For Immediate Release: January 25, 2018
THE SHEEN CENTER FOR THOUGHT & CULTURE
2018 WINTER/SPRING SEASON ANNOUNCED
The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture announces the launch of its 2018 Winter/Spring season with a robust program of film, theater, music, and talks featuring NBC TODAY host and cultural influencer Megyn Kelly, MSNBC host and author Chris Matthews, CNBC senior contributor Larry Kudlow, celebrated author and performance poet Sapphire, Fox News chief national correspondent Ed Henry, Director of the Vatican Observatory Br. Guy Consolmagno, S.J., and renowned Catholic thought leaders George Weigel and Chris Lowney.
The Sheen Center for Thought and Culture continues to shine a light on our culture's most pressing issues with panels like RACE IN AMERICA: TELLING OUR STORIES, which explores race in this country through the literary lens of prominent authors Sapphire (Push, Oscar-winning film, Precious), Major Jackson (Hoops, Rolling Deep), and Patrick Phillips (Blood at the Root) on Tuesday, February 20 at 7:30PM. The conversation concerning the shifting parameters of public discourse continues with the second installment of the CIVILITY IN AMERICA series, CIVILITY IN MEDIA, moderated by AMERICA MAGAZINE'S editor-in-chief Matthew Malone, S.J. on Wednesday, May 2 at 7PM. Thought takes a philosophical turn with JESUITS AND JEDI: SCIENCE AND SPIRITUALITY IN THE AGE OF STAR WARS on Tuesday, April 10 at 7PM; to be followed by the much anticipated play TOLKIEN AND LEWIS: OF WARDROBES AND RINGS, which chronicles a fictitious encounter between literary giants J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis in Oxford's legendary "Bird and Baby" pub. The play will run from May 22 through June 14 in the Black Box Theater.
The new season of film at The Sheen Center opens on Thursday, February 1, 2018 at 8PM with the groundbreaking documentary by Keith Beauchamp and Frederick Zollo, THE UNTOLD STORY OF EMMETT LOUIS TILL which details the story of a grieving mother who courageously refuses to allow the brutal murder of her son to go unchallenged, signaling the dawn of the civil rights era in the South. The screening will be followed by a talkback with the filmmakers. SONY PICTURES/AFFIRM FILMS return to The Sheen Center with an advanced screening of PAUL: APOSTLE OF CHRIST featuring James Faulkner as Paul and Jim Caviezel as Luke, on Saturday, February 24 at 7PM in The Sheen Center's Loreto Theater. For a complete list of events and times, kindly refer below.
The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture is a forum showcasing the Good, the True, and the Beautiful in art and culture. Located downtown on historic Bleecker Street, the Sheen Center is a vibrant new arts organization that focuses on theater, music, film and talk. A project of the Archdiocese of New York, the state-of-the-art complex encompasses the 270-seat Loreto Theatre, equipped with five-camera high-definition live-stream capability and a multi-track recording studio; the 80-seat Black Box Theatre; four rehearsal studios; and an art gallery. It was named after the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, best known for his popular, inspirational radio and TV ministry in the 1950's and 60's.
"The Sheen Center is a new locus of intelligent, thoughtful and entertaining programming here in New York City," says William Spencer Reilly, Executive Director of The Sheen Center. "We are settling in for a winter of discussions of serious issues such as civility in America in the media with MSNBC's liberal Chris Matthews and CNBC's conservative Larry Kudlow, and race in America through storytellers Sapphire, Major Jackson, and Patrick Phillips; socially conscious music from some memorable acts including Suzzy Roche and daughter Lucy Wainwright Roche, Tom Paxton and the DonJuans, and Dom Flemons; and great theater including a new play about C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, a revival of the classic The Rainmaker, and a New York premiere about the Little Rock Nine. We invite all New Yorkers, whether liberal or conservative, believer or non-believer, to come and be engaged in civil discussions about some of the big news of the day and to celebrate the arts' ability to remind us of Fulton Sheen's calming mantra, 'Life is worth living.'"
Highlights of the 2018 Winter/Spring Season include:
TALKS
JACKIE ROBINSON: THE FAITH BEHIND THE LEGEND
Author's Night with Ed Henry
Tuesday, February 27 at 7:30PM in the Black Box Theater
Join Fox News' chief national correspondent Ed Henry as he discusses his New York Times bestselling book "42 Faith: The Rest of the Jackie Robinson Story." Henry will be signing copies of his book after. Tickets: $10.
