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MARCH 12 THROUGH APRIL 21, 2010

A celebration of literacy and the lasting legacy of a great American author are the focus of THE BIG READ IN WAYNE COUNTY: a County-wide community read of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain set for March and April. The Wayne Center for the Arts, all seven branches of the Wayne County Public Library, the Orrville Public Library, The Wooster Book Company and area schools through the Tri-County Educational Service Center have come together to get adults as well as students to read, discuss and examine this seminal work and the life of Samuel Clemens at the one hundredth anniversary of his death. A Kickoff Event is scheduled for Friday, March 12 from 6 – 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. To date, the NEA has funded more than 800 Big Read programs in the nation’s towns and cities. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. Support for The Big Read is provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Transportation for The Big Read is provided by Ford.

special events for the big read

• Exhibit at the Wayne Center for the Arts

The Big Read in Wayne County will kick-off on 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.

• Keynote Speaker Mark Dawidziak at Main Branch of the Wayne County Public Library

Twain scholar Mark Dawidziak presents a program entitled, "Mark Twain: The Reports of His Death Are Greatly Exaggerated," at the Main Branch of the Wayne County Public Library, Tuesday, March 16 at 7 pm . Mark Twain climbed onto the back of Halley's Comet and departed this globe 100 years ago. But as we approach the centennial of his death on April 21, it's clear that Mark Twain is more alive than ever as an American writer, an American icon, an American presence. So Mark Twain scholar Mark Dawidziak will discuss why the reports of Mark Twain's death were indeed an exaggeration. Dawidziak writes for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, is the author of Mark My Words: Mark Twain on Writing and has presented Twain programs around the country.

• Twain by Three presented 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 at Wayne College on Thursday evening, April 1 at 7 pm. The play opens 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

Other public programs planned for The Big Read include two library presentations each of Tom Sawyer movies; a speaker on spelunking; and a variety of family-friendly activity days featuring crafts, 19^th century children’s games, and other programs.

• Twain’s Tales Storytime Family Theatre production at the Wayne Center for the Arts

Twain’s Tales is a collection of five short stories by Mark Twain. The stories are “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” “Science v. Luck,” “The Joke That Made Ed’s Fortune,” “The Belated Russian Passport” and “Is He Living or Is He Dead?” – as well as the fence-painting chapter from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. A hands-on activity and refreshments will precede each performance on March 26 and March 27.

• Book discussions around the County

At least twelve book discussions will be held during The Big Read. Locations will include the seven branches of the Wayne County Public Library, the Orrville Public Library, The Wooster Book Company, College of Wooster, and Muddy Waters Café.