2014 Thurber Prize for American Humor Winner John Kenney
WEDNESDAY, May 28 ON THE THURBER HOUSE LAWN
You will have the opportunity to ask the speaker questions after the event, purchase books, and get your books signed. Please bring a lawn chair or blanket with you.
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I SEE YOU’VE CALLED IN DEAD
The Office meets Six Feet Under meets About a Boy in this coming-of-middle-age tale about having a second chance to write your life’s story.
Bud Stanley is an obituary writer who is afraid to live. Yes, his wife recently left him for a “far more interesting” man. Yes, he goes on a particularly awful blind date with a woman who brings her ex. And yes, he has too many glasses of Scotch one night and proceeds to pen and publish his own obituary. The newspaper wants to fire him. But now the company’s system has him listed as dead. And the company can’t fire a dead person. The ensuing fallout forces him to realize that life may be actually worth living.
As Bud awaits his fate at work, his life hangs in the balance. Given another shot by his boss and encouraged by his best friend, Tim, a worldly and wise former art dealer who is now confined to a wheelchair, Bud starts to attend the wakes and funerals of strangers to learn how to live.
Thurber Prize winner and New York Times bestselling author John Kenney tells a funny, touching story about life and death, about the search for meaning, about finding and never letting go of the preciousness of life.
ABOUT JOHN KENNEY
The one and only John Kenney is the author of three novels and four books of poetry, including Truth in Advertising, which won The 2014 Thurber Prize for American Humor in Writing, and Love Poems for Married People, which was a finalist for The 2019 Thurber Prize (it’s safe to say he’s funny!). Truth in Advertising was optioned and John wrote the screenplay. He is also the author of Talk to Me, which received a starred Kirkus review. John is a long-time contributor to The New Yorker magazine’s Shouts & Murmurs. He lives in Larchmont, NY, with his wife, Lissa, and two children.
Click here to watch John’s hilarious Thurber 13 video!
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‣ Picnic Social | 6:00-6:30 pm (Optional)
Enjoy a picnic dinner (ours or yours) and hang out on the lawn during this time frame (optional).
‣ Main Program | 6:30-7:30 pm
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the program! You will have the opportunity to ask the author questions after the event.
‣ Book Signing | 7:30 pm
Purchase books and get them signed by the author.
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‣ Adult Admission (Event + Dinner) | $41
($20 ticket, $1 Columbus ticket fee, $20 dinner)
This ticket includes individual admission to the event, plus a catered boxed dinner with an entree, sides, and a drink. Regular, vegetarian, and vegan options are available; for menus, visit the “Dinner Menus” tab below.
‣ Adult Admission (Event Only) | $21
($20 ticket, $1 Columbus ticket fee)
This ticket includes individual admission to the event.
‣ 18 and Under Admission (Event Only) | $8.50
($8 ticket, $0.50 Columbus ticket fee)
This ticket includes individual admission to the event for attendees 18 and under.
‣ Dinner Upgrade | $20
Add a boxed dinner to any 18 and Under ticket (or an Event Only ticket, if you change your mind later) for $20 per meal. You do not need to add a Dinner Upgrade if your ticket already comes with a dinner.
This upgrade includes one catered boxed dinner with an entree, sides, and a drink. Regular, vegetarian, and vegan options are available. For menus, visit the “Dinner Menus” tab below.
Note: Some walk-in Event Only tickets will be available at the event (space permitting). However, we strongly encourage you to register in advance. All Event + Dinner tickets and Dinner Upgrades must be purchased at least several business days in advance.
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The caterer for this picnic is… Apple Spice!
If you’d like a boxed dinner for this event, make sure to select an Event + Dinner ticket when you order. Dinners must be purchased by 10am on May 23 for this event.
‣ Regular menu:
Southwest Chicken Wrap (grilled chicken breast, corn, black beans, tortilla strips, cheddar cheese, lettuce, and avocado with barbecue ranch dressing)
Fruit
Potato chips
Dill pickle
Cookie
Choice of drink: water, pop, etc.
