KU graduate to sign novel at Oread Books

Edward Jae-Suk Lee will reading from his new novel, “The Good Man,” and have a book signing from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at Oread Books in the Kansas Union. The event is free and open to the public.

The book signing is part of a series of April events at Kansas University in celebration of Korean history and culture, culminating in the dedication of the Korean War Memorial on the KU campus April 16.

“The Good Man” is the story of an aging Korean War veteran, Gabriel Guttman, who returns to his native Montana in search of redemption. There he had left two women: one, the love of his youth, the other a Korean woman whom he brought back to the U.S. after the war.

Jae-Suk Lee is a Korean American and native Kansan who lives in Merriam. He received a master’s degree in English from KU in 2002.

Drama

BU Theatre to present ‘How I Learned to Drive’

Baldwin — Baker University Theatre will stage the Pulitzer Prize-winning play “How I Learned to Drive” April 14-16 and 21-23 at Darby Hope Theatre.

The play focuses on sexual abuse, unfolding in a series of flashbacks about a woman who was molested by her uncle while growing up in the 1960s and 1970s. The play’s protagonist, Li’l Bit, recalls being raised by a hopelessly dysfunctional family and turning to the only person she feels she can trust, her Uncle Peck. He becomes her confidant and companion, listening to her and teaching her to drive, then sexually abuses her.

The play also was awarded an Obie, a Drama Desk Award, a New York Drama Critics’ Award, an Outer Circle Critics Award and the Lucille Lortel Award.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free.

Music

Versatile vocalist to perform at Lied

In addition to songs popularized by Nat King Cole and Paul Robeson, American singer Jubilant Sykes will perform gospel, jazz, Broadway and Spanish-American songs at 7:30 p.m. April 15 at the Lied Center.

Sykes will be joined by Roberto Miranda, a dynamic bassist who has toured and recorded with an impressive array of jazz artists; Mark Rice, a classical pianist who has written orchestrations that have been performed by such major orchestras as the London Symphony and the Boston Pops; and Darren Ross, percussionist and teacher at the acclaimed Musicians Institute in Hollywood.

Sykes, a classically trained baritone known for his limitless range and mesmerizing technique, will perform works by George Gershwin, Stevie Wonder, Aaron Copland and Arthur Hamilton.

Sykes has created a diverse and personal approach to singing in his distinctive career. His versatility has fostered many musical collaborations, including numerous appearances as a soloist with many of the world’s finest conductors, symphonies and opera companies.