1. A most happy birthday to playwright and screenwriter Peter Shaffer, who also happened to work as a clerk at The New York Public Library! The creator of the plays Equus and Amadeus visited the Library back in 2000 to honor the 100th anniversary of Oscar Wilde’s death and we have it all on tape! Enjoy one great playwright discussing another!

  2. Happy 111th birthday to the legendary American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist Langston Hughes. At The New York Public Library you can find ample Langston Hughes information, including photos (the one featured here is from our Manuscripts and Archives Division), papers , books, and films. Of course, you can also go over to the NYPL’s great Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and visit the Langston Hughes Auditorium.

    Happy 111th birthday to the legendary American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist Langston Hughes. At The New York Public Library you can find ample Langston Hughes information, including photos (the one featured here is from our Manuscripts and Archives Division), papers , books, and films. Of course, you can also go over to the NYPL’s great Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and visit the Langston Hughes Auditorium.

  3. Today, we honor the work of award-winning actor Jack Klugman, who passed away on Monday. The Emmy Award winner was best known for his work in Gypsy (photo with Ethel Merman courtesy of NYPL’s Digital Gallery/Billy Rose Theater Division), Quincy, M.E., Ben Casey, and The Odd Couple with Tony Randall. He will be missed.

    Today, we honor the work of award-winning actor Jack Klugman, who passed away on Monday. The Emmy Award winner was best known for his work in Gypsy (photo with Ethel Merman courtesy of NYPL’s Digital Gallery/Billy Rose Theater Division), Quincy, M.E., Ben Casey, and The Odd Couple with Tony Randall.

    He will be missed.

  4. Next week one of the most anticipated films of the year, Les Miserables, opens in theaters. In celebration of the film’s release Doug Reside, our Digital Curator of Performing Arts at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, has written a wonderful blog about his long anticipation to see a film adaptation of Les Miserables: The Musical. He also has been able to digitize and post on his blog some great photographs of the early cast from the show. And of course you can find all of your Les Miserables needs from soundtracks to films to books throughout branches of The New York Public Library. 

    Next week one of the most anticipated films of the year, Les Miserables, opens in theaters. In celebration of the film’s release Doug Reside, our Digital Curator of Performing Arts at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, has written a wonderful blog about his long anticipation to see a film adaptation of Les Miserables: The Musical. He also has been able to digitize and post on his blog some great photographs of the early cast from the show. And of course you can find all of your Les Miserables needs from soundtracks to films to books throughout branches of The New York Public Library. 

  5. Looking for a fun holiday activity to do this weekend? Enjoy Everyone’s Carol production of ‘A Christmas Carol; A Ghost Story of Christmas’ this weekend! Don’t miss the chance to meet NYPL curator of Charles Dickens: The Key to Character, William Moeck. 

    Looking for a fun holiday activity to do this weekend? Enjoy Everyone’s Carol production of ‘A Christmas Carol; A Ghost Story of Christmas’ this weekend! Don’t miss the chance to meet NYPL curator of Charles Dickens: The Key to Character, William Moeck. 

  6. In case you missed it earlier this week Corey Kilgannon of The New York Times did a wonderful profile of Lloyd Burlingame  a devoted user of The NYPL’s Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library. A former Broadway set designer, NYU Professor, painter, and now published author, Lloyd is a modern day renaissance man. Pictured  here with his beloved guide dog Kemp, Lloyd currently has some of his personal artwork on display (known as “touch art”) at the Braille and Talking Book Library. But that is not all, Lloyd is also working with the fascinating Audio Book Studio at the branch so that his recent book TWO SEEING EYE DOGS TAKE MANHATTAN is available to all patrons. 

    In case you missed it earlier this week Corey Kilgannon of The New York Times did a wonderful profile of Lloyd Burlingame  a devoted user of The NYPL’s Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library. A former Broadway set designer, NYU Professor, painter, and now published author, Lloyd is a modern day renaissance man. Pictured  here with his beloved guide dog Kemp, Lloyd currently has some of his personal artwork on display (known as “touch art”) at the Braille and Talking Book Library. But that is not all, Lloyd is also working with the fascinating Audio Book Studio at the branch so that his recent book TWO SEEING EYE DOGS TAKE MANHATTAN is available to all patrons. 

