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
03.16.2022 FL, Boca Raton
03.17.2022 FL, Vero Beach
03.18.2022 FL, Ponte Vedra Beach
03.21.2022 - 03.22.2022 CA, Santa Monica
03.24.2022 AZ, Phoenix
03.25.2022 NM, Albuquerque
03.26.2022 CO, Denver
03.27.2022 CO, Fort Collins
04.14.2022 OH, Cincinnati
04.15.2022 MI, Traverse City
04.29.2022 NY, Albany
05.27.2022 NS, Dartmouth
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
Hey now, sorry about this… Audio and Video downloads are not yet available. For immediate needs, contact Pertz or click Media for approved streams on YouTube, SoundCloud, etc.
Label
429 Records Inc.(310)451-0451
inquiries2@slgmusicus.com
Featured Media
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