Night of Vonnegut

The Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library is a public-benefit, nonprofit organization championing the literary, artistic and cultural contributions of the late writer, artist and Indianapolis native Kurt Vonnegut. The library seeks to engage people in the written word — especially their own. We are in a brand new home in a historic building in downtown Indianapolis (543 Indiana Ave.), thanks to over 1,400 supporters. Learn more about us at Vonnegutlibrary.org.

Kurt Vonnegut Museum * Library

Join KVML for our annual Night of Vonnegut gala to kick-off Banned Books Week

Madam Walker Legacy Center

Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library (KVML) invites you to our annual Night of Vonnegut gala in the year during which our theme is education.Our evening at the Madam Walker Theater, located directly across from KVML on historic Indiana Avenue, will be emceed by Vice Chair of the KVML Board Terrian Barnes and feature a silent and live auction, a brief keynote address by free speech activist Barry Lynn, comedy by Dwight Simmons, the presentation of the Kurt Vonnegut Humor Award to Mark Proksch, and a facilitated discussion with all three on the state of free speech in American entertainment moderated by KVML Founder and CEO Julia Whitehead.Lynn's background includes teaching sex education in a Catholic girls’ school to working for the ACLU at its national headquarters in Washington, D.C., to running Americans United For Separation of Church and State for a quarter century.Dwight Simmons has been identified as one of the 50 best undiscovered comedians in the United States, and he's from right here in Indiana. We are certain he will become one of your favorite comedians.Mark Proksch, a comedian and actor who has been influenced by the work of Kurt Vonnegut. He is best known for acting in the television series The Office, Better Call Saul, and What We Do in the Shadows. Mark will join the other speakers and KVML's CEO Julia Whitehead for a discussion about the state of free speech in entertainment.T﻿ickets are non-refundable. Early-bird general admission includes one free drink ticket. Members only early bird VIP tickets are available until July 15th at 11:30 P.M. alongside a special discount on members only early bird VIP tickets for two. VIP upgrade includes music, food, and drink at our special reception prior to the performances; a copy of Barry Lynn's newest release, a memoir Paid to Piss People Off, a three-book series which chronicles Lynn's life from teaching sex education in a Catholic girls’ school to working for the ACLU and then running Americans United For Separation of Church and State for a quarter century.Performers: D﻿wight Simmon's comedy special, "Who's The Master" will debut on YouTube on July 20th. In 2018, his self-produced album "Sip and Pass" reached #1 on the iTunes comedy charts, making it his second release to do so. In that same year, he was listed as Indiana’s selection for Thrillist’s 50 Best Undiscovered Comics in the country. Dwight’s comedy has been featured on Kevin Hart’s LOL on Sirius XM and on the Bob and Tom show for which he is also a writer. He is a co-director of the Limestone Comedy Festival and the creator and host of the web-series BrewTube Comedy. Be sure to check out his podcast Mat and Dwight Just might wherever music is available.Barry Lynn was legislative counsel for the Washington Office of the ACLU for 5 years in the 1970s where he, among other things, spent years ruining the work and reputation of the Attorney General's Commission on Pornography. He then worked for over 25 years as Executive Director of Americans United For Separation of Church and State where he battled the Religious Right's efforts to destroy public education, get special privileges for religious groups, curtail the right of women to obtain abortions and LGBTQ Americans to live their lives, and try to censor materials in schools and libraries. Lynn has written for many publications and is the author of a number of books including Piety and Politics and God and Government. He has been a guest on virtually every major radio and television show in the United States. His latest release, a memoir called Paid To Piss People Off, is now available. Lynn retired in 2017 but has kept busy as a political commentator, stand-up comedian, guest preaching, and teaching. Lynn's most direct connection with Kurt Vonnegut was when the two of them joined National Organization For Women founder and author of The Feminine Mystique, Betty Friedan at a New York press conference to denounce the aforementioned Commission on Pornography.Mark Proksch is an American comedian and actor. He is best known for acting in the television series The Office, Better Call Saul, Dream Corp LLC, What We Do in the Shadows and as a fictionalized version of himself in the On Cinema universe.

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Night of Vonnegut

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