ALBANY, NY — Harbinger Theater’s fifth season is starting off strong with our first one-man show, A Distant Country Called Youth by Steve Lawson — adapted from the early letters of Tennessee Williams, one of America’s greatest playwrights and the winner of two Pulitzer Prizes.
This is Harbinger’s 20th production and 19th Capital Region premiere and making her directorial debut with us, will be Linda Shirey. The leading man starring in our first one-man show? Our very own co-founder, Patrick White! Performances will be held at The Mopco Improv Theatre in Schenectady from April 24 through May 3, with a FREE preview on April 23.
“As director of A Distant Country Called Youth, I’ve had the unique opportunity to explore and witness the journey that Tennessee Williams took to becoming an iconic American playwright,” Shirey said. “What an extraordinary experience for one and all to be touched by the actual letters that Williams wrote to all who contributed to his artistry. The letters — filled with adventures, hopes, dreams, and failures — mirror the life of a man trapped in his own personal drama. He masterfully escaped his story by creating the masterpieces that are still exciting audiences today. Thank you, Tennessee Williams, for your letters — a beautiful gift that we are fortunate to share with you.”
Spanning the twenty-five years from boyhood to the opening of The Glass Menagerie, this one-man show evokes the evolution of an American genius through his extraordinary correspondence with family, friends, lovers, and other writers. Hilarious, raunchy, and poetic in turn, the piece spotlights these fairly obscure years in William’s life. Here is a young Thomas Lanier Williams growing up, exploring, and finding his artistic voice as Tennessee Williams.
This production is a fully staged, off-book performance of the letters where the actor will create scenes with his correspondents: his mother, his sister Rose, grandparents, the great love of his life Kip Kiernan, his agent Audrey Wood, Harold Clurman, William Saroyan and many, many others.
Creating a Challenging Opportunity
“I have loved Tennessee Williams since I read The Glass Menagerie, the first play I ever read in Mr. Marhafer’s 10th-grade Creative Writing class at Colonie High School over 45 years ago. It is what made me become an actor,” White said. “Last year, I felt the personal need to return to his glorious writing to stoke the fires of my love for theater. We were being denied performance rights and affordable venues for our new season. So, I created this opportunity — out of great necessity — to immerse myself in his words, life, inspiration, and fabulous creations.”
To go along with the theme of the show, we will have a Southern Charm Reception on Saturday, April 25 at 6:30 p.m., before the show. This will be your chance to mingle and swap stories of your favorite Tennessee performances and enjoy Southern treats like deviled eggs, pecan pie, and lemonade. Shows will be held on April 24-25 and May 1-2 at 7:30 p.m., as well as April 26 and May 3 at 2:00 p.m. The Mopco Improv Theatre is located at 10 N Jay St, Schenectady, 12305. Tickets can be purchased on Harbinger’s website here, tickets are $15.
Why see a Harbinger show? Why not?! We are coming off an exceptionally strong year where three of our shows (At the Wedding, Deep Blue Sound, and Swing State) received Best of the Year awards from Berkshire On Stage, The Daily Gazette, The Saratogian, and The Troy Record. We also received our first two Berkie Awards! The Berkshire Theater Critics Association awarded Tony Pallone for Outstanding Supporting Actor, and Chris Foster was awarded Outstanding Director, both for Deep Blue Sound.
Do you wish you could pre-pay for all Harbinger Theatre shows for the whole year? The company will now offer a Flex Subscription, which means this is your opportunity to get four tickets for $50! The Flex Subscription can be used interchangeably, as you have the choice to use them all for a party to experience a single show or indulge in four plays you’ve never witnessed before!
$50 Flex Subscriptions are available by emailing harbingertheatrealbany@gmail.com or making a Venmo payment to @HarbingerTheatre.
Performances
4/23 FREE Preview 7:30
4/24 Show & Talkback 7:30
4/25 Southern Charm Reception 6:30, Show 7:30
4/26 Matinee 2pm
5/1 Show & Talkback 7:30
5/2 Show 7:30
5/3 Matinee 2pm
The Mopco Improv Theatre
10 N Jay Street
Schenectady, NY 12305