House of SpeakEasy: Seriously Entertaining

Seriously Entertaining is House of SpeakEasy's critically-acclaimed literary cabaret series. Each show brings together four incredible writers for a fast-paced, thought-provoking, and often surprising night of original storytelling, connected by a common theme. 

The New York Times calls it “a literary mixtape [with] perfect flow and variety."

In January, we kick off the Seriously Entertaining new year with the theme Sunny Side Up. Bright beginnings, fragile hopes, and the strange alchemy of optimism. Beejhy Barhany, Annabelle Gurwitch, Natan Last, and Yuyi Morales will explore the light and the cracks that let it in. From the innocence of childhood to the vulnerability of starting over, from literal eggs to metaphorical fresh starts, “Sunny-Side Up” is about facing the new year with humor, honesty, and maybe a little yolk on your face. Featuring Don P. Hooper as our Quizmaster.

It’s Not Me, It’s You will be the animating theme for our February show. Whether it’s a scathing farewell, a family reckoning, or a cultural call-out, “It’s Not Me, It’s You” invites featured writers including Andrés Cerpa, Gabrielle Hamilton, and Paul Muldoon to share stories of conflict, clarity, and the moment they realized they weren’t the problem. Funny, fiery, or tender, these are tales of letting go, drawing lines, and saying what’s needed to be said.

Riffing on Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, the theme of our March show is Pleasure for Pleasure—inviting a celebration (or interrogation) of joy, indulgence, and desire, featuring Jon Burgerman, Sujata Massey, Caroline Paul, and Michael M. Weinstein. Think hedonism, the politics of pleasure, guilt and gratification, romantic love, art for art’s sake, the cost of pursuing pleasure in a constrained world… It’s fun and fertile ground.

House of SpeakEasy Website
Use the House of Speakeasy Bookshop to purchase books by upcoming speakers

Photo Credit: Jasmina Tomic