LESSONS IN HOPE BY GEORGE WEIGEL
With George Wiegel
Wednesday, February 28 at 7:30PM in the Black Box Theater
Preeminent Catholic Church authority and St. John Paul II biographer George Weigel shares the story of his unique, decades-spanning friendship with this towering pope. Weigel will be signing copies of his book after. Tickets: $10
<
span dir="ltr" >RACE IN AMERICA: TELLING OUR STORIES
A conversation with Sapphire, Major Jackson, and Patrick Phillips
Tuesday, February 20 at 7:30PM in The Loreto Theater
Stories can be drivers of real change during these times of racial tension. A conversation with readings by author Sapphire (Push), poet and professor Major Jackson (Hoops), and poet and author Patrick Phillips (Blood at the Root: A Racial Cleansing in America). Moderated by Obie-winning producer Kelley Girod (Fire This Time Festival). Tickets: $25.
A NEW WAY OF SEEING: THE CHURCH AND CONTEMPORARY ART & FILM
Thursday, March 22 at 7PM, 2018 at 7:30PM in Studios A & B
Bishop Paul Tighe, Secretary of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Culture, offers reflections on modern art and cinema from a Christian perspective with Fr. Robert Lauder of St. John's University. Tickets: $10.
Poetry Series
THE TRUE, THE GOOD, AND THE BEAUTIFUL: PART 2
Monday, April 16, 2018 at 7:30PM in The Loreto Theater
An evening of readings and performance of mystical poetic texts led by Fr. George Drance, S.J., from the Song of Songs, St John of the Cross and Rumi. Tickets: $10.
Poetry Series
WONDEROUS THAT TREE: THE CROSS IN POETRY
Led by Fr. Sebastian White, O.P.
Wednesday, February 21 & Wednesday, March 7 at 7PM in Studio A
In this two-part series, participants will explore the connection between theology and literature by reading poems focusing on the Cross. Tickets: $10 (includes both sessions).
HOLY ENTREPRENEURS
Game changers who are revitalizing the Catholic Church
Thursday, April 26, 2018 at 7PM in Studios A & B
Join author Chris Lowney as he talks with people who use creativity and commitment to the Church to invigorate parish life through innovative leadership. Tickets: $10.
THE ERASMUS OPTION
By Gregory Wolfe, founder of Image Journal
Thursday, May 10, 2018 at 7PM in Studios A & B
In an era of fierce culture wars, many Christians believe that the best way to preserve their faith and way of life is through withdrawing from the public sphere, using the analogy of the monastic life. Gregory Wolfe argues that a better model for these times is that of Christian Humanism, exemplified in the person of the great Renaissance scholar, Erasmus. Tickets: $10.
TV BARES SOUL: AN INTIMATE EVENING OF CONVERSATION WITH MEGYN KELLY
Hosted by Fr. Edward L. Beck, C.P.
Saturday, April 28 at 8PM in The Loreto Theater
Fr. Edward L. Beck, C.P. hosts an intimate conversation with journalist Megyn Kelly about her career, women and the culture of media today, as well as her experiences with sexual harassment in the workplace, Donald Trump, and how her faith has helped her weather the storms. Tickets: $30-$60.
CIVILITY IN AMERICA: PART 2—THE MEDIA
Chris Matthews & Larry Kudlow, moderated by Fr. Matt Malone, S.J.
Wednesday, May 2 at 7PM in The Loreto Theater
Part 2 of this new series features Larry Kudlow, Senior Contributor for CNBC, and Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC's "Hardball with Chris Matthews," who will dissect the polarization of American society, importance of a free press, and power of the media to build walls and bridges. Moderated by Fr. Matt Malone, S.J., editor-in-chief of America Magazine. Tickets: $20, $15 Students.
JESUITS AND JEDI: SCIENCE AND SPIRITUALITY IN THE AGE OF STAR WARS
Tuesday, April 10 at 7PM in The Loreto Theater
Blast off with Br. Guy Consolmagno, S.J., Director of the Vatican Observatory, as he tours us through the cosmos and some of his favorite (and least favorite) science fiction stories and movies. Joining him is Dr. Charles Camosy of Fordham University. Tickets: $15, $10 Students.
INSIDE "HEAVENLY BODIES: FASHION AND THE CATHOLIC IMAGINATION" AT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART – A DISCUSSION BETWEEN FR. JAMES J. MARTIN, S.J. AND ANDREW BOLTON, EXHIBITION CURATOR AND CURATOR IN CHARGE OF THE MET'S CONSTUME INSTITUTE
Monday, May 21 at 7PM in The Loreto Theater
The Costume Institute's spring 2018 exhibition, the largest in its history, and will feature a dialogue about creativity and the religious imagination, and will include fashion and religious artworks from The Met collection and 50 ecclesiastical masterpieces loaned by The Vatican from the Sistine Chapel sacristy. Tickets: TBA
FILM
THE UNTOLD STORY OF EMMETT LOUIS TILL
A discussion with filmmakers Keith Beauchamp and Frederick Zollo