House of SpeakEasy’s flagship program, “Seriously Entertaining,” is an acclaimed series of literary cabarets where authors take the stage to riff and ruminate informally, dinner-theater-style, on the evening’s theme. Since our debut show in 2014, House of SpeakEasy has been proud to feature a diverse range of authors and performers, from Pulitzer Prize–winning journalists to acclaimed novelists and poets, as well as comedians, musicians, and emerging writers.

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House of SpeakEasy continues its electrifying 2025 season at Joe’s Pub on May 13 with a night of fresh, original storytelling from four celebrated writers. Inspired by the theme “Let the Great World Spin,” each author will take the stage to share a brand-new, never-before-heard tale—live, intimate, and unfiltered.

This month’s lineup features:

Amitava Kumar – Acclaimed author of Immigrant, Montana, My Beloved Life, and A Time Outside This Time, now out in paperback.

Paul Lisicky – Award-winning author of Song So Wild and Blue: A Life with the Music of Joni Mitchell and The Narrow Door, with work in The Atlantic, The New York Times, Tin House, and more.

Martha Anne Toll – Novelist and critic whose debut Three Muses won the Petrichor Prize and was hailed by The Washington Post, Vulture, NPR, and beyond. Her next novel, Duet for One, arrives May 2025.

Stick around after the show for a book signing with all four authors—plus, test your literary wits in our signature Tip of My Tongue quiz. The winner takes home all four books for free!

Join us for an unforgettable night where words take center stage.

Get tickets here!

For past Seriously Entertaining performances, subscribe to our YouTube channel and check out our list of past shows.

And don’t miss our upcoming shows:

June 10: Either/Or (Get tickets here)