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) is a singer- songwriter, actor and published author. He has recorded over 26 albums including the 2010 Grammy Award winning High, Wide, & Handsome. Critic Stephen Holden of The New York Times writes, “[Loudon III] wrings more truth out of his contradiction than any other songwriter of his generation.” As an actor he has appeared on TV (M.A.S.H., Ally Mc-Beal, Undeclared), in movies (Big Fish, The Aviator, Knocked Up), on Broadway (Pump Boys & Dinettes), and Off-Broadway (Hot Lunch Apostles). In 2017 Penguin/Randomhouse released his new autobiographical memoir, Liner Notes.
Video
FORMATS
Standard Performance
One-man theatrical hybrid of pulp, picture, and song starring Loudon Wainwright III.
ITINERARY
08.19.2018 MA, North Truro
09.22.2018 CO, Loveland
09.23.2018 CO, Denver
09.24.2018 AZ, Phoenix
09.27.2018 CA, Solana Beach
09.29.2018 CA, Thousand Oaks
09.30.2018 OR, Portland
10.01.2018 WA, Seattle
10.07.2018 NY, New York
10.17.2018 KS, Lawrence
10.19.2018 LA, Baton Rouge
10.20.2018 TX, Tomball
10.21.2018 TX, Austin
10.27.2018 NH, Plymouth
10.28.2018 MA, Rockport
10.31.2018 MN, Minneapolis
11.01.2018 WI, Stoughton
11.02.2018 WI, Oshkosh
11.03.2018 IL, Evanston
11.08.2018 MA, Boston
11.09.2018 MA, Northampton
11.10.2018 NY, Troy
11.30.2018 NJ, South Orange
12.01.2018 NY, Mamaroneck
12.02.2018 NY, Port Washington
01.22.2019 CA, Sacramento
01.23.2019 WA, Mount Vernon
01.25.2019 AB, St. Albert
03.22.2019 NY, Auburn
03.29.2019 VT, Randolph
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. 4/2016) | PDF | DOC
> Press Reviews | PDF
Program notes, reviews, etc. coming soon. For immediate needs, contact Pertz.
Images
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 Times (London)
"Extraordinary and wildly original, a hybrid of songs, spoken-word, solo theatre, and home movie footage." Read Review
The New York Times
"Surviving Twin, a bristling, acerbic, ultimately affecting family album of a show." Read Review
The Hollywood Reporter
"Surviving Twin displays a moving love and respect, tinged with sharp-edged observations, from one generation for another. Alternately poignant and bittersweet (it) is both a moving homage and a pointed musical meditation on the complexities of familial relationships." Read Review
DCMetroTheaterArts.com Review
"Surviving Twin will have you enjoying Wainwright’s honest and tender storytelling, engaging vocals, and impressive musicianship, while reflecting on your own treasured remembrances or unresolved conflicts with the ghosts that haunt you. I cannot recommend this show highly enough." Read Review