Ithaca College

In 2012, the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens is being celebrated around the world. A series of events ranging from film screenings and theater performances to readings and academic presentations will be held throughout the spring as part of the Ithaca Dickens Festival.

Sponsored by a number of departments at Ithaca College and organizations in the local community, the local commemoration promises to bring the distinguished author and his works to life for audiences both young and old. All of the events are open to the public, and thanks to the sponsors, nearly all are free.

The Charles Dickens 200th Birthday Party and Festival Kickoff will start the celebration with a movie and some cake on Sunday, Feb. 5. The Academy Award-nominated 1946 version of “Great Expectations,” Dickens’s tale of the orphan Pip, will be shown at 4 p.m. at Cinemapolis, 120 E. Green St. Stay after the film for a slice of birthday cake baked in honor of Dickens, who was born on Feb. 7, 1812.

“The Ithaca Dickens Festival is an opportunity for fans, scholars and the curious to come together and celebrate a literary legacy that spans two centuries,” said Elizabeth Bleicher, assistant professor of English at Ithaca College and the primary organizer of the series. “When I describe the festival, people invariably tell me their favorite Dickens book or film. Some have read him for a class. Others read him for fun. Everyone knows “A Christmas Carol” and most have at least heard of “Great Expectations,” “A Tale of Two Cities,” “Oliver Twist” and “David Copperfield.” For how many authors in history can the majority of folks name five books?”

To view the full schedule and more details, visit www.ithaca.edu/dickensfestival/.

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Elizabeth Bleicher at ebleicher@ithaca.edu or (607) 274-1531. We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible.