A solo piece many years in the making, Surviving Twin is what the singer-songwriter calls a “posthumous collaboration” with his writer father. Part concert, part dramatic reading, part family slide-show, it is a hybrid theatrical form consisting mainly of songs written by Loudon III, along with readings of magazine columns written by his late father, Loudon Jr., and photographs that span four generations of the Wainwright clan. Despite a troubled past in this father-son relationship, Loudon III has carefully chosen, arranged and rehearsed these pieces, taking the best of his own and linking them with samples of his father’s best
Surviving Twin
Intro
A solo piece many years in the making, Surviving Twin is what the singer-songwriter calls a “posthumous collaboration” with his writer father. Part concert, part dramatic reading, part family slide-show, it is a hybrid theatrical form consisting mainly of songs written by Loudon III, along with readings of magazine columns written by his late father, Loudon Jr., and photographs that span four generations of the Wainwright clan. Despite a troubled past in this father-son relationship, Loudon III has carefully chosen, arranged and rehearsed these pieces, taking the best of his own and linking them with samples of his father’s best self, then bringing them to a polish with the help of director Joseph Haj and UNC Playmakers Rep.
Loudon Wainwright, Jr. (1924-1988) was most widely known as an editor and columnist for LIFE. In 1963 he started the magazine’s first personal column “The View From Here” which, despite interruptions, he was still writing up until his death. In 1988 Charles Champlin, then The Los Angeles Times Arts Editor wrote, “The column was always a pleasing paradox, a self revealing and even confessional voice, thoughtful, concerned and unpretentious amid the grandeurs of photo journalism.”
Loudon Wainwright III (b. 1946) has carved out a distinguished career as one of our most original singer-songwriters, a six-string diarist with material that is by turns, tongue-in-cheek, tender, sarcastic, heart-wrenching, and always deeply personal. Along the way, he’s released over twenty albums, won a Grammy, acted in film and TV, and had his songs recorded by artists including Johnny Cash, Mose Allison, Bonnie Raitt, and his own son, Rufus Wainwright. In October of 2020, Loudon unveiled the album I’d Rather Lead A Band in which he is featured as a vocalist with Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks. The 14 -song collection of classic songs from the 1920s and ‘30s was widely acclaimed. During the pandemic, Wainwright has produced a number of virtual shows, including “The Special Relationship” (presented by the Royal Albert Hall) and “The Great Unknown”, his musical tribute to his friend the late George Gerdes. Also featured in that show were Richard Thompson, Suzanne Vega, Steve Forbert, and the members of Spinal Tap. In 2015 Loudon Wainwright received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in Cardiff.
Video
FORMATS
Standard Performance
One-man theatrical hybrid of pulp, picture, and song starring Loudon Wainwright III.
ITINERARY
07.16.2022 NY, Amagansett
08.30.2022 NY, New York
09.01.2022 PA, Philadelphia
10.04.2022 OR, Portland
10.05.2022 WA, Seattle
10.07.2022 CA, Berkeley
10.08.2022 CA, Auburn
10.09.2022 CA, Novato
10.26.2022 CT, Old Saybrook
11.05.2022 PA, Pittsburgh
02.03.2023 - 02.04.2023 CA, Northridge
02.05.2023 CA, Palm Desert
04.19.2023 MN, Minneapolis
04.20.2023 WI, Stoughton
05.10.2023 OH, Columbus
05.11.2023 OH, Findlay
05.12.2023 MI, Ann Arbor
PROMO ASSETS
Documents
> “The Principle Ghost: Thoughts on Loudon Wainwright III’s ‘Surviving Twin'” (by Mark Perry, Dramaturg/ PlayMakers Repertory Company) | PDF
> Artist Bio (rev. 9/2021) | PDF | DOC
> Press Reviews | PDF
Images
< Surviving Twin/Netflix Key Artwork | ZIP
Media
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Label
429 Records Inc.(310)451-0451
inquiries2@slgmusicus.com
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Reviews
London Evening Standard
"*****( 5 stars) - Wise and witty, funny and sad, Surviving Twin is an inspired investigation into the complicated, conflicted relationships between fathers and sons. Read Review
Los Angeles Times
"Wainwright is unsparing, on himself and the others he references in this stabbingly funny, deeply moving piece." Read Review
The New York Times
"Surviving Twin, a bristling, acerbic, ultimately affecting family album of a show." Read Review
Judd Apatow & Christopher Guest release Netflix Special
Filmed live in N. Hollywood at the Historic El Portal Theatre, executive producer Judd Apatow and director Christopher Guest premiere Loudon Wainwright III’s special “Surviving Twin” available only on Netflix. Watch Trailer