From The Thornton Wilder Family:

Celebration and study of Thornton Wilder will take over Newport, Rhode Island, for the Second International Thornton Wilder Conference, a three-day event with more than 20 presentations, round table conversations, panel discussions, readings and events featuring leading academics and theater professionals from countries including France, China, Iran, Italy, Mexico, Switzerland and the United States.

The conference includes Pulitzer Prize winner Paula Vogel and Pulitzer Prize finalist Will Eno giving their perspectives on Wilder as playwrights; Tony nominee and Orange is the New Black star Maria Dizzia reading from Wilder’s work; the presentation of excerpts from a newly discovered, unfinished play by Wilder, set in Capri, entitled Villa Rhabani; award-winning artistic director of Connecticut’s Long Wharf Theatre Gordon Edelstein in conversation about directing Wilder’s plays; and Tappan Wilder, Thornton Wilder’s nephew, sharing anecdotes from his 20-year history managing the Wilder Estate.

Tickets range from $50-$250, including student discount prices. Tickets and a complete schedule are available on The Thornton Wilder Society website. A limited number of tickets for all events will also be available for sale at the conference desk located in the Young Building of Salve Regina University. For questions regarding single tickets, please contact Jackson R. Bryer at jbryer@umd.edu. All program events, except the Thursday and Friday evenings’ receptions, will be held at the Young Building of Salve Regina University, 514 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, Rhode Island.