The Lewis Center for the Arts’ Program in Theater, in collaboration with Princeton University Library, presents When Pages Breathe, a series of events that celebrates bringing good books to life through adaptation for the stage and screen. This year’s series focuses on the 100th Anniversary of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s American classic The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald was a member of Princeton’s Class of 1917. This year’s series is dedicated to William Noel, the John T. Maltsberger III ’55 Associate University Librarian for Special Collections.
March 31: Panel—The Greatness of Gatsby
March 31 at 6:30 p.m.
Chancellor Green Rotunda
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and former Princeton Hodder Fellow Martyna Majok and Executive Director of American Repertory Theater Kelvin Dinkins, Jr. (Princeton Class of 2009) discuss Majok’s book for the new musical Gatsby, An American Myth, with music by Florence Welch and Thomas Bartlett that had its world premiere in May 2024. Moderated by Professor of Theater Stacy Wolf, one of America’s foremost scholars on American musical theater. Also includes a performance by Tony Award-nominated writer and actress Sharon Washington. Pre-panel reception at 6 p.m.
This event is presented in collaboration with the Library’s celebration of The Great Gatsby at 100, a suite of on- and off-campus programming inspired by the library’s significant Fitzgerald and Gatsby-related holdings.
Register for The Greatness of Gatsby
The panel is free and open to the public. Registration required through the Library (link available soon).
April 1: The Actor’s Exploration of Classical Text
April 1 at 7 p.m.
Drapkin Studio at Lewis Arts complex
An event with Tony Award-nominated playwright (Best Book of a Musical for New York, New York) and actress Sharon Washington. Free and open to University community, no registration required.
April 1: Producing Shorts from Literature
April 1 at 8:30 p.m.
Drapkin Studio at Lewis Arts complex
Award-winning director and producer Chuck Schultz and playwright/actress Sharon Washington present a masterclass on the creative process of bringing books to life. Free and open to University community, no registration required.
April 2: Screening—When My Sleeping Dragon Awoke
April 2 at 7 p.m.
Drapkin Studio at Lewis Arts complex
Director Chuck Schultz and Sharon Washington screen their film When My Sleeping Dragon Awoke, a documentary on Washington’s life from a young girl exploring library shelves to a 2023 Tony-nominated playwright. The film is a powerful reminder that creativity can flourish in the most unexpected places. Free and open to the public, no registration required.
April 3: The Great Gatsby by Literature To Life
April 3 at 5 p.m.
Drapkin Studio at Lewis Arts complex
Literature to Life, a performance-based literacy program that presents professionally staged verbatim adaptations of American literary classics, presents a full performance of Kelvin Grullon’s theatrical adaptation of The Great Gatsby performed by Bryce Foley and directed by Grullon with music by A.J. Khaw. Free and open to the public, no registration required.
Admission & Details
Admission varies for each event—please see details in schedule above. Registration only required for March 31 panel discussion.
Directions
Get directions to Chancellor Green, located adjacent to East Pyne Hall, across Rivers Way from Princeton University’s Firestone Library.
Get directions to the Drapkin Studio, located on the second level of the Wallace Dance Building at the Lewis Arts complex.
Accessibility
The Drapkin Studio is an accessible venue. Chancellor Green Rotunda and Upper Hyphen are accessible via an elevator in the lobby of East Pyne Hall. Visit our Venues and Studios section for accessibility information at our various locations. Guests in need of access accommodations are invited to contact the Lewis Center at 609-258-5262 or email LewisCenter@princeton.edu at least one week in advance of the event date.