Some of the brightest stars from Iowa City’s literary community will give readings at the Englert Theatre on Sunday afternoon to raise money for hurricane relief in Puerto Rico, Florida, Texas and the Virgin Islands.
All money raised will go directly to the American Red Cross. Tickets are by donation, with the suggested level of $10. Readings will be given by more than a dozen writers, including Pulitzer Prize winner Marilynne Robinson, Iowa’s first poet laureate Marvin Bell and Lan Samantha Chang, who is the director of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.
Jan Weissmiller, a co-owner of the Prairie Lights Books and Cafe, is co-hosting the event along with U of I visiting professor D. A. Powell.
"I think it will be really moving," Weissmiller says. "We just feel like we need to do something. And this is a way for the community to be able to participate, to be able to donate at a level they feel comfortable donating. And also get to know some of the work and personal voices of people that live among us."
Weissmiller says she hopes the event will raise nearly $10,000, if not two or three times that amount.
In addition to Prairie Lights and the Englert, the benefit is being cosponsored by The Iowa Writers Workshop, The Iowa Playwriting Workshop, The International Writing Program, The Iowa Review, The Magid Center for Creative Writing.
