Emmy winner Davy Rothbart, creator of Found Magazine, author, storyteller, and contributor to This American Life is in residence at the University of Illinois’ Unit One / Allen Hall through Thursday, February 2nd. Rothbart will present seven (!) programs / workshops in total, though a couple of them were last weekend. All are free and open to the public.
Here are the remaining programs, per Unit One’s email newsletter. Event locations on the U of I campus are indicated in the description:
Monday, January 30
7:00 pm – I’m Extracting Lint from My Belly Button Right Now (South Rec)
A wild, interactive audio scavenger hunt! Beforehand, Davy briefly shares stories and strategies from his work with groundbreaking NPR show (and podcast) This American Life.
WHAT TO BRING—a recording device of any kind (including Voice Memo app on a smartphone).
Tuesday, January 31
7:00 pm – 17 BLOCKS screening & discussion with special guests Smurf, Denice, and Cheryl Sanford (Main Lounge)
In 1999, nine-year-old Emmanuel Sanford-Durant and his Washington, DC family began to film their daily lives in America’s most dangerous neighborhood — just 17 blocks from the US Capitol. Made in a unique collaboration with filmmaker and journalist Davy Rothbart, and spanning two decades, 17 BLOCKS illuminates a nation’s ongoing crisis through one family’s raw, stirring, and deeply personal saga. Nominated for an Independent Spirit Award, it was called “a singular achievement in documentary filmmaking” by Variety magazine.
Wednesday, February 1
7:00 pm- MEDORA screening & discussion with special guest Dylan McSoley (Main Lounge)
An in-depth, deeply personal look at small town life, Medora is both an underdog basketball story and an inspiring tale of a community refusing to give up hope despite the brutal odds stacked against them. While the film follows this particular team in this particular place, ultimately Medora is a film about America, and the thousands of small towns across the country facing the same fight for survival. This Emmy Award-winning film aired on the acclaimed PBS series Independent Lens and received glowing reviews in Variety, The New York Times, the Village Voice, Entertainment Weekly, and Time, among others.
9:30 pm – Engaging with Strangers (South Rec)
If you could ask a stranger any question, what would it be?
“Only connect,” E.M. Forster famously implored. But in an age of cell phones and ear buds, how do we break through — respectfully — and form connections with people? Through two engaging, entertaining exercises, we’ll strengthen our muscles of courage, curiosity, and empathy — and build skills that can help us in all phases of life.
WHAT TO BRING—a question you’d like to ask a stranger sitting next to you on the bus.
Thursday, February 2
7:00 pm – Canada or Bust (South Rec)
Davy closes out the week with a rowdy and reflective hour-long performance, while sharing off-kilter advice for life beyond college.
