The Mark Twain House & Museum Announces Star-Studded Virtual Gala
A Writer’s Home, A Home for Writers to Feature Blockbuster Lineup of Baldacci, Buffett, Chernow, Greer, Grisham, Paisley, Picoult, and Scott
Free Global Gala to Be Held on Friday, November 6 at 8pm
The Mark Twain House & Museum announced today the star-studded lineup for A Writer’s Home, A Home for Writers, the museum’s 2020 Virtual Gala. Premiering online on Friday, November 6 at 8 pm EST, the 70-minute program features a blockbuster array of guest appearances by David Baldacci, Jimmy Buffett, Ron Chernow, Dr. Christina Greer, John Grisham, Brad Paisley, Jodi Picoult, and Sophfronia Scott.
The event is free to be viewed globally, but registration is required via MarkTwainHouse.org/gala. The event will also feature an online auction, an add-on at-home party picnic (available for pick-up at the museum), and, of course, an opportunity to donate to what Twain called “the loveliest home that ever was.”
The Mark Twain House & Museum Executive Director Pieter Roos states, “With the onset of the pandemic, our gala committee, under the leadership of our co-chairs Tara and Tony Costanzo, wanted to expand the scope of our annual fundraiser to embrace Mark Twain’s fans from around the globe. What initially seemed like a setback for our museum has become a tremendous and welcome opportunity.”
In addition to glimpses of Twain’s legendary Hartford home, A Writer’s Home, A Home for Writers will highlight a number of internationally renowned authors and artists.
David Baldacci is the author of dozens of thriller novels, most of which have debuted at #1 on The New York Times Bestseller List. His books total more than 150 million copies in print worldwide.
Jimmy Buffett is a multi-platinum recording artist whose global entertainment portfolio includes albums, sold-out tours, books, a Broadway musical, and a chain of popular Margaritaville restaurants.
Historian Ron Chernow is the author of acclaimed biographies of Ulysses S. Grant, George Washington, John D. Rockefeller, and Alexander Hamilton, which became the basis of the Hamilton musical phenomenon.
Dr. Christian Greer, an associate professor of Political Science and American Studies at Fordham University, is the author of the book Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream. She is regularly featured on MSNBC, NY1, and on her podcast, The Aftermath on Ozy.com.
John Grisham’s name is synonymous with the legal thriller, a genre of novels that he has mastered with over 400 million books in print. Nine of his books have been turned into major Hollywood films.
Brad Paisley is a critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, guitarist and entertainer who has garnered three GRAMMYs, two American Music Awards, 14 Academy of Country Music Awards and 14 Country Music Association Awards (including Entertainer of the Year), among many others.
Jodi Picoult’s latest novel, The Book of Two Ways, recently debuted at #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List. Picoult’s smart and socially-conscious books have been translated into thirty-four languages in thirty-five countries.
Sophfronia Scott is an award-winning journalist, novelist, essayist, memoirist, teacher, and short story writer. Ms. Scott’s novels include All I Need to Get By and Unforgivable Love. Her articles have appeared in Time, People, O – The Oprah Magazine, and More.
In addition to the illuminating and entertaining virtual gala, A Writer’s Home, A Home for Writers will feature an online auction of one-of-a-kind items and experiences. Guests can pre-register for the auction when they register for the gala with bidding beginning in late October. Residents of Greater Hartford can add to the evening’s fun by purchasing Sam’s Party Picnic, a hand-selected array of savory and sweet treats from the Old Wethersfield Country Store.
A Writer’s Home, A Home for Writers: the 2020 Virtual Gala is sponsored by Landmark Partners, Webster Bank, The Hartford, Stanley Black & Decker, blumshapiro, Central Connecticut State University, KPMG, and Liberty Bank. Gala sponsorships and contributor opportunities are still available and can be found at MarkTwainHouse.org/gala.
The Mark Twain House & Museum is the restored Hartford, Connecticut home where American author Samuel Clemens — Mark Twain — and his family lived from 1874 to 1891. Twain wrote his most important works, including Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, during the years he lived there. In addition to providing tours of Twain’s restored home, a National Historic Landmark, the institution offers activities and education programs that illuminate Twain’s literary legacy and provide information about his life and times.
Programs at The Mark Twain House & Museum are made possible in part by support from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of the Arts, and the Greater Hartford Arts Council’s United Arts Campaign.
The house and museum at 351 Farmington Avenue are open daily 10:00 am to 4:30 pm. For more information call 860-247-0998 or visit marktwainhouse.org
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