Academy Award nominee Peter Weller will hosted a film fundraiser and celebration of the 50th anniversary of the groundbreaking novel The Naked Lunch by legendary Beat author and American icon, William S. Burroughs.

The event featured an art exhibition at Th!nkArt Salon of William S. Burroughs’ work and never-before-seen footage of his turbulent life in 20 minute trailer of the feature-length documentary: William S. Burroughs: A Man Within by Yony Leyser. This star-studded evening catered by Chef David Leigh featured live music by Maya Jensen with readings, happenings, and performances by authors, poets, and Beat scholars.

Featured guests included: Peter Weller (star of David Cronenberg’s film Naked Lunch (1991)), Penny Arcade (Andy Warhol Superstar), Hal Willner (Musical Director Saturday Night Live, recorded Burroughs, Dead City Radio (1990)), Anne Waldman (Poet & Co Founder of the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics), James Grauerholz (William S. Burroughs Estate Executor), John Giorno (Performance Poet, Giorno Poetry Systems), John Long (author Drugs and the Beats), Kurt Hemmer (author Encyclopedia of Beat Literature), Tony Trigilio (author, Allen Ginsberg’s Buddhist Poetics), Dr. Bill Ayers (Distinguished Professor, University of Illinois at Chicago), and others.

For more info on the film William S. Burroughs: A Man Within, visit the website:

CLICK HERE to listen to the CHICAGO PUBLIC RADIO'S live audio recording of the event.