Annual VonnegutFest in downtown Indianapolis goes big for famed author's centennial

This year's VonnegutFest promises to be the biggest ever, as writers, musicians and fans will gather to celebrate what would have been famed Indianapolis author Kurt Vonnegut's 100th birthday.

"We have something for everybody," said Julia Whitehead, founder and CEO of the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library, which hosts the annual event. "For scholars, for the general public interested in an arts and humanities experience, for philanthropists looking to support our mission, for music lovers and for those Vonnegut superfans."

Whitehead said the museum and its partners have been preparing for Vonnegut's centennial for about two years.

The festivities will include VonneCon, a free celebration of all things Vonnegut at the downtown Indianapolis museum that bears his name from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the author's birthday, Nov. 11. It will begin with a discussion with author Tim O'Brien, who, like Vonnegut, drew from personal experiences with war for his collection of short stories "The Things They Carried."

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The mini-convention will also include a livestreamed worldwide singing of "Happy Birthday to You" for Vonnegut, who died in 2007.

VonneCon will end with a free performance of New York-based composer and pianist Jason Yaeger's "Unstuck in Time: The Kurt Vonnegut Suite," with a meet-and-greet to follow. Whitehead said the performance will also feature Shalon Robinson, a drummer and Pike High School student.

Vonnegut scholar Christina Jarvis will discuss and sign copies of her newest book, "Lucky Mud and Other Foma: A Field Guide to Kurt Vonnegut’s Planetary Citizenship," beginning at noon Nov. 12 at the museum. At 1 p.m., musical group Salo Pallini will perform a score based on Vonnegut's novel "The Sirens of Titan."

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The celebration will close with what Whitehead deemed "the museum's largest gala ever" at 6 p.m. on the Lucas Estate in Carmel.

The closing event will include a performance from jazz vocalist Stacey Kent, a greeting from a giant Vonnegut puppet and Roaring '20s era décor and entertainment. Newfields CFO Jerry Wise and Indianapolis walking guide/historian Sampson Levingston will co-host the gala.

Tickets for the benefit, which supports the museum's Fund for Education, start at $500. Whitehead said Wednesday the event was nearly sold out.

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Rory Appleton is the pop culture reporter at IndyStar. Contact him at 317-552-9044 and rappleton@indystar.com, or follow him on Twitter at @RoryDoesPhonics.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Kurt Vonnegut's 100th birthday to be big celebration in Indianapolis