Thoreau/Twain opens the Little Pharaoh Arts Center Theater

In the tiny jewel of a town called Mt. Carmel, Illinois, just outside of St.Louis, there is a gem at the heart of the town.

The Little Pharaoh Arts Center.

It is a combination Theater, Art Gallery, Kids' Creativity Space and soon-to-be coffee shop/bar/club.  John Clancy, my long time friend is the Master Builder/Creator of the Space.  He is a wonder to know. 

Oh, and by the way, he started the NYC Fringe Festival. Which is also where we met_I was a Venue Manager for the first few years. Like Twain-working at a first passion (for him it was printing), you learn a LOT by seeing a lot.

And I am HONORED to be the FIRST Playwright-In-Residence, for July of 2019, and my play Thoreau/Twain: Brothers on the River was the first show in the Theater space. Clancy played Twain, and our Thoreau was Cory Caswell-an amazing local performer.

John Clancy, and his lovely wife, Nancy Walsh bring with them YEARS of theater experience, including SIX Fringe First Awards from the Edinburgh Fringe and an OBIE. He's one of the few Independent Theater people I know who is legit enough to have a Wikipedia page.  He was able to be a dramaturg for me, as well as offer me comments from an actor's POV. If you ever get a chance to work with this guy, DO IT. His is an amazing world!!

Thoreau/Twain at the Thoreau Society Annual Gathering

I'm happy to report that the performance of Thoreau/Twain: Brothers in the River for the Thoreau Society was a tremendous success.

Brent Rinalli, Tammy Rose and Joel Hersh

The main performers were Brent Rinalli, who has been in and around Concord giving lectures and historical interpreting as Thoreau for the past few years and Joel Hersh, a local actor known for his varied musical ability-played Twain.

The main conceit of the show is that an Academic is trying to summon the spirits of the authors, to have them discuss a major, and underexplored parallel of their lives.  Both of them had a deep relationship with a brother on the river of their childhood, and both of them lost that brother to a sudden event. This happened before either of them began to write-but both found inspiration in their brothers and documented the influences strongly in their writings.

The authors -who had never met in real life- get deep into conversation, about their lives, commonalities they share-and especially their brothers. Most of the text of the play is taken directly from journals, letters and the formal published writings of the authors-and their contemporaries. They argue with each other using their own words and get a chance to recount a major emotional moment in their lives. (No pop-psychology or therapy here-the drama comes directly from their own words and existing texts).

Thanks to the Thoreau Society and to all the amazing and attentive attendees!  Especially those who took pictures and gave me feedback on new areas to explore between the two!

And extra special thanks to my fellow Tourguides who make all the research and the entire experience of Concord SO MUCH FUN!!!