"An Evening with David Sedaris"
June 10, 2021
Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 7:30 PM
Street and Davis Performance Hall, Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre
This performance will last approximately 90 minutes with no intermission, including an audience Q&A.*
"Sedaris’s droll assessment of the mundane and the eccentrics who inhabit the world’s crevices make him one of the greatest humorists writing today."
— Chicago Tribune
One of America’s most beloved essayists, David Sedaris has built a devoted following with his sharp observation, self-deprecating wit, and uncanny ability to find both absurdity and tenderness in everyday life.
A frequent contributor to The New Yorker and the bestselling author of Me Talk Pretty One Day, Calypso, and Happy-Go-Lucky, Sedaris brings his distinctive voice and storytelling to the stage in an evening of live readings and reflections.
With impeccable timing and a gift for understatement, he keeps the room feeling spontaneous, mischievous, and delightfully unpredictable.
About the Author
Beloved for his personal essays and short stories, David Sedaris is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Barrel Fever, Holidays on Ice, Naked, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, and Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls. The audio version of Happy-Go-Lucky, written and narrated by Sedaris, won the 2023 Audie Award. His book, The Best of Me, collects 42 previously published stories and essays. Sedaris also wrote Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary, a collection of fables with illustrations by Ian Falconer. His newest book of essays is The Land and Its People (Back Bay Books, May 2026).
Sedaris writes regularly for The New Yorker, and his essays have been included in The Best American Essays. The two volumes of his diaries, Theft By Finding: Diaries (1977-2002) and A Carnival of Snackery, Diaries (2003-2020) were New York Times bestsellers. An art book of Sedaris’s diary covers, David Sedaris Diaries: A Visual Compendium, was edited by Jeffrey Jenkins. He is the editor of Children Playing Before a Statue of Hercules: An Anthology of Outstanding Stories. His first children's book, Pretty Ugly, illustrated by Ian Falconer, received a ‘star’ review from Kirkus. His newest children's book, The Selfish Sister (Astra/TOON Books, March 2026), features illustrations by Bob Staake.
Sedaris and his sister, Amy Sedaris, have collaborated under the name “The Talent Family” and have written half-a-dozen plays, which have been produced at La Mama, Lincoln Center, and the Drama Department in New York City. These plays include Stump the Host, Stitches, One Woman Shoe (which received an Obie Award), Incident at Cobbler’s Knob, and The Book of Liz (which was published in book form by Dramatists Play Service).
Sedaris has been nominated for five Grammy Awards for Best Spoken Word and Best Comedy Album. His audio recordings include David Sedaris: Live for Your Listening Pleasure and David Sedaris Live at Carnegie Hall. A feature film adaptation of his story, C.O.G., was released after a premiere at the Sundance Film Festival (2013). Since 2011 his show, Meet David Sedaris, has been on BBC Radio 4. In 2026 Meet David Sedaris was a finalist for the BBC Audio Drama Awards. In 2019 Sedaris became a regular contributor to CBS Sunday Morning, and his MasterClass, David Sedaris Teaches Storytelling and Humor, was released.
There are over 16 million copies of Sedaris' books in print, and they have been translated into 32 languages. He has been awarded the Terry Southern Prize for Humor, Thurber Prize for American Humor, Jonathan Swift International Literature Prize for Satire and Humor, and Time 2001 Humorist of the Year Award, as well as the Medal for Spoken Language from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In March 2019 he was elected as a member into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 2020 the New York Public Library voted Me Talk Pretty One Day one of the 125 most important books of the last 125 years. In 2025 Sedaris was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Literature degree by the University of Chichester.
About The Land and Its People
In his latest work, The Land and Its People, Sedaris reflects on what it means to be a foreigner, a brother, a lifelong friend. He tries on the role of caretaker after his boyfriend Hugh’s hip-replacement surgery, and both succeeds and fails. He buys his sister a cape and discusses his brother with a jaded Duolingo bot. He walks dozens of miles with his friend Dawn and challenges her to eat a truck tire. Ever adding to his list of “Countries I Have Been To,” he rides a horse named Tequila in Guatemala, buys a bespoke priest’s cassock in Vatican City, and goes on safari in Kenya without taking a single photo.
There is sadness here — scrolling through his address book, he realizes how many dear friends are now deceased — but also delight: he revels in authors’ biographies, the malapropism that becomes a decades-long inside joke, and pair of well-made cotton underpants. He is bitten by a dog. A train passenger vomits in his face. A woman on the street late at night either sexually harasses him or doesn’t. Look how hard it is to be alive!
Throughout these essays — at once acerbic and tender, playful and profound — Sedaris shows how much there is to marvel at when you keep your head up and your eyes open, observing with warmth and curiosity this fascinating human species and the lands we inhabit.
This performance is supported in part by gifts from Mr. and Mrs. Howard C. Huang, Leo and Ellen Piilonen, and Erv Blythe.
Co-sponsored by the Center for Humanities and the Pride Center
Sedaris first appeared at the center in 2014.
Photos by Anne Fishbein and Jenny Lewis
* Run times listed here are based on information provided at this time and are subject to change.
FAQs
About This Event
David Sedaris has written more than a dozen books, including bestselling collections of humorous essays, memoirs, diaries, and children's books. His most popular works include Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, Calypso, and Happy-Go-Lucky. His newest essay collection, The Land and Its People, was published in 2026.
David Sedaris' newest book is The Land and Its People (2026), a collection of humorous and insightful essays about family, friendship, aging, travel, and everyday life. It's his first new essay collection since Happy-Go-Lucky and features the sharp wit and keen observations that have made him one of America's most beloved humorists.
Yes. David Sedaris is widely regarded as one of today's most celebrated humor writers (but he’s not a comedian). His essays combine sharp wit, keen observations, and self-deprecating storytelling as he explores everyday life, family, travel, and the quirks of human nature. Audiences can expect plenty of laughter, along with moments that are thoughtful, poignant, and surprisingly relatable.
This performance is intended for adult audiences. David Sedaris' essays often include mature themes, strong language, and candid observations about relationships, family, and everyday life. While there are plenty of laughs, the content is generally best suited for older teens and adults.
Attending a Performance at the Center
The most important thing is that you're comfortable. There is no dress code, so do what feels right for you. Do you want to get dressed to the nines for a special night out? You won't be the only one. Do you feel like keeping things casual? You won't be alone there, either.
All campus parking, including along Alumni Mall, requires a parking permit from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., unless otherwise noted by signage.
Parking is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street at 300 Turner Street NW.
- For many Center for the Arts performances and large events, this garage will be staffed by an attendant and payment ($10, cash only) must be made at the time of entry. This event parking price is $2 higher than the garage’s daily rate to allow us to provide staffing to make both entering and exiting the garage more efficient for larger numbers of cars. You may exit at the Turner Street gate.
- All other times, visitors can take a ticket upon entrance and pay the $8 daily rate using Visa or Mastercard when exiting.
Convenient parking is also located in downtown Blacksburg. Town parking is free every day after 5:00 p.m.
Patrons are always welcome to drop off and pick up guests directly at the main doors of the Center for the Arts on Alumni Mall and Turner Street.
Allowing yourself extra time improves the experience for everyone! We recommend arriving at least 45 minutes prior to the start of the performance so you have plenty of time for the safety screening and to get settled in your seats. Our lobbies and galleries open 90 minutes before performances, and the theatre doors open 30 minutes before the performance start time. Ushers will direct you to your seat and are happy to answer any questions.
For the safety of our guests and performers, all patrons may be required to pass through a walk-through metal detector before entering the theatre. The process is quick and touchless, and you may keep your personal belongings with you. If you need an alternate screening method, please speak with a member of our security team.
A small or clutch-size purse or clear bag is recommended. Oversized bags, luggage, and backpacks will not be permitted inside the theatre. Coat check will be available to check these items.
Concessions from Blacksburg Wine Lab are available for most performances. Concessions availability and locations will be included in the What to Know email for ticket holders. Concessions are available beginning an hour before the performance, so arrive early to avoid the lines and enjoy a drink before the show.
Cameras and recording equipment are not permitted inside the theatre during performances. To avoid distracting the artists and those around you, please turn off or silence your cell phone and put away all electronic devices before the performance begins. Photography, video recording, and audio recording are not permitted unless otherwise announced.
If you’re late, you may hear the beginning of the performance from the lobby while you wait to take your seat — either until intermission or an appropriate break in the program as requested and advised by the artists. Admitting late arrivals into the theatre is timed to cause as little disruption as possible to other guests and the performers on stage. In some cases, you may be seated in an alternate location in the theatre.
You will receive a “What to Know” email approximately 48 hours before the performance with helpful information on approximate runtimes, pre- and post-show activities, and any other information you will need to know before you head out the door.
We are committed to being fully accessible to all patrons and their companions and strive to make our patrons’ experiences convenient and comfortable. In addition to our venue’s universal design features, we offer services and accommodations for parking, seating, listening, sensory support, courtesy wheelchair, elevators, restrooms, service animals, sign language, and visual aids. Find out more.
No. Mobile tickets displayed on your smartphone are welcome, though printed tickets are also accepted.
While all sales are final, tickets to most events may be exchanged for another Center for the Arts performance within the current season. Please contact the box office at artscenter@vt.edu or by phone at 540-231-5300 at least one hour in advance of the scheduled performance to request an exchange. Refunds may be offered in extenuating circumstances at the discretion of the box office manager.