Event Program
Thalia Book Club: Rumaan Alam, Entitlement
THALIA BOOK CLUB: RUMAAN ALAM, ENTITLEMENT
TUE, NOV 12
READING
Crystal Lucas-Perry
DISCUSSION
Rumaan Alam and Vinson Cunningham
A CONVERSATION WITH THE AUDIENCE
If you purchased a copy of Entitlement with your ticket, please stop by the book sales table to pick up your book. Please keep your ticket handy to show proof of purchase.
Additional books by tonight’s authors are available for purchase in the lobby.
There will be a book signing at this event.
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The Artists (in alphabetical order)
Rumaan Alam
Rumaan Alam is the author of the New York Times bestselling novel Leave the World Behind, which was a finalist for the National Book Award and a major motion picture, as well as Rich and Pretty, That Kind of Mother, and Getaway. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, and elsewhere. Entitlement was published on September 17th.
Rumaan Alam is the author of the New York Times bestselling novel Leave the World Behind, which was a finalist for the National Book Award and a major motion picture, as well as Rich and Pretty, That Kind of Mother, and Getaway. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, and elsewhere. Entitlement was published on September 17th.
Vinson Cunningham
Vinson Cunningham joined The New Yorker as a staff writer in 2016. Since 2018, he has served as a critic for the magazine, writing about theater, television, and more. He was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for criticism in 2024 and was awarded the George Jean Nathan Award for Dramatic Criticism for 2021–2022. In 2020, he was a finalist for a National Magazine Award for his profile of the comedian Tracy Morgan. His writing on books, art, and culture has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The New York Times Book Review, Vulture, The Awl, The Fader, and McSweeney’s, where he wrote a column called “Field Notes from Gentrified Places.” Cunningham previously served as a staff assistant at the Obama White House. He teaches at the Yale School of Art and Columbia University’s School of the Arts and is a co-host of Critics at Large, The New Yorker’s weekly podcast about culture and the arts. Cunningham’s début novel, Great Expectations, was published in March 2024.
Vinson Cunningham joined The New Yorker as a staff writer in 2016. Since 2018, he has served as a critic for the magazine, writing about theater, television, and more. He was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for criticism in 2024 and was awarded the George Jean Nathan Award for Dramatic Criticism for 2021–2022. In 2020, he was a finalist for a National Magazine Award for his profile of the comedian Tracy Morgan. His writing on books, art, and culture has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The New York Times Book Review, Vulture, The Awl, The Fader, and McSweeney’s, where he wrote a column called “Field Notes from Gentrified Places.” Cunningham previously served as a staff assistant at the Obama White House. He teaches at the Yale School of Art and Columbia University’s School of the Arts and is a co-host of Critics at Large, The New Yorker’s weekly podcast about culture and the arts. Cunningham’s début novel, Great Expectations, was published in March 2024.
Crystal Lucas-Perry
Crystal Lucas-Perry has starred on Broadway in Ain’t No Mo’, receiving a Tony Award nomination and Dorian Award, and as John Adams in 1776. Off-Broadway, she has been featured in A Sign of the Times at New World Stages (Audelco Award nominee), A Bright Room Called Day (Antonyo Award nomination) and Ain't No Mo' (Lucille Lortel Award) at the Public Theater, Bull in a China Shop at Lincoln Center, Little Children Dream of God at the Roundabout, and regionally in Taming of the Shrew with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, among others. Her film and television credits include Law & Order: SVU, And Just Like That…, The Last O.G., Goodnight Mommy, Frank and Azalee Austin (Azalee, Craft Acting award), and Never Can Say Goodbye. Lucas-Perry received her M.F.A. in Acting from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. @CrystalLucasPerry
Crystal Lucas-Perry has starred on Broadway in Ain’t No Mo’, receiving a Tony Award nomination and Dorian Award, and as John Adams in 1776. Off-Broadway, she has been featured in A Sign of the Times at New World Stages (Audelco Award nominee), A Bright Room Called Day (Antonyo Award nomination) and Ain't No Mo' (Lucille Lortel Award) at the Public Theater, Bull in a China Shop at Lincoln Center, Little Children Dream of God at the Roundabout, and regionally in Taming of the Shrew with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, among others. Her film and television credits include Law & Order: SVU, And Just Like That…, The Last O.G., Goodnight Mommy, Frank and Azalee Austin (Azalee, Craft Acting award), and Never Can Say Goodbye. Lucas-Perry received her M.F.A. in Acting from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. @CrystalLucasPerry
MORE INFORMATION
The Thalia Book Club is made possible thanks to the generous support of Susan Bay Nimoy, Seedlings Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller Fund, Charina Endowment Fund, The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, PECO Foundation, Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, Michael Tuch Foundation, Jody and John Arnhold and the Arnhold Foundation, The Grodzins Fund, and The Isambard Kingdom Brunel Society of North America.
This program is also made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
Symphony Space thanks our generous supporters, including our Board of Directors, Producers Circle, and members, who make our programs possible with their annual support.
Kathy Landau Executive Director
Peg Wreen Managing Director
Isaiah Sheffer*
Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director (1978-1990)
Artistic Director (1990-2010)
Founding Artistic Director (2010-2012)
Allan Miller
Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director (1978-1990)
Jennifer Brennan Director of Literary Programs
Drew Richardson Lead Producer of Literary Programs
Vivienne Woodward Producer of Literary Programs
Mary Shimkin Director of Broadcast & Literary Initiatives
Matthew Love Consultant for Literary Programs
Magdalene Wrobleski Literary Assistant
Leigh Reid Literary Intern
Mia Testa Literary Intern
*in memoriam
