![]() ![]() Clockwise from rear right, David Amram with Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso, Larry Rivers and Jack Kerouac. ![]() Then another four amazing actors - John Ventimiglia, John Doman, Kevin Corrigan and Stephanie Berry - also signed on, without hesitation. Then an old colleague of mine - the great playwright and screenwriter Jose Rivera - who had written the screenplay for the 2012 “On the Road” movie based on the book, immediately and excitedly agreed to participate, much to my surprise. I teach acting at HB Studio, and asked three incredible artists who also teach there - the actors Mercedes Ruehl, Marsha Mason and actor/playwright Dael Orlandersmith - to join our cast. And this would take place at the Strand Book Store, where Kerouac was known to have read his work. I was told that the legendary David Amram, who had played music behind Kerouac when he read from the book 65 years ago, would do the same for our production with his current quartet (which includes his son Adam). My thought for the reading was to get a group of diverse artists together, to read this novel from 1957. The two experiences melded in what was, thankfully, a beautiful experience, that resonates with me still. Probably because 37 years ago, while reading the book for a course at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, I happened to try, for the first - and only - time, LSD. ![]() BY DAVID DEBLINGER | When the organizers of The Village Trip arts festival asked me to direct a reading of excerpts from “On the Road,” by Jack Kerouac, I got so excited. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |