21st Annual Arts Brunch Honoring Susan Sparks

Join us to celebrate the arts!NYC Celebration of the Arts at Carolina

Sunday, May 20, 2018 – Noon – 2 p.m.

The University Club, One West 54th Street
followed by optional after-party at Papillon Bar and Bistro2 East 54th Street

The New York Carolina Club, UNC General Alumni Association, UNC Department of Dramatic Art, UNC Department of Music and Carolina Performing Arts cordially invite you to attend the Annual Brunch to Celebrate the Arts at Carolina.

Susan Sparks Bio

As a trial lawyer turned standup comedian and Baptist minister, Susan Sparks ’84 is America’s only female comedian with a pulpit. A North Carolina native, Susan received her B.A. from UNC and was President of her Senior Class. She received a law degree from Wake Forest University.

After ten years as a lawyer moonlighting as a standup, she left her practice and spent two years on a solo trip around the world, including working with Mother Teresa’s mission in Calcutta, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, and driving the Alaska Highway. Upon returning home, she entered Union Theological Seminary in New York City, where she earned a Master of Divinity and wrote an honors thesis on humor and religion. In May, 2007, Susan was installed as Madison Avenue Baptist Church’s 15th Senior Minister and the first woman in its 169 year history.

Susan is also a professional comedian touring nationally with a Rabbi and a Muslim comic in the “Laugh in Peace Tour.” Her work with humor, healing and spirituality has been featured in O (The Oprah) Magazine, The New York Times and on various media networks including ABC, CNN and CBS.

A nationally syndicated columnist as well as a TEDx speaker, Susan’s first book, Laugh Your Way to Grace: Reclaiming the Spiritual Power of Humor, was named one of the best spiritual books of 2010 and has sold over 25,000 copies. Susan (the 20th “Habey” Award designee) has performed with Lewis Black ’70 (the first “Habey” Award recipient), who will emcee this year’s Arts Brunch.

Past Honorees Jim Wann ‘70, Bland Simpson ‘70 and Don Dixon ‘72 (whose “King Mackerel and the Blues Are Running” show will be running at West Bank Cafe May 18th and 19th [for tickets go to http://www.westbankcafe.com]), will perform at the Brunch!

 

Susan Sparks, left, and Lewis Black, right

Ticket prices are as follows:

Standard ticket – $70
Young alumni (class years 2008-2018) ticket – $55
Plus, GAA members save an additional $20 on their tickets!

Online registration is now closed. To register, please contact John Haber.

Date:
May 20, 2018
Time:
12:00 pm — 2:00 pm
Location:
University Club 1 W 54th St, New York, NY 10019, USA