Bad Books Talkbacks and More

This production extends far beyond the stage

Sharyn Rothstein's Bad Books is sure to be a conversation-starter. So we've partnered with some of Ithaca's most beloved institutions, events, and businesses to bring you into the conversation, with Around the Kitchen Table talks.

9/3 and 9/4 | Show at 7 pm, Discussion at 8:30 pm

Post-Preview discussions

In keeping with Kitchen tradition, all previews include post-show discussions with the audience. Previews are Pay What You Can, so please do not let cost be a deterrent. Join us and join the conversation!

Saturday, Sep 13 | Show at 7 pm, Talk at 8:30 pm

Who Decides Books are Bad? Censorship and Parental Rights 

In Bad Books, a mother declares war against her local library for loaning her son a “vile” book. In the real world, the Parental Rights movement has been picking up steam across the US. Parental Rights advocates argue that parents should have the ultimate say in all the books, media, and educational materials that their children experience. Where is the line between censorship and a parent’s right to raise their child as they see fit?

This talk is part of the Ithaca is Books Festival, in partnership with Buffalo Street Books and Tompkins County Public Library.

Speakers: Lisa Swayze, Executive Director, Buffalo Street Books/Ithaca Literary; TCPL Library staff

This talkback will take place after a performance of Bad Books, but members of the public are welcome to attend, free of charge.

Sunday, Sep 14 | Show at 2, Talk at 3:30 pm

Librarians Get Loud: Mythbusting Library Culture

People have a lot of misunderstandings about libraries, and in this talk, librarians from Tompkins County Public Library will check (see what we did there?) your preconceived notions about life in the stacks.

Speakers: TCPL Library staff

This talkback will take place after a performance of Bad Books, but members of the public are welcome to attend, free of charge.

Friday, Sep 19 | Show at 7, Talk at 8:30 pm

Meet the Artists Talkback

Meet the creative team behind Bad Books to discuss the play and learn how the team at the Kitchen brought it to life.

Saturday, Sep 20 | Show at 7, Talk at 8:30 pm

Writer as Truth-Teller: Free Speech in the Face of Government Censorship, in partnership with Ithaca City of Asylum.

How far would you go to tell the truth? Around the world, writers put themselves at tremendous risk for the sake of their work. Join writers who have left their home countries and worked with Ithaca City of Asylum to resettle in Ithaca, for a discussion about free speech.

Speakers include writers Pedro X. Molina and Raza Rumi; Heather Murray, Local Journalism Project Managing Attorney and Associate Director, First Amendment Clinic; and Jennifer Spitzer, Associate Professor and Chair, Literatures in English.

This talkback will take place after a performance of Bad Books, but members of the public are welcome to attend, free of charge.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!!!

On select performance dates, shop from a banned book pop-up, courtesy of Buffalo Street Books. 

Get your library card, courtesy of Tompkins County Public Library!

Book your tickets today