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, followed in 2018 by his “audiobiography” Years In The Making, a 2-CD retrospective featuring orphaned album cuts, live recordings, radio appearances, home demos, and more.
Video
FORMATS
Standard Performance
One-man theatrical hybrid of pulp, picture, and song starring Loudon Wainwright III.
ITINERARY
01.18.2019 - 01.19.2019 CA, Santa Monica
01.20.2019 CA, Berkeley
01.22.2019 CA, Sacramento
01.23.2019 WA, Mount Vernon
01.24.2019 BC, Vancouver
01.25.2019 AB, St. Albert
02.02.2019 PA, Phoenixville
02.24.2019 VA, Manassas
02.28.2019 OH, Kent
03.01.2019 MI, Ann Arbor
03.02.2019 OH, Cincinnati
03.15.2019 NY, New York
03.22.2019 NY, Auburn
03.23.2019 PA, Jim Thorpe
03.28.2019 RI, East Greenwich
03.29.2019 VT, Randolph
03.30.2019 NY, Saratoga Springs
05.16.2019 MA, Boston
05.18.2019 IA, Iowa City
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.
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Label
429 Records Inc.(310)451-0451
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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” on Netflix November 13, 2018. Watch Trailer