Redwood & Wildfire tells the story of an African American woman and a Seminole Irish man who journey from Georgia to the bright lights of Chicago at the turn of the 20th century. Gifted blues musicians and performers, they find opportunities in minstrelsy,vaudeville and the early film world that flourished in Chicago at that time. Along the way, Hairston shows how itinerant theater, featuring immigrants and ethnic minorities, left an indelible imprint on American culture. Sponsored by the Friends of the Smith College Libraries, the reading will be accompanied by Pan Morrigan performing original bluegrass compositions.

Andrea Hairston is Louise Wolff Kahn 1931 Professor of Theatre and Afro-American Studies at Smith College. She is the Artistic Director of Chrysalis Theatre and a science fiction and fantasy playwright and novelist. Ms. Hairston received the 2011 Distinguished Scholarship Award from the International Association of the Fantastic in the Arts. Her first novel, "Mindscape", won the Carl BrandonParallax Award and was shortlisted for the Phillip K. Dick Award and the Tiptree Award. She has also received numerous playwriting and directing awards. Pan Morigan is a vocalist, songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer.

Read more and view a video of Hairston discussing her book on the Aqueduct Press website.