Lincoln Journal Star

All Nebraska residents are being invited to read the Willa Cather classic, "My Antonia," early next year.

The Willa Cather Foundation and the newly formed One Book/One State Nebraska State Steering Committee, led by Sue Maher from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, hope librarians across the state will pitch in to help make the effort a success. 

The goal is to have readers finished with the book in time for a statewide program on "My Antonia" to be held in Red Cloud.

The Cather Foundation's 50th annual Spring Festival will be April 29-30. Cather scholars from throughout the United States will be available to lead discussions and

answer questions about "My Antonia."

A writing competition will be conducted for secondary students in schools across the state. Winners will receive prizes and awards on April 29 at the newly restored Red Cloud Opera House.

As part of the project, Nebraskans are urged to watch the PBS broadcast of a Cather biography called "The Road is All," to be aired on the American Masters series in 2005.

The first preview screening will be at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday at the Red Cloud Opera House. The screening is free. The evening show is full, but call (402) 746-2641 to reserve seats for the afternoon showing.

The biography also will be shown in Scottsbluff at the Midwest Theater at 7 p.m. Oct. 24.

The show will debut in Lincoln during NETV's anniversary fund-raiser Nov. 5 at the Rococo Theatre. Tickets for the 6 p.m. event, with former Nebraska Gov. and U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey as master of ceremonies, are $100. 

The One Book concept is not new to Nebraskans. Several libraries, including those in Lincoln, Hastings and Omaha, have initiated reading projects. Lincoln residents have been urged this year to read "Peace Like a River," written by Leif Enger.

Posters, information about "My Antonia" and Willa Cather, discussion questions, ideas and other information will be available by the end of the year.

For more information, see www.willacather.org.