Printers Row Lit Fest to Host Chicago's Largest Ever Group Reading

CHICAGO, May 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The 27th annual Chicago Tribune Printers Row Lit Fest will hold the city's largest ever group reading Sat., June 4 at 2 p.m. The reading, led by Chicago Tribune columnist and author Rick Kogan, encourages book lovers to Make their Mark and take the pledge to improve literacy in Chicago. As part of the two-day festival (Sat., June 4 – Sun., June 5), the reading will be set in Chicago's historic Printers Row neighborhood.

The festival features author talks, music, cooking demos, entertainment, kid's activities and much more. Author programs take place on several stage locations throughout the venue.

Among the approximately 250 authors to appear, headliners include:

Colm Toibin, "The Empty Family"
Edwidge Danticat, "Create Dangerously"
Terry McMillan, "Getting To Happy"
Ishmael Reed, "Juice"
Jonathan Alter, "The Promise"
Richard Ford, "Blue Collar, White Collar, No Collar"
Meredith Baxter, "Untied"
Oscar Hijuelos, "Thoughts Without Cigarettes"

The 2011 Lit Fest features more than 100 free literary programs and nearly 140 new, used and antiquarian booksellers. At this year's Lil' Lit Stage presented by Peter Pan, kids can let their imaginations soar as they take a trip to Neverland through face painting, storytelling, photo opportunities, crafts and special activities.

Lit after Dark presented by Navy Pier, returns Sat. night from 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. with salty poetry slams, storytelling, a musical performance by singer/songwriter Jeffrey David Goldford, and a special performance of the Chicago Tribune's Chicago Live!, a weekly news, entertainment and variety show featuring The Second City and hosted by Rick Kogan.

New this year:

Pitchapalooza is like "American Idol" for books. Writers get one minute to pitch their book ideas to an all-star panel of publishing experts. The winner receives an introduction to an appropriate agent or publisher for his/her book. To sign up, visit www.printersrowlitfest.org.

Spelling 'EEB' is the event for all spelling aficionados to come test their skills. Open Books presents the ultimate spelling challenge as competitors spell familiar words…backwards. Participants must first register at the Open Books tent.

Fulcrum Point New Music Project will introduce "Book Sounds," in partnership with Open Books, featuring live musical selections accompanying projected images from two award-winning children's books: "The Dot and the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics" and "Joseph Had a Little Overcoat."

Printers Row Lit Fest continues to be the largest free outdoor literary event in the Midwest, spanning over five city blocks and drawing more than 126,000 attendees. Some sponsors of this year's fair include Peter Pan, Open Books and Navy Pier. CSPAN2's Book TV is scheduled to broadcast live on location during both days of the festival.

Chicago Tribune operates Printers Row Lit Fest as part of the company's ongoing commitment to the written word and its support of literacy. For more information about the Lit Fest and a complete list of programs and exhibitors go to www.printersrowlitfest.org

About Chicago Tribune Media Group

Chicago Tribune Media Group is a media and business services company that publishes the Pulitzer Prize-winning Chicago Tribune. CTMG also produces related print and interactive media serving Chicagoland like RedEye, Hoy, Chicago magazine, TribLocal, The Mash, chicagotribune.com, chicagonow.com and metromix.com. Reaching 4.8 million adults each week in the greater Chicago area, CTMG is the leading news and information destination in Chicagoland.  

SOURCE Chicago Tribune Media Group