FREE: NYS Writers Institute’s Visiting Writers Series Kicks Off on Thursday

The fall lineup for the NYS Writers Institute’s visiting writers series is out, and its chockfull of award winning novelists, poets, journalists, screenwriters, choreographers and more…

Admission is free for all events, except where noted.

Here’s the fall 2016 schedule:

September 15, 7:30pm: Joyce Carol Oates @ UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s Main Theater, Albany. She’s written more that 160 books, and now the award-winning novelist, essayist, poet, playwright engages in a conversation about “The Creative Life.”

September 27, 8pm: Joseph LeDoux @ UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s Recital Hall, Albany. The neuroscientist, author and expert on the neurobiology discusses his new book, “Anxious: Using the Brain to Understand and Treat Fear and Anxiety.” Also a seminar at 4:15pm at UAlbany Science Library’s Standish Room.

September 29, 8pm: Stephen Burt @ the NYS Museum’s Huxley Theatre, Albany. The poet and literary critic discusses his latest book, “The Poem is You: 60 Contemporary American Poems and How to Read Them.” Also a seminar at 4:15pm at UAlbany Science Library’s Standish Room.

October 6, 8pm: Imbolo Mbue @ UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s Recital Hall, Albany. The Cameroonian-American is the author of the highly anticipated first novel “Behold the Dreamers.” With literary agent Susan Golomb. Also a seminar at 4:15pm at the UAlbany Campus Center’s Assembly Hall.

October 14, 7:30pm: “Who Killed Vincent Chin?” @ UAlbany’s Page Hall, Albany. A screening of the Academy Award nominated documentary film and a discussion with the director, Christine Choy.

October 15, 1pm: Savion Glover @ UAlbany’s Page Hall, Albany. The tap dancer, actor and Tony Award-winning choreographer engages in conversation on “The Creative Life.”

October 15, 7:30pm: “Roscoe: An American Grand Opera” @ the Palace Theatre, Albany. Conducted by David Alan Miller, the Albany Symphony Orchestra is joined by superstar soprano Deborah Voigt for a performance of Evan Mack’s opera based on William Kennedy’s acclaimed novel. *Tickets are $16-$57.

October 18, 7:30pm: “Romeo & Juliet” @ UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s Main Theater, Albany. The American Shakespeare Center’s production of Shakespeare’s most popular tragedy. *Tickets are $15; $10 students & seniors.

October 21, 7pm: “Snowpiercer” @ UAlbany’s Page Hall, Albany. A screening of the classic of the new climate fiction genre (“cli-fi”), followed by a discussion with the screenwriter, Kelly Masterson.

October 28, 7:30pm: Anne Fadiman @ UAlbany’s Page Hall, Albany. The journalist and author of “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down,” the winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award, engages in an interview and discussion.

November 1, 8pm: Howard Frank Mosher @ NYS Museum’ Huxley Theatre, Albany. He’s the author of ten acclaimed novels set in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, including “A Stranger in the Kingdom,” which won the New England Book Award. Also a seminar at 4:15pm at UAlbany Campus Center’s Assembly Hall.

November 10, 7pm: Jeff Goodell @ UAlbany’s University Art Museum, Albany. The journalist is a contributing editor for Rolling Stone, a frequent contributor to The New York Times Magazine and the author of “How to Cool the Planet: Geoengineering and the Audacious Quest to Fix Earth’s Climate.” With novelist Jennifer Haigh, the author of the novel, “Heat and Light.”

November 15, 8pm: Charles Baxter @ UAlbany Campus Center’s Assembly Hall, Albany. The master of the short story form and author of the recently published collection “There’s Something I Want You to Do” has won numerous awards. With James Lasdun, a fiction/nonfiction writer, poet and screenwriter reads from his most recent book, the psychological thriller “The Fall Guy.” Also a seminar at 4:15pm at UAlbany Performing Arts Center’s Recital Hall.

November 29, 8pm: Garth Risk Hallberg @ UAlbany’s Page Hall, Albany. The author of the 2015 bestseller “City on Fire,” reads from his sweeping debut novel about New York City in the 1970s where the lives of the wealthy, punks, artists, cops, and runaway teens collide. Also a seminar at 4:15pm at UAlbany Campus Center’s Assembly Hall.

MORE FREE CONCERTS FOR 2016
*VARIOUS DATES
PEARLPALOOZA @ North Pearl Street, Albany, September 17
QUIET VILLAGE @ Hasbrouck Park, New Paltz, September 17
ART IN THE PARK @ Congress Park, Saratoga Springs, September 17
JAZZ AT THE LAKE @ Shepard Park, Lake George, September 17 & 18
LARKFEST @ Lark Street, Albany, September 24
*WEDNESDAYS
SEPTEMBER IN THE CITY ART FAIR @ Tricentennial Park, Albany, 11:30am Wednesdays from September 7-28
*THURSDAYS
LIVE! FOLKLIFE CONCERT SERIES @ Crandall Public Library’s Folklife Center, Glens Falls, 7pm select Thursdays from September 8-October 20
*FRIDAYS
GARAGE BANDS IN THE GARAGE @ Albany Public Library, Albany, 6pm on Select Fridays from July 15-September 16
STILLWATER SUMMER CONCERT SERIES @ various locations, Stillwater, 6:30pm select Fridays from July 8-September 16
*SUNDAYS
THE LEVITT AMP NORTH ADAMS MUSIC SERIES @ Colegrove Park, North Adams, 2pm Sundays from August 14-October 16