Owens Community College will celebrate the importance of literacy with a series of events and activities focused around a college-wide read of best-selling author Mitch Albom’s book “Tuesdays with Morrie” throughout the months of February, March, April and May.

The college-wide read initiative will culminate with Albom’s appearance at Owens May11. The public is encouraged to join the campus community for guest speakers and educational awareness programs. The events are being presented by the college’s Literacy Committee and the Center for Fine and Performing Arts.

Albom is an internationally-renowned and best-selling author, journalist, screenwriter, playwright, radio and television broadcaster and musician. His books collectively have sold over 28 million copies worldwide and have been made into Emmy Award-winning and critically-acclaimed television movies.

Since 1985, Albom has been a sports journalist for the “Detroit Free Press.” He also hosts a daily talk show on WJR radio and appears regularly on ESPN’s “Sports Reporters” and “SportsCenter.”

He has authored the best-selling books“Tuesdays with Morrie,” “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” and “For One More Day,” all of which have been turned into television movies.

Owens’ college-wide read of “Tuesdays with Morrie” is a touching story about the author’s visits with his former college professor, Morrie Schwartz, and the rekindling of their relationship into one final lesson: how to live.

On March 30, Owens will host a free screening of “Tuesdays with Morrie” at 4 p.m. in College Hall room 100. Originally released in 1999 as a made-for-television movie, the Golden Globe nominated drama stars Jack Lemmon and Hank Azaria. A discussion and analysis of the movie will follow the film.

An Owens student production of Albom’s play “And The Winner Is,” will be presented April 8 at 7:30 p.m. and April 11 at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts Mainstage Theatre.  Written by Albom, “And The Winner Is” tells the comic story of Tyler Johnes, a self-obsessed movie star, who is finally nominated for an Oscar, then dies the night before the awards. Outraged at his bad luck and determined to know if he wins (even though he’s dead), he bargains with a heavenly gatekeeper to return to earth for the big night. Along the way, he drags his agent, his acting rival, his bombshell girlfriend and his ex-wife into the journey, in a wildly twisting tale of Hollywood, the afterlife and how we are judged.

The college-wide read activities will culminate with “An Open Discussion with Author and Sports Writer Mitch Albom” May 11 at 7 p.m. in the Student Health and Activities Center.

Copies of Albom’s book “Tuesdays with Morrie” are available for purchase in the college’s bookstores. Tickets for the “And The Winner Is” student production and the evening with Albom are available by contacting the Center for Fine and Performing Arts box office at 567-661-2787 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, ext. 2787.

For additional information about Owens’ college-wide read activities, call 567-661-7421 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, ext. 7421.

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