House of SpeakEasy: Seriously Entertaining
A literary variety show where five authors perform short pieces around a single theme — part reading, part salon, part cabaret.
Why we picked this
This is the literary event that actually feels like nightlife — five writers, short sets, a theme, and Joe's Pub instead of a bookstore back room.
House of SpeakEasy’s Seriously Entertaining series puts five authors on the Joe’s Pub stage, each delivering a short performance around a shared theme. The format borrows from variety shows and cabarets rather than traditional readings, which means the pacing stays tight and the energy stays high.
What sets this apart from other literary events is the venue and the structure. Joe’s Pub brings an audience that expects entertainment, not just edification, and the themed constraint forces writers out of their usual promotional patter. Past editions have featured novelists, poets, essayists, and journalists riffing off each other in ways that wouldn’t happen at a standard book event.
Tickets required.