Unbound: A Literary Series with BAM and Greenlight Bookstore returns this fall with Daniel Kehlmann, Lena Dunham, Herbie Hancock, and John Cleese
Daniel Kehlmann with Zadie Smith Launch of F Sep 21 at 11am Brooklyn Borough Hall Courtroom (209 Joralemon St) Brooklyn Book Festival Free
Lena Dunham with Zadie Smith Featuring Bleachers and Jemima Kirke Not that Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She’s “Learned” Oct 21 at 7:30pm BAMcafé (Peter Jay Sharp Building, 30 Lafayette Ave) Sold out
Herbie Hancock with Sasha Frere-Jones Launch of Herbie Hancock: Possibilities Oct 29 at 6:30pm BAM Rose Cinemas (Peter Jay Sharp Building, 30 Lafayette Ave) $25 (ticket only); $40 (includes book)
John Cleese with John Hodgman Launch of So, Anyway… Nov 5 at 8pm BAM Harvey Theater (651 Fulton St) $25 (ticket only); $45 (includes book)
Brooklyn, NY/Aug 20, 2014—Unbound: A Literary Series with BAM and Greenlight Bookstore returns this fall with four unique talks surrounding the highly anticipated book launches of contemporary authors—Daniel Kehlmann, Lena Dunham, Herbie Hancock, and John Cleese.
Internationally acclaimed author of Measuring the World, Daniel Kehlmann (Sept 21), discusses his new book F—a tragic and comedic novel about three brothers whose father takes on the occult—with English novelist Zadie Smith. This event is a part of the Brooklyn Book Festival.
Lena Dunham (Oct 21) comes to BAM as part of a national book tour to launch her first book, a collection of personal essays entitled Not that Kind of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She’s “Learned”. In this sold out event, the acclaimed creator, producer, and star of HBO’s Girls is joined by special guests Zadie Smith, Jemima Kirke, and an opening set by Jack Antonoff’s band, Bleachers.
Fourteen-time Grammy Award-winning musician and composer Herbie Hancock (Oct 29) launches his long-awaited memoir Herbie Hancock: Possibilities. Joined by The New Yorker music critic Sasha Frere-Jones, Hancock discusses his extraordinary career as a jazz pianist and composer. Following the talk, Hancock will join BAMcinématek audiences to introduce a screening of Bertrand Tavernier’s ’Round Midnight, which won him an Oscar for Best Original Score.
Legendary comedian John Cleese (Nov 5) sits down with editor and writer John Hodgman to discuss his new memoir. So, Anyway takes readers on a tour of his ascent in the entertainment world from his humble beginnings in a sleepy English town and his early comedic days at Cambridge University (with future Monty Python partner Graham Chapman), to the founding of the landmark comedy troupe that would propel him to worldwide renown.
Tickets for Unbound: A Literary Series go on sale Sept 15 (Sept 8 for Friends of BAM). Visit BAM.org for more details.
About the Artists
Daniel Kehlmann was born in Munich in 1975 and lives in Berlin and New York. His works have won the Candide Prize, the Doderer Prize, the Kleist Prize, the Welt Literature Prize, and the Thomas Mann Prize. Measuring the World was translated into more than 40 languages and is considered one of the greatest successes of postwar German literature.
Zadie Smith was born in northwest London in 1975. She is the author of White Teeth, The Autograph Man, On Beauty, NW, and the essay collection Changing My Mind. Smith previously appeared at BAM as part of the Eat, Drink & Be Literary series. She lives in New York City.
Lena Dunham is the creator and star of the critically-acclaimed HBO series Girls, for which she also serves as executive producer, writer, and director. She has been nominated for eight Emmy awards and has won two Golden Globes, including Best Actress for her work on Girls. Dunham has also written and directed two feature length films (including 2010's Tiny Furniture NY Premiere BAMcinemafest), created two web series, and is a frequent contributor to The New Yorker. She graduated from Oberlin College in 2008.
British-born Jemima Kirke is an accomplished painter of expressionist portraits who's had shows in Brooklyn, New York, San Francisco, London, and Miami. Her TV and film credits include "Jessa" in the HBO series Girls and "Charlotte" in Lena Dunham's Tiny Furniture.
Jack Antonoff hails from New Jersey and has been in the music scene for over a decade. In 2002 he co-founded and was the lead singer of the successful New Jersey-born indie rock band Steel Train. In 2008, Antonoff joined Nate Ruess and Andrew Dost to form the band fun. and together they coveted Grammy awards for “Best New Artist” and “Song of the Year.” Most recently he released Strange Desire on RCA Records—his debut album for his newest musical endeavor, Bleachers. Winning critical acclaim, the first single I Wanna Get Better, has quickly risen to #1 on the alternative radio chart. Antonoff is also a distinguished songwriter and producer. In addition to co-writing Sara Bareilles’ Grammy nominated hit Brave, Antonoff received a Golden Globe nomination for his collaboration with Taylor Swift on her song Sweeter Than Fiction.
