Event and Book

Jonathan Eig will take the stage with guest host Rochelle Riley to talk about his Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, King: A Life, the first major biography written in decades about civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. Vividly written and deeply researched, this revealing portrait by a master storyteller is an intimate view of the courageous and often emotionally troubled human being who demanded peaceful protest for his movement but was rarely at peace with himself.

He casts fresh light on his family’s origins as well as his complex relationships with his wife, father, and fellow activists. In this landmark biography and relying on recently unclassified FBI documents, Eig gives us an MLK whose demands for racial and economic justice remain as urgent today as they were in his lifetime.

EVENT DETAILS:

Additional City Opera House transaction fees are applied at checkout for in-person tickets.

Tier One indicates premium seating options with the best views, available on the main floor closest to the stage along with premium sections of the balcony.
Tier Two indicates standard seating options, available on the main floor and most of the balcony.

Individual Tickets:
Tier One: $44
Tier Two: $34
Admits one person to the live event and each ticket comes with one signed trade paperback edition of Jonathan Eig’s King: A Life (retail value $20).

Two-Ticket Package
Tier One: $71
Tier Two: $51
This two-ticket option admits two people to the live event and comes with one signed trade paperback edition of Jonathan Eig’s King: A Life (retail value $20). Perfect for couples or friends who want to share a book together.

Group Tickets:
For discounted rates on ticket packages of 20 or more, please contact [email protected] 

Virtual Tickets: $31
Virtual tickets are $15 plus a book (ticket fees and shipping costs not included). You can opt to pick up your book at Horizon Books in Traverse City or have it shipped to you for with an $8 shipping fee.

Student Tickets: $10
No age restriction with a valid school ID, student tickets admit one person to the live event. Books are not included.

Each ticket comes with a trade paperback copy of King: A Life or opt for a two-ticket package with one signed book. NWS has virtual and in-person ticket options for all of its events. Doors open at 6 p.m. with live music and a cash bar, and the conversation begins at 7 p.m. This event includes a Q&A session with both the live and livestream audience, and an author signing event following in the lobby.

Why do I have to buy a book with my tickets?
NWS will often include a book with every ticket (or two tickets). We sometimes bundle a book with a ticket to lure a high-profile author to our fine small town. This is now a common practice with authors on book tours—their publishers require the bundle, not only to introduce the author to his or her readers, but also to sell books. Please note, all books are 20 percent off.

What if I already purchased the book?
If you already have the book, the book with your ticket makes a great gift for friends and family. Or, you can donate your book by contacting our office manager at [email protected]. 

Is this event kid friendly?
Most of our events are not appropriate for children.

Jonathan Eig is a former senior writer for The Wall Street Journal and the New York Times bestselling author of Ali: A Life, Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig, and Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson’s First Season. Ken Burns calls him “a master storyteller.”

Guest host Rochelle Riley, director of Arts and Culture for the City of Detroit. She formerly worked as an award-winning, nationally syndicated columnist for 20 years and has been inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame, North Carolina Journalism Hall of Fame, and the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame. Her books include That They Lived: African Americans Who Changed The World and The Burden: African Americans and the Enduring Impact of Slavery.