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Willa Cather: Queer American, Resurging Voice

Featuring readings by Linda Bisesti and Matthew Reidy

Performances by Christine Li, Sean Stanton, Timothy Wong

March 12, 2025

Curated by Peter Cipkowski of the National Willa Cather Center

“The end is nothing, the road is all.” – Willa Cather, Old Mrs. Harris

Experience a 150-year anniversary celebration of Willa Cather—a peer of Hemingway, Faulkner, Fitzgerald, and Wharton—and one of the most treasured American writers of the early 20th century. Cather’s groundbreaking fiction (My Ántonia, One of OursThe Professor’s HouseDeath Comes for the Archbishop) set a new standard in American literature. This evening of selections from her work bring to life the uniquely American prose of this Pulitzer Prize-winning author. They also provide insight into Cather’s identity and affirm her place as one of our greatest writers.

Curated by Peter Cipkowski of the National Willa Cather Center, this program will feature readings from actors Linda Bisesti (The Conners) and Matthew Reidy (Billy Comes Home), punctuated by art songs of Clara Schumann and Franz Schubert performed by Christine Li (mezzo-soprano) and Sean Stanton (baritone) with pianist Timothy WongThank you to Steinway and Sons Los Angeles for sponsoring the event.

Stacy-Lieberman_headshot_President-and-CEO_LFLA

Stacy Lieberman

As President and CEO of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles (LFLA), Stacy Lieberman is an innovative and inclusive leader whose career dwells at the intersection of arts and culture, lifelong learning, storytelling, and equitable access. Stacy guides the Foundation’s philanthropic and public-facing priorities to serve the Los Angeles Public Library, embracing the notion that libraries are beacons of democracy where everyone is welcome. She works intentionally with community leaders, donors, and internal and external strategic partners to raise awareness and resources for the Library and its life-changing initiatives.

With more than 20 years of experience as a senior executive, Stacy has left an indelible mark on iconic L.A. arts, non-profit, and educational institutions such as The Broad, the Autry Museum of the American West, and the Skirball Cultural Center. Building on an early career in book publishing, she has dedicated her professional life to sharing stories and broadening the reach of public institutions to welcome visitors and students of all ages and backgrounds to experience educational, arts, and cultural opportunities.