Center Stage at Southampton Arts Center continues its Long Island premiere staged readings of Truman Capote’s holiday short stories with “One Christmas” and “A Christmas Memory” over Thanksgiving weekend.
Performances of “One Christmas” and “A Christmas Memory” will be offered Friday, November 29, at 2 p.m., Saturday, November 30, at 2 p.m. (before the annual Southampton Village Christmas parade) and 7 p.m., and Sunday, December 1, at 2 p.m. The staged readings began with Capote’s “The Thanksgiving Visitor” which was presented at SAC from November 15 to 17.
“The response to ‘The Thanksgiving Visitor’ was more than we could have ever expected,” said Center Stage founder Michael Disher, who directs the readings. “Brilliant prose presented simply and craftily by this ensemble of skilled local actors brought to life the tender youth of a young man during a tumultuous time in American history.”
Produced through special arrangements with and permission granted by The Truman Capote Literary Trust, Center Stage is bringing to life the bittersweet, heartwarming and thought-provoking prose written by Truman Capote, one of the 20th century’s greatest and most celebrated American writers. Set during the Great Depression of the early 1930s, the tales are based largely upon Capote’s youth in rural Alabama and focus on young Buddy and his lovingly eccentric cousin, Sook. Together, through two consecutive Christmases, Buddy and Sook learn much about honesty, love, loss and enduring friendship.
In “One Christmas,” young Buddy spends the holiday away from his Alabama family and in New Orleans with his rarely seen father. “A Christmas Memory” is Capote’s love letter to his elderly cousin, Sook, who raised him and taught him much about kindness, sharing and forever.
“The Truman Capote Literary Trust was quite agreeable to having Mr. Capote’s short stories presented in an area he once called home. After negotiations were met and guidelines established, the trust granted permission. I am pleased and honored to be bringing these stories, in their entirety to the stage,” Disher said. “It is the hope of the trust that interest in reading these stories is renewed. In many areas, ‘A Christmas Memory’ was once required reading in many schools.”
Christina Strassfield, SAC’s executive director, stated, “We look forward to our second season and holiday collaboration with Center Stage at Southampton Arts Center. We can think of no better way to jump start the holiday season than with these beautiful tales.”
The Center Stage cast includes Patrick Abillama, Susan Cincotta, Tom Gregory, Vincenzo Harty, Joanna Mincarelli, Franco Pistritto, Jack Seabury, Richard Schindler, Mary Sabo Scopinich. Stage management and set design is by Joey Giovingo. Lighting and sound is by Kenneth Blessing. Projections and music by Jack Seabury. Production photography by Dane Dupuis. Graphics, program and posters designed by Tracy Alia.
Tickets are $20 ($15 for SAC members) at southamptonartscenter.org. The Southampton Arts Center is located at 25 Jobs Lane in Southampton.
Staff Writer on Nov 21, 2024