  7. Looking for something to do on Black Friday (besides shop and eat leftovers)? Check out one of our totally free exhibitions, like the acclaimed Lunch Hour NYC exhibit highlighting the storied history of the midday meal (pictured). That’s at our landmark 42nd Street building (check out our Library Shop while you’re there for gift ideas). Or, head uptown to our Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center for an amazing (and also acclaimed) exhibit on the fashion of Katharine Hepburn, which includes outfits she wore in some of her most famous productions. Or keep going uptown to our Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture for yet another acclaimed exhibit, Visualizing Emancipation, which displays 171 pre- and post- Civil War photographs of both enslaved and free black men, women and children to mark the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. Did we mention these exhibitions are all free and easily accessible by subway? Check them out!

    Looking for something to do on Black Friday (besides shop and eat leftovers)? Check out one of our totally free exhibitions, like the acclaimed Lunch Hour NYC exhibit highlighting the storied history of the midday meal (pictured). That’s at our landmark 42nd Street building (check out our Library Shop while you’re there for gift ideas). Or, head uptown to our Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center for an amazing (and also acclaimed) exhibit on the fashion of Katharine Hepburn, which includes outfits she wore in some of her most famous productions. Or keep going uptown to our Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture for yet another acclaimed exhibit, Visualizing Emancipation, which displays 171 pre- and post- Civil War photographs of both enslaved and free black men, women and children to mark the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. Did we mention these exhibitions are all free and easily accessible by subway? Check them out!

  8. In honor of Bram Stoker, born 165 years ago today and best known for his novel DRACULA, we thought we’d share an old favorite, this Kenn Duncan photo of the late Raul Julia in the 1978 stage production of Stoker’s novel. This photograph is part of our Kenn Duncan collection which is housed at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Billy Rose Theatre Division. You can see more photos from this production at the NYPL Digital Gallery. Tell us your favorite vampire moments in film, books, television or anything else…

    In honor of Bram Stoker, born 165 years ago today and best known for his novel DRACULA, we thought we’d share an old favorite, this Kenn Duncan photo of the late Raul Julia in the 1978 stage production of Stoker’s novel. This photograph is part of our Kenn Duncan collection which is housed at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Billy Rose Theatre Division. You can see more photos from this production at the NYPL Digital Gallery. Tell us your favorite vampire moments in film, books, television or anything else…

  9. For all you Katharine Hepburn fans out there, please note that The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts has just opened an amazing free exhibition entitled KATHARINE HEPBURN: DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREEN which examines the influential fashion style of the iconic actress. Over 40 original Hepburn dresses and costumes are on display including pieces from THE PHILADELPHIA STORY, GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER, ON GOLDEN POND and from the still above WITHOUT LOVE. Check out Cathy Horyn of The New York Times article on the exhibition.

    For all you Katharine Hepburn fans out there, please note that The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts has just opened an amazing free exhibition entitled KATHARINE HEPBURN: DRESSED FOR STAGE AND SCREEN which examines the influential fashion style of the iconic actress. Over 40 original Hepburn dresses and costumes are on display including pieces from THE PHILADELPHIA STORY, GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER, ON GOLDEN POND and from the still above WITHOUT LOVE. Check out Cathy Horyn of The New York Times article on the exhibition.

  10. Nathan Englander Likes Donuts

    • Nathan Englander was once described as “Isaac Bashevis Singer on crack.”
    • Nathan Englander also has a penchant for donuts from Brooklyn donut-ery Donut.
    • And Nathan Englander reads Gawker, occasionally. 

    How do we know these things? The L Magazine has posted their fantastic Q&A with Mr. Englander in celebration of his new play, The 27th Man. 

    And lucky you - tomorrow night Nathan Englander and Director of The 27th Man, Barry Edelstein visit NYPL. 

    (*donuts will not be provided)