‣ Vegetarian menu:
Southwest Veggie Wrap (roasted red peppers, corn, black beans, tortilla strips, cheddar cheese, lettuce, and avocado with barbecue ranch dressing)
Fruit
Potato chips
Dill pickle
Cookie
Choice of drink: water, pop, etc.
‣ Vegan menu:
Super Food Salad (a super antioxidant mix of kale, baby spinach, and red cabbage, topped with dried cranberries, raspberries, and almonds, with raspberry vinaigrette)
Fresh fruit
Potato chips
Dill pickle
Choice of drink: water, pop, etc.
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‣ Location: This event will take place on the Thurber House lawn (77 Jefferson Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215).
‣ Rain site: In the event of rain, this event will be held at Thurber Center (91 Jefferson Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215), the building directly north of Thurber House.
‣ Free parking on Jefferson Avenue: Free street parking is available all along the Jefferson Avenue oval. Note: Only the spots along the one-way oval are free; the spots along the two-way ends of Jefferson Avenue (near Broad Street and Long Street) are not free.
‣ Free parking off N. 11th Street (behind Thurber House): Free visitor parking is also available in the small lot directly behind Thurber House, accessible off N. 11th Street and located here.
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The first floors of Thurber House and Thurber Center are handicap/wheelchair accessible, including the first floor restrooms. There are no elevators, but all staircases to the second floor are wide with handrails. Our summer picnics are held on the Thurber House lawn, which is largely flat, but has some uneven areas.
How to reach the wheelchair ramps:
If you park on Jefferson Avenue: There is a slight curb (some wheelchairs can navigate this). The closest “ramp” cut is the entrance to the large parking lot on the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Long Street (here).
Thurber House wheelchair ramp (to access the building): Follow the sidewalk through the Thurber House front gate. Take the sidewalk around the left side of the House. The entrance to the wheelchair ramp is near the rear corner of the House (here).
Thurber Center wheelchair ramp (rain site): Follow the sidewalk through the Thurber Center front gate. Take the sidewalk around the porch on the right side of the building. The entrance to the wheelchair ramp will appear on your left, past the porch.
If you park in the Thurber House rear parking lot: Follow the sidewalk between the handicap parking signs (here). The sidewalk will take you around the north side of our multipurpose building, Thurber Center.
Thurber House wheelchair ramp (to access the building): Continue east past Thurber Center toward the street (Jefferson Avenue) and turn right toward Thurber House. Follow the sidewalk through the Thurber House front gate and around the left side of the House. The entrance to the wheelchair ramp is near the rear corner of the House (here).
Thurber Center wheelchair ramp (rain site): The ramp will appear on your right and leads up to the front porch.
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For any questions that are not answered here, please contact Jess at jcox@thurberhouse.org or 614-412-5955.
‣ How will I receive my tickets? You will receive an email order confirmation containing your ticket(s). You can print or show your ticket(s) on your phone. If you are unable to do so, we will manually check you in.
‣ Can I order tickets by phone? Yes, although online orders are encouraged. To order by phone, call 614-412-5955.
‣ Can I purchase books and get them signed at the event? Yes, books will be available for purchase and signing at the event.
‣ How do the picnic dinners work this year? If you order a ticket that includes a dinner or a dinner upgrade, your boxed meal comes with an entree, sides, and a drink. Various meal options are available. At this time, we cannot accommodate allergies.
‣ Is outside food/drink permitted? Yes! You have the option of bringing your own picnic dinner.
‣ Do I need to bring a chair with me? Please plan to bring your own lawn chair or blanket. A limited number of extra chairs will be available.
‣ Is there a bathroom? Yes, bathrooms will be available, including accessible bathrooms.
‣ Will Thurber House be open for free tours? Yes, the Thurber House museum will be open for free tours during the picnic social.
‣ What is your refund policy? All ticket sales are final and non-refundable.
‣ What is the Columbus ticket fee? The total ticket price includes the Columbus Arts and Culture Fee as required by the City of Columbus. The Arts and Culture Fee provides public funds to support artists and arts/cultural organizations like Thurber House that educate and engage audiences of all ages. Click here for more information.
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Disclaimer: Views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by event and program speakers in all mediums are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Thurber House, its affiliates, or its staff/board.