Truman Capote’s A Christmas Memory & One Christmas
SOUTHAMPTON, NY - A twice-in-a-lifetime event is set to unfold again, for the second year, as staged readings of literary icon Truman Capote’s holiday stories will once again bring his iconic voice to life on a Hamptons stage.
Center Stage at Southampton Arts Center will present, again, their critically acclaimed staged readings of Truman Capote’s holiday short stories collection: One Christmas and A Christmas Memory on one November weekend.
“Director Michael Disher’s way of weaving Truman Capote’s words into a production that drew the audience into an attentive trance is yet another feather in his cap of achievements. Also, a “Thanks” to Southampton Arts Center Executive Director Christina Strassfield for greenlighting this most excellent programming.
Susan Cincotta brilliantly plays “Sook,” and in a way, by the end of the evening, she will own the audience playing this role in both acts during two different lifetime periods of Buddy. Her performances in both acts are a master class in acting”. – T.J. Clements, Hamptons.com
“The audience is left breathless, in fact, by the sheer honesty and beauty unfolding on the stage. As Capote begins with his "One Christmas," a holiday marked by a Santa list he created, like so many young boys, we can collectively feel Capote dreaming of that pearl-handled knife, a radio, a box of puzzles — or the pinnacle of a little boy's dreams, a green pedal plane, shiny and ready to soar”.- Lisa Finn, Patch
“Disher has directed masterfully. Seeing Capote's stories brought to life is quite simply the most meaningful holiday show an audience can ever hope to experience. It's a rich gift to share with family, friends, and with yourself, as a reminder of what's important and what we must cherish. There aren't words strong enough to urge audiences to see this show, and see it again. It captures the true meaning of the holidays in a way that will stay in hearts forever.” – Lisa Finn, Patch
Performances of One Christmas and A Christmas Memory will be held on Friday, November 28 at 7 p.m., Saturday, November 29 at 2 p.m. (before the Annual Village Christmas Parade), and 7 p.m. and Sunday, November 30 at 2 p.m.
The Southampton Arts Center is located at 25 Jobs Lane in the village of Southampton, New York 11968.
Produced through special arrangements with and permission granted by The Truman Capote Literary Trust, Center Stage will bring to life the bittersweet, heartwarming and thought-provoking prose written by one of the 20th Century’s greatest and most celebrated American writers, Truman Capote. Set during The Great Depression of the early 1930s, the three 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 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 productions are sponsored in part by Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, LMS Design, SHA and the Yaffa Foundation. Michael Disher directs, with stage management and set design by Joey Giovingo, music by Jack Seabury, lighting and projections by Kenneth Blessing. Production photography is provided by Dane Dupuis, with graphics and posters designed by Tracy Alia. The Center Stage cast includes Daniel Becker, Susan Cincotta, Tom Gregory, Vincenzo James Harty, JoAnna Mincarelli, Franco Pistritto, Jack Seabury and Elizabeth Wyld.
“The Truman Capote Literary Trust was quite agreeable to having Mr. Capote’s short stories presented in an area he once called home. I am pleased and honored to be bringing these stories, in their entirety to the stage,” said Michael Disher. “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,” Disher said.
Christina Strassfield, executive director of Southampton Arts Center added: “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 jumpstart the holiday season again than with these beautiful tales.”