Herbie Hancock was born in Chicago in 1940. A child piano prodigy, he performed a Mozart piano concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at age 11. Hancock began playing jazz in high school, initially influenced by Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans. He also developed a passion for electronics and science, and double-majored in music and electrical engineering at Grinnell College. Hancock acted and played in the film Round Midnight (1986) and won an Oscar for its score. His record River: The Joni Letters won a Grammy for Album of the Year in 2008. In 2011 he was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and received a Kennedy Center Honor in December of 2013. In May 2014 Hancock received a Lifetime Achievement Award from San Francisco Jazz.
Sasha Frere-Jones is an American writer, music critic, and musician. He has written for Pretty Decorating, ego trip, Hit It and Quit It, Mean, Slant, The New York Post, The Wire, The Village Voice, Slate, Spin, and The New York Times. He has been on the staff of The New Yorker since 2004.
John Cleese achieved his first big acting success in London’s West End and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report. He went on to co-found the legendary Monty Python troupe which produced legendary films like Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Life of Brian. In the mid-1970s, Cleese and his first wife, Connie Booth, co-wrote and starred in the now classic sitcom Fawlty Towers. Later, he wrote and co-starred in A Fish Called Wanda and Fierce Creatures. He has appeared in many other films, from James Bond to Harry Potter to Shrek, and has guest-starred in TV shows that include 3rd Rock from the Sun, Will & Grace, and Entourage. Cleese lives in London.
John Hodgman is a writer, humorist, “expert,” and “Former Professional Literary Agent” living in New York City. He has served as a humor editor for The New York Times Magazine, frequent contributor to This American Life, advice columnist for McSweeney’s, comic book reviewer for The New York Times Book Review, and a freelance journalist specializing in food, culture, non-wine alcohol, Battlestar Galactica, and most other subjects. Hodgman’s published writings include his bestselling trilogy, The Areas of my Expertise, More Information Than You Require, and That is All.
Brooklyn Academy of Music’s (BAM’s) mission is to be a home for adventurous artists, audiences, and ideas. America’s oldest performing arts institution, it is recognized internationally for innovative dance, music, and theater programming—including its renowned Next Wave Festival. BAM also features an acclaimed repertory film program, literary and visual art events, and extensive educational programs. The institution is led by President Karen Brooks Hopkins and Executive Producer Joseph V. Melillo. BAM.org
Founded in October 2009, Greenlight Bookstore is a general independent bookstore located in Fort Greene/Clinton Hill in Brooklyn, and serving the wider literary community. Through knowledgeable staff, curated book selection, community partnerships, and a robust ecommerce website as well as a beautiful Fulton Street space, Greenlight combines the best traditions of the neighborhood bookstore with a forward-looking sensibility. Greenlight has garnered local, national, and international press coverage for its innovative startup model and its continuing success. In addition to partnering with BAM on the Unbound series, Greenlight hosts literary events in the bookstore several nights a week. More information and details can be found at greenlightbookstore.com.
For press information on Unbound: A Literary Series with BAM and Greenlight Bookstore contact Baha Ebrahimzadeh, [email protected], 718.636.4129 x8
Credits Support for Unbound is provided by The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation.
Programming in the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House is supported and endowed by The Howard Gilman Foundation. Programming in the BAM Harvey Theater is endowed by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
Your tax dollars make BAM programs possible through funding from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the New York State Council on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The BAM facilities are owned by the City of New York and benefit from public funds provided through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs with support from Mayor Bill De Blasio; Cultural Affairs Commissioner Tom Finkelpearl; the New York City Council including Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Finance Committee Chair Julissa Ferreras , Cultural Affairs Committee Chair Jimmy Van Bramer, the Brooklyn Delegation of the Council, and Councilwoman Laurie Cumbo; and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
BAM would like to thank the Brooklyn Delegations of the New York State Assembly, Joseph R. Lentol, Delegation Leader; and New York Senate, Senator Velmanette Montgomery, Delegation Leader.
General Information BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, BAM Rose Cinemas, and BAMcafé are located in the Peter Jay Sharp building at 30 Lafayette Avenue (between St Felix Street and Ashland Place) in the Fort Greene neighborhood of Brooklyn. BAM Harvey Theater is located two blocks from the main building at 651 Fulton Street (between Ashland and Rockwell Places). Both locations house Greenlight Bookstore at BAM kiosks. BAM Fisher, located at 321 Ashland Place, is the newest addition to the BAM campus and houses the Judith and Alan Fishman Space and Rita K. Hillman Studio. BAM Rose Cinemas is Brooklyn’s only movie house dedicated to first-run independent and foreign film and repertory programming. BAMcafé, operated by Great Performances, offers a bar menu and dinner entrées prior to BAM Howard Gilman Opera House evening performances. BAMcafé also features an eclectic mix of spoken word and live music for BAMcafé Live on Friday and Saturday nights with a bar menu available starting at 6pm.
Subway: 2, 3, 4, 5, Q, B to Atlantic Avenue – Barclays Center (2, 3, 4, 5 to Nevins St for Harvey Theater) D, N, R to Pacific Street; G to Fulton Street; C to Lafayette Avenue
Train: Long Island Railroad to Atlantic Terminal – Barclays Center
Bus: B25, B26, B41, B45, B52, B63, B67 all stop within three blocks of BAM
Car: Commercial parking lots are located adjacent to BAM
For ticket information, call BAM Ticket Services at 718.636.4100, or visit BAM.org.
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