1st-Ever Staged Readings Of Truman Capote's Holiday Stories On LI Soon

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — A beloved local director is breathing life, for the first time on Long Island, into an iconic author's holiday stories.

Michael Disher will be bringing staged readings of Truman Capote’s holiday story collection to a Hamptons stage — especially fitting, since the East End is a place where Capote spent many years and where, in fact, he found a final resting place.

Center Stage at Southampton Arts Center will present the Long Island premiere staged readings of Truman Capote’s holiday short story collection: "The Thanksgiving Visitor", "One Christmas" and "A Christmas Memory" on two separate November weekends.

The stories speak of family, of childhood memories, of home — and where better to see new life breathed into his rich words than in a place that called to him and had such deep meaning?

Performances of "The Thanksgiving Visitor" will be held on Friday, November 15 at 7 p.m., Saturday, November 16 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday, November 17 at 2 p.m. Performances of "One Christmas" and "A Christmas Memory" will be held on Friday, November 30 at 2 p.m. (before the Annual Village Christmas Parade), Saturday, November 30 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 1 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 one Thanksgiving and two Christmases, Buddy and Sook learn much about honesty, love, loss and enduring friendship.

"The Thanksgiving Visitor" focuses on young Buddy and his reluctance to invite a classmate to his family’s annual Thanksgiving dinner. 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.

Michael Disher directs, with stage management and set design by Joey Giovingo, and projections and music by Jack Seabury. Production photography is provided by Dane Dupuis, with graphics and posters designed by Tracy Alia. The Center Stage cast includes Patrick Abillama, Daniel Becker, Susan Cincotta, Rori Finazzo, Tom Gregory, Vincenzo James Harty, Franco Pistritto, Jack Seabury, Michaal Lyn Schepps, Richard Schindler, Mary Sabo Scopinich.

"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 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 than with these beautiful tales."

Speaking with Patch, Disher explained how the idea for the project was born.

"For years now, I've been on the lookout for holiday pieces that are not only theatrical but touching. My 'go-to' for the past 10 or 11 years has been radio shows, specifically Joe Landry's radio adaptations of several titles. This year I wanted something different, a story or stories that did not necessarily involve neatly resolved happy endings."

Years, ago, Disher read 'A Christmas Memory' and said he "somehow, stumbled upon the television version starring Patty Duke. I loved it; however, reading the actual short story again I realized that there was a depth and resonance that was missing."

In his heart, Disher knew the work would adapt beautifully to the stage. "I found a video of a musical version of 'A Christmas Memory 'that had been staged by Irish Rep, perhaps 10 years ago. It wasn't an easy search trying to find who held the rights to this version, but all efforts eventually lead me to the Truman Capote Literary Trust."

One of the reasons the trust was willing to grant permission to Disher to present not just one, but all three, of Capote's holiday stories was because of the author's association with and attachment to the East End, Disher said.

"He and his longtime partner, Jack Dunphy, owned homes in Sagaponack. They apparently lived separately but their homes were on the same property," Disher said.

He added: "Capote's infamy was not specific to Manhattan. He was quite the colorful raconteur here on the East End. Bobby Van's was a particular favorite of his."

Even still, the road was long to be granted the rights to the stories, Disher said. "Initially, I was denied the rights to perform the musical version. I thought that was the end — a dead end. I wrote the trust and simply stated that it was a shame these beautiful stories were not a part of the holiday lexicon. The trust wrote me back and said that it was possible, with restrictions, to license readings of Mr. Capote's holiday stories. Negotiations ensued with the one ironclad stipulation that not one word of the story could be altered, reimagined or deleted. The task was to take these beautiful stories, in their entirety, and make them stage worthy."

The stories resonated, Disher said. "Not every gift is wrapped in pretty paper and gold ribbon. Some of the greatest gifts we can ever receive are so subtle — yet touching and life-altering. These are the gifts that do not come with a receipt, for they will never be returned. These gifts remain with us for a lifetime and only increase in worth and value. I think these stories will stay with me far longer than I could ever anticipate."

