On the eve of its staged reading at the Walt Whitman Birthplace, the new play “American Poet: Whitman’s Warnings” will be the focus of conversation for playwright Sarah Vander Schaaff and WWI president Karen Karbiener. Learn about the genesis of this work exploring Whitman’s creative genius in the face of the national crises of his day, enjoy a sneak peek of the performance, and– if you’re listening live– ask a question about this provocative and timely re-examination of the personal and political challenges Whitman faced.

Sarah Maraniss Vander Schaaff is a freelance journalist and playwright. She lives in Kennebunkport, Maine with her husband and two daughters.

Karen Karbiener, president and founding member of the Walt Whitman Initiative, is a Whitman scholar and teaches at New York University. Winner of the Kluge Fellowship at the Library of Congress and a Fulbright recipient, she has published widely on Whitman and is currently completing a biography of the poet.