House Of Speakeasy

House of SpeakEasy connects authors and audiences in innovative and sustaining ways. Founded in 2013 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit by biographer and historian Amanda Foreman and editor Lucas Wittmann, SpeakEasy is dedicated to the idea that literature matters, and that the essence of literary culture is the relationship between writers and their readers. To foster that relationship, SpeakEasy seeks to: 1) bring authors out from behind the book, screen, and lectern into direct contact with audiences; 2) ensure that writers are compensated for their work and time and that their books are made available to educators and students; 3) stimulate the audiences of tomorrow by exposing them to the best writing of today through initiatives aimed at expanding access to authors and book culture. SpeakEasy provides literary programming for the general public as well as students and families in underserved communities. We fulfill our mission through three primary programs: SpeakEasy’s flagship program is an acclaimed series of literary cabarets, "Seriously Entertaining." Each month, authors take the stage to riff and ruminate informally, dinner-theater-style, on the evening’s theme. The Wall Street Journal calls it "Think-y entertainment for New York’s book-loving crowd." Performances are held at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater in New York City. Our SpeakTogether in the Schools program connects SpeakEasy writers with students and teachers in public schools in Brooklyn, The Bronx, and East Harlem, and at community centers, including Union Settlement Association’s highly regarded after-school College Readiness Program. We also develop and distribute free creative arts toolkits to educators nationwide, curricula inspired by stories told on our stages. The SpeakEasy Bookmobile delivers free books to "book deserts," under-resourced neighborhoods with no bookstores and limited access to libraries, in partnership with the NYC Housing Authority and National Book Foundation.