Searching for a Hero in The Autobiography of Thorton J. Wright

A new play written by J.R. Teeter and produced by The Bread and Water Theatre is to be performed in Rochester from Sept. 17 - Oct. 9th.

The Autobiography of Thorton J. Wright, BWT’s fall production, is a full-length play by J.R. Teeter, known for shorter plays such as That Kiss, and the BWT adaptations of The Little Prince and The Yellow Wallpaper.

Autobiography… is centered on the study of the recently deceased Thorton, a social critic whose public persona earned him the nickname Mr. Americana.  His death sparks the arrival of two men with two differing agendas.  For Arthur – a young historian sent to research a book on the late man of letters – Thorton “stood for America.  The kind of America that you can see in Life Magazine and Norman Rockwell pictures.  A time when America had values and believed in something.”  For Stan – The cynical son of privileged parents – Thorton was “Just some guy.  He wrote some books, made some speeches and then he offed himself.”  Constance – Thorton’s young trophy-wife turned widow – soon appears to confirm Thorton’s suicide and adds her own point of view concerning her late husband, “He was a hero to me.”

Thorton’s suicide turns into a slippery slope of discovery as Arthur deconstructs the life of his childhood idol in order to prove the man a hero.  How can a hero give up his aspirations?  Why would a hero divorce his wife and marry a woman that is young enough to be his daughter?  What kind of hero takes his own life?  These are all questions Stan poses to Arthur attempting to shake him of his idealism.  These conflicts persist and create the dramatic tension of Autobiography…

“The question of heroism appears often in the media, especially in an election year,” according to Artistic Director/playwright, J.R. Teeter, “But everyone is flawed in some way.  It is impossible for people to be that perfect – heroic.”

Ultimately, Autobiography… is not about the book Arthur uncovers in his search for heroic proof.  It is about the struggle of three characters and their search for something to believe in.  “We can be heroes if we want to be and we need people to look up to.  We need role models.  People that can show us the way.  Thorton is that to me and I’ll never stop believing in him,” speaks Arthur near Autobiography’s… end.

The cast includes: Stephanie Roosa (Constance), Bryan Adams (Arthur) and J.R. Teeter (Stan).  Ms. Roosa has appeared in Exact Theatre Company’s The Balcony, Arden Conservatory’s As You Like It, Penfield Player’s Peril on the High Sea and Hartburn Hotel, Blackfriar’s Elephant Man, and is making her BWT debut.  The other two have appeared at BWT before.  Mr. Adams was in That Kiss and Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake, produced as part of BWT’s Rainbow Theater Festival, Mr. Teeter BWT’s Artistic Director and company member was most recently seen in Rainbow Theater Festival’s One Act Play and Lambda Project: An Empty Closet.     

The creative team consists of Associate Director and Company member Carl Girard (Director), J.R. Teeter (Lighting Design) and Kate Sherman (Stage Manager).  Mr. Girard previously directed That Kiss and Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake for BWT’s Rainbow Theater Festival. 

Founded in 2000, Bread & Water Theatre is committed to making the arts accessible and affordable to a broad-based audience and acting as a positive agent of change in its community.  Under the artistic direction of J.R. Teeter, BWT develops theatre that speaks to our living, evolving, and dramatically-changing world through new works of drama, original adaptations of classic texts, rejuvenation of rare plays and aspires to be a major force in American theatre, providing audiences with challenging contemporary drama and innovative community outreach programs.    

The Autobiography of Thorton J. Wright will be presented by Bread & Water Theatre at New Life Presbyterian Church located at 243 Rosedale Street beginning September 17th and running through to October 9th, 2004.  Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 pm.  Single tickets range from $10-$15 and may be purchased in person at the Bread & Water Theatre box office or through forms available at http://www.BreadandWaterTheatre.org.  For more information, call (585) 538-2105.