With over 14 million copies sold, Tuesdays with Morrie stands among the most popular and most read books in the world. What makes Mitch Albom’s memoir of the days he shared with his dying former professor Morrie Schwartz so enduringly popular? Perhaps it’s because, as Morrie suggests, when it comes to “that last journey into the great unknown… most people want to know what to pack.” The universality of death, mourning, and searching for a meaning, all wrapped in a story of growth and redemption, help explain why Albom’s book has found such a broad audience. 

Mitch Albom, a successful sports reporter, is drawn to reconnect with his old sociology professor when he learns on Nightline that Morrie Schwartz  has ALS, also called Lou Gehrig’s Disease. What’s initially intended as a one-time visit by Mitch—uncomfortable with Morrie’s “touchy-feely” tendencies and frank mentions of death—grows into recurring meetings, always on Tuesdays, where the pair discuss purpose, regrets, life, and death. 

‘Tuesdays with Morrie’ lives up to its reputation as a crowd-pleaser … and continues to dampen cheeks and warm hearts.

Like the book on which it’s based, its longevity and wide-spread popularity reflect the uncontroversial nature of its offerings. Avoiding politics, Morrie and Mitch’s conversations offer popular insights like the value of quality time with love ones over professional ladder-climbing, or exalting the joy and meaning of parenthood. One piece of advice—to always forgive others for everything, period—perhaps reflects the blindspots of two well-off and well-educated older white men, who never encountered a transgression they could not surmount. Despite subject matters that could easily become preachy and saccharine, the comedic touches pull chuckles and release tension from the audience without breaking the momentum. 

Even the cynical among us may need tissues, not only for the inevitable and somber ending, but for the memories it brings up in those of us who have watched a loved one slowly succumb to disease or regret the moments we wasted with lost friends and family.  The perfect play to reflect upon family prior to Thanksgiving. 

(excerpts from. Charlotte Selton's review)

TOWN PLAYERS OF NEW CANAAN - HISTORY OF THE POWERHOUSE THEATRE

In 1979, the original Power House to the Waveny Estate, located in what is now Waveny Park, stood empty and purposeless, falling prey to vandalism and deterioration. At the same time, the Town Players of New Canaan were looking for a home, a place to store costumes, build sets and perform. It was a perfect match that the abandoned building and the homeless Town Players should come together. The task of restoring the powerhouse and converting it to a theater, however, was a monumental undertaking and required serious fundraising and the efforts of hundreds of volunteers over a three-year period.  The result is a intimate 115-seat theater for the community to enjoy.

Since opening in 1983, the Town Players of New Canaan at the Powerhouse Theatre has performed hundreds of productions, staged readings, special events, theater educational classes and workshops, run children’s programs, etc., and is still going strong.  During Covid, we had a few months to step back and re-evaluate, and we decided it was time to come back even better!  In working again with the Town of New Canaan, we will be doubling the size of our lobby, updating to current ADA compliant restrooms, and hopefully establishing the additional Shed Theatre on the property to expand our theater education program, and well as providing a black-box theater for unique and intriguing productions.

The Town Players of New Canaan is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit community theater now in our 77th Year.  Established in 1946, we moved from place to place until finding our forever home.  We hope you will join us in your support of the new Powerhouse Performing Arts Center.

Visit TPNC.ORG