Disher said he has learned lessons about himself, through breathing life into Capote's holiday collection. "I've gained a higher respect for his works and his writing. I spent the summer rereading many of his books, listening to his excellent way of telling stories. In my opinion, he is a masterful storyteller. What have I learned about myself? I think, has a director, one must have a solid understanding of the writer’s voice. Without that, any attempt whatsoever to stage their words with any integrity or validity will prove perilous and false."

There are messages that Disher hopes to impart to audiences through Capote's work, especially during the holiday season. "Again, gifts are not just packages. Understanding is a gift. Honesty is a gift. Truth is a gift. Loss, though painful, can bring us to that gift of higher understanding. All these stories are reflections by Mr. Capote and of his life and learning. And I do think learning is the greatest gift anyone ever can receive, on any day. During the holiday season, perhaps greater."

One weekend, in particular, promises to a cornucopia of holiday experiences in Southampton, with the annual Paraade of Lights, followed by the tree lighting in Agawam Park and a fireworks display, taking place on November 30 and beginning at 4:30 p.m.

"I certainly hope that patrons, parade participants, residents, community members, and anyone who loves the idea of a complete day of holiday spirit consider attending either the 2 p.m. show on November 30, before the parade and enjoy the parade and festivities afterward, or that people come to the parade. enjoy a dinner locally in Southampton — there are many options — and complete their holiday Saturday by attending the 7 p.m. show of 'One Christmas' and 'A Christmas Memory,'" Disher said. "What a way to kick off the holiday season! What a way to end of the month of November!"

He pointed out that on the schedule, there's also a matinee at 2 p.m. on Friday, November 29.

"For those who do not enjoy the crowds at Black Friday sales, perhaps a matinee is a kinder alternative," he said. "'One Christmas' and 'A Christmas Memory' close on Sunday, December 1. The 2 p.m. matinee will have, in my opinion, successfully brought Mr. Capote’s stories to life on the stage, perhaps inspired many to read the actual stories, and kick off what I hope is a most joyous and peaceful holiday season."

This year's holiday production is unlike any other, Disher said. "Previous holiday shows have all been scripted. Prose is such a different animal from dialogue. Prose paints, so actually working on these shows is like working in a different medium altogether. Dialogue, as we know, carries the story in a script. Prose, however, paints with descriptions and those descriptions become the scenery, the background, the back stories of the characters. If there is a main character within any of these pieces, I would say it is the prose."

Disher, known on Long Island for 40-plus hears of teaching and directing at LIU Southampton College and the Avram Theater, East Hampton High School, the Gateway Playhouse, the Southampton Cultural Center and the Southampton Arts Center, is a veritable institution, a bright light who's led the way for generations of young actors and delighted audiences for decades.

As the director of the Avram Theater, he helmed more than 4o productions and produced and staged events that included readings of plays by John Guare, Chris Durang, Edwin Meyer and Roger Rosenblatt with Dianne Wiest, Mercedes Ruehl, Jane Pauley, Kathleen Turner, Roy Scheider, Matt McGrath and Elaine Stritch — and evenings with Alec Baldwin, Alan Alda and Mel Brooks and Ann Bancroft.

He faced a daunting personal challenge in recent years after being diagnosed with brain cancer and becoming temporarily paralyzed. But his inner grit, fortitude and grace have led his recovery journey and in 2021, he returned to the stage on the East End, filling the hearts of those who love him with immeasurable joy.

His own health journey has made the holidays especially meaningful, Disher said. "I never take a single day or holiday for granted. For all of us, some days are better than others, but the holidays remain very special to me. I think this is my 10th or 11th year of presenting holiday shows in Southampton and I always look forward to doing these shows. I guess it is a personal commitment that I have to Southampton, and a thank you for all the support that I've received for 42 years in this town — at our still beloved Southampton College, at Southampton Cultural Center and now at Southampton Arts Center."

If he could speak to Capote, Disher knows exactly what he'd say: "I would say 'Thank you. Thank you for giving us these truly touching and heartfelt pages of your past.'"