As a way of introduction to the play, we thought it would be good to include a little backstory on Truman Garcia Capote. He was born in New Orleans in 1929 as Truman Strekfus Persons. When his parents divorced, he was sent to live with 3 maiden aunts and bachelor uncles. When his mother remarried, his surname was changed to Capote.
Jeff Gurner (Truman Capote)
TRU
Although small in stature (5 foot 3 inches), he was a larger-than-life personality. He started writing at the age of 8 and his prodigious career took him on an odyssey as a novelist, screenwriter, playwright, and actor, before his death in Los Angeles in 1984.
A few of his many celebrated works include Other Voices, Other Rooms (1948), Breakfast At Tiffany’s (1958), and In Cold Blood (1966). He was a lifelong friend of the writer Harper Lee (To Kill A Mockingbird), celebrities, and with the social doyennes of high society who considered him a friend and confident providing him with an insider’s view into their homes and their world.
Jeff Gurner (Truman Capote)
TRU
With Covid-restrictions still in place, the Music Theatre of Connecticut had two options available for patrons to experience the play, limited in-person tickets or via Livestream. We saw the play on the evening of Saturday, April 24, 2021 via Livestream.
Jeff Gurner (Truman Capote)
TRU
The play focuses on Truman’s life the week before Christmas 1975 and takes place at his New York City apartment overlooking the United Nations. During the course of the play, we learned that his troubles began in 1966 when Truman signed an agreement with his publisher for another book, a novel entitled Answered Prayers, that he was to deliver by 1968. With the eve of the success of his book, In Cold Blood, not far behind, he missed the new novel’s deliverable deadline. By 1971, he still had not completed the book. As a show of faith that he indeed was still working on the book, he sold Esquire magazine the rights to publish excerpts from 4 of the chapters. The first excerpt was published in July 1975, and the second in November 1975. By the week before Christmas, Truman, the man who had affectionately been known as "Tru" to his friends, was now a social pariah, as the characters in the book came across as thinly disguised versions of many of his friends who recognized themselves or their friends in his portrayal. The man who previously was invited everywhere, knew everyone, and lived everywhere, was now suddenly alone.
Jeff Gurner (Truman Capote)
TRU
Jeff Gurner, whom we had previously seen in other MTC performances (It’s A Wonderful Life A Live Radio Play, Ragtime The Musical) excels in his performance as Truman Capote, bringing humor as well as pathos to the role. Bravo!
TRU performance schedule: April 23 – May 9, 2021, Fridays at 8:00 pm, Saturdays at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 2:00 pm. Runtime is 1 hour 45 minutes including a short intermission. Tickets available via Live Stream on In-Person.
Until next time, keep enjoying and supporting the arts!
Cast:
|
Jeff Gurner
|
Truman Capote
|
The Creative Team:
|
Jay Presson Allen
|
Playwright
|
|
Kevin Connors
|
Director
|
|
Jim Schilling
|
Stage Manager
|
|
Lindsay Fuori
|
Scenic Design
|
|
Diane Vanderkroef
|
Costume Design
|
|
RJ Romeo
|
Lighting Design
|
|
Will Atkin
|
Sound Design
|
|
Sean Sanford
|
Prop Design
|
|
Bobbie Pinz
|
Costume Design
|
For information on the play, upcoming plays, or to purchase tickets, please call the box office at +1-203-454-3883 or visit them on the website at www.MusicTheatreofCT.com
Upcoming Performances – 2020 – 2021
|
2021 Season
|
Dates Running
|
|
|
|
|
TRU
|
April 23 – May 9, 2021
|
|
Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story
|
July 15 – August 1, 2021
|
About MTC
"Music Theatre of Connecticut is the premier provider of musical theatre performance and training. Founded in 1987, we produce an annual series of Equity productions featuring New York professionals (MTC MainStage), numerous annual student productions, and a conservatory-style School of Performing Arts with curriculum-based training for students ages four through high school, including the nationally-recognized College-Bound in the Performing Arts program for performance career-focused high school students."
The Music Theatre of Connecticut (MTC) was founded in 1987 by Kevin Connors (Artistic Director and Co-Founder) and Jim Schilling (Co-Founder), where MTC’s focus is musical theatre performance and training.
Music Theatre of Connecticut
509 Westport Avenue
(Enter the Bright Beginnings parking lot and look for MTC’s orange awning)
Norwalk, Connecticut 06851
United States
Box Office: +1-203-454-3883
Fax: +1-203-557-0496
Website: www.MusicTheatreofCT.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MusicTheatreCT/?ref=br_tf
Instagram: @musictheatrect
Twitter: @musictheatrect
Follow the Music Theatre of Connecticut on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MusicTheatreCT
Follow Luxury Experience on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/LuxuryExperience to see photos and videos.
Follow Luxury Experience on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/luxurypair @luxurypair
Follow Luxury Experience on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/luxurypair @luxurypair
© April 2021. Luxury Experience www.LuxuryExperience.com. All rights reserved.
