Monday, October 3, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Bruno Walter Auditorium, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, free, 6:00
Tuesday, October 4, and Wednesday, October 5, the New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, South Court Auditorium, 42nd St. & Fifth Ave., free but reservations required, 7:00
Thursday, October 6, David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center, free, 8:30
www.nypl.org
For nearly a quarter century, Ben Katchor has been looking at life like no one else in such weekly comic strips as “Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer,” “Hotel & Farm,” “The Jew of New York,” and “The Cardboard Valise.” He has also shared his unique world view in theatrical productions created with musician and composer Mark Mulcahy, including A Checkroom Romance, The Rosenbach Company, and The Slugbearers of Kayrol Island. Mulcahy and Katchor have collaborated again, this time on Up from the Stacks, a new work that follows college student Lincoln Cabinée as he toils part time in the main branch of the New York Public Library around 1970. Up from the Stacks, which features Ken Maiuri, Dave Trenholm, and Brian Marchese, will have its premiere tonight at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, followed by presentations Tuesday and Wednesday at the very spot where it is set, the NYPL on Fifth Ave. & 42nd St., and a fourth show Thursday night at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center. Advance reservations are necessary for the middle performances, but it’s first come, first served on Monday and Thursday, with all four shows free. (For our recent twi-ny talk with Katchor, click here.) Up from the Stacks, is part of the NYPL’s “Conversations” series, which continues October 11 with John Lithgow in conversation with Bill Moyers, October 18 with Deborah Baker in discussion with Elizabeth Rubin, and November 2 with James Romm speaking with Daniel Mendelsohn.