An evening with Sarah Vowell | Press Releases

Open VISIONS Forum Lecture Series
8 p.m., Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts

Image: Sarah Vowell The wit, wisdom and individual personality of Sarah Vowell takes center stage at 8 p.m., Wednesday, March 28, 2012, at Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts as part the signature lecture series Open VISIONS Forum . The best-selling author, journalist, essayist and social commentator will give a lecture entitled "Author's Liberty as a Voice of Patriotic Radicalism." Following Sarah Vowell's presentation, there will be an informal conversation with Professor Philip Eliasoph , OVF moderator, and Cecelia Bucki , Ph.D., Chair of the Department of History at Fairfield University. Community Partner for this event is the Pequot Library. Open VISIONS Forum event is presented with the support of Venü magazine. Single tickets are $45.

"With her feisty nature, Ms. Vowell has emerged as one of America's most delightfully subversive voices," notes Professor Philip Eliasoph. "Let's anticipate for our forum audience an evening of droll insights and iconoclastic lampooning - sharpening her razor sharp lance at our nation's most sacred cows."

Sarah Vowell is a multi-talented individual. The New York Times ' bestselling author of six nonfiction books on American history and culture, she was also contributing editor for Public Radio International's This American Life and the voice of teen superhero Violet Parr in Brad Bird's Academy Award-winning The Incredibles , a Pixar Animation Studios film.

Her writings examine the connections between the American past and present, offering personal, often humorous accounts of everything from presidents and their assassins to colonial religious fanatics, as well as thoughts on American Indians, utopian dreamers, pop music and the odd cranky cartographer. Vowell's most recent book, Unfamiliar Fishes (2011) is the intriguing history of our 50th state, Hawaii, annexed in 1898. Replete with a cast of beguiling and often tragic characters, including an overthrown Hawaiian queen, whalers, missionaries, sugar barons, Teddy Roosevelt and assorted con men, Unfamiliar Fishes is another history lesson in Americana as only Vowell can tell it - with brainy wit and droll humor.

Her book The Wordy Shipmates (2008) examines the New England Puritans and their journey to and impact on America, revealing how American history can show up in the most unexpected places in our modern culture, often in poignant ways. Another book Assassination Vacation (2005) is a haunting and surprisingly hilarious road trip to tourist sites devoted to the murders of presidents Lincoln, Garfield and McKinley. Her first book Radio On (1997) is her year-long diary of listening to the radio in 1995. Her two essay collections are The Partly Cloudy Patriot (2002) and Take the Cannoli (2000).

While a contributing editor for Public Radio International's This American Life from 1996-2008, Vowell produced numerous commentaries and documentaries and toured the country in many of the program's live shows. She has been a columnist for Salon.com, Time and San Francisco Weekly and continues to write occasional essays for the opinion page of The New York Times . Sarah Vowell has made numerous television appearances including on Late Show with David Letterman , Late Night with Conan O'Brien and the Daily Show with Jon Stewart . She is the president of the board of 826NYC, a nonprofit tutoring and writing center for students aged 6-18 in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Tickets are available through the Quick Center Box Office: (203) 254-4010, or toll-free 1-877-ARTS-396 (1-877-278-7396). Tickets can also be purchased online at http://www.fairfield.edu/quick .

The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts is located on the campus of Fairfield University at 1073 North Benson Road in Fairfield, Connecticut. Entrance to the Quick Center is through the Barlow Road gate at 200 Barlow Road. Free, secure parking is available. Access for people with disabilities is available throughout the Quick Center for audience members and performers. Hearing amplification devices are available upon request at the Box Office. Fairfield University is located off exit 22 of Interstate-95. For further information and directions, call (203) 254-4010 or 1-877-278-7396, or visit http://www.fairfield.edu/quick .