like catching an enormous ball. And you respond. You come up with a vision of some kind. That is, if you respond to the material at all, and one must, or it’s doomed. You sort of feel that since you relate to the material at hand, you might well try to be helpful."

DECEMBER 17, 1 pm Melissa Shapiro DVM, Piglet Comes Home. Bring your favorite young people and prepare to snuggle in to see and hear all about Piglet, the deaf blind pink puppy when author Melissa Shapiro reads her book Piglet Comes Home.
Melissa Shapiro, DVM, is a small-animal veterinarian, author, and speaker/advocate for pets and people with disabilities. She is also the driving force behind the social media phenomenon Piglet, the deaf blind pink puppy (@pinkpigletpuppy). Melissa along with Piglet and the rest of her 4 legged family members, will read from her book about Piglet, and share the Piglet Mindset!
ABOUT For over 25 years, Dr. Shapiro has been the owner and operator of the Visiting Vet Service, a house call practice in Fairfield County, CT. She is active in dog rescue and is the Connecticut state representative for the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association.
In addition to her work as a veterinarian, Dr. Shapiro creates and publishes all content for her popular social media pages that feature Piglet, her deaf blind pink dog. In 2017, Dr. Shapiro co-created the Piglet Mindset® educational outreach program, which uses Piglet’s story to teach growth mindset, resilience, and inclusion lessons in classrooms across the United States and the world.
She is the CEO and director of Piglet International Inc., a nonprofit that supports the Piglet Mindset® educational program and raises awareness for rescued and disabled animals through education and fundraising.


MARCH 18 3PM David Freeland American Hotel: The Waldorf-Astoria and The Making of a Century- option to purchase high Tea for this event
Known internationally as a symbol of elegance and luxury, Manhattan’s Waldorf-Astoria is one of the world’s most famous hotels.
Its reputation as a host to political leaders and movie stars is matched only by the renown of its cuisine and soaring Deco architecture. In this lecture based on his book, American Hotel: The Waldorf-Astoria and The Making of a Century, historian David Freeland will take us behind the glittering image, using rare photos and documents to reveal the full extent of the Waldorf’s contribution as a shaper of twentieth century life and culture.

MAY 16, 2023 2pm Martin Herman Do You Know Who You Are? Herman has published a total of 10 mystery and historic novels, thrillers, short stories, and a biography of a legendary jazz musician. In his latest novel, Do You Know Where You Are, he tells the story of Suzanne Fletcher and her perfect crime. Suzanne thought of everything...well almost everything…and that is how this novel begins.