Comedian, author Andy Borowitz to speak at KU

LAWRENCE — The Commons at the University of Kansas will welcome comedian and best-selling author Andy Borowitz for the 2016 Kenneth A. Spencer Lecture. The event will feature Borowitz in conversation with KCUR “Up to Date” host Steve Kraske at 7 p.m. March 3, 2016, in the Kansas Union Ballroom.

Borowitz has written for The New Yorker since 1998. In 2001, he created the Borowitz Report, a satirical news column that draws millions of readers, for which he won the first-ever National Press Club award for humor. Borowitz has published two recent best-selling books: “The 50 Funniest American Writers” and “An Unexpected Twist,” a memoir, which Amazon named the Best Kindle Single of 2012.

Borowitz tweets to more than a half-million followers. @BorowitzReport was voted the best Twitter feed of 2011 in a poll by Time. As a comedian, he has performed sold-out shows around the world and has made countless television and radio appearances, on National Public Radio, VH1 and Comedy Central, among other places.

In addition to his work as host for “Up to Date,” Kraske is a political columnist for the Kansas City Star and a professor of journalism at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Kraske has won numerous awards for his print and broadcast work. The Washington Post has called him one of the top state political reporters in the nation. He has appeared on National Public Radio and CNN’s “Capital Gang” and “Inside Politics” as well as on “Kansas City Week in Review” on KCPT.

The annual Kenneth A. Spencer Memorial Lecture is presented by The Commons and features a “central and significant figure in his or her chosen field.” The 2015 Kenneth A. Spencer Memorial Lecture was delivered by Margaret Atwood.

This event is free and open to the public, but tickets will be required. For more information, check The Commons’ website.