Theatre Workshop of Owensboro will present “Mark Twain Here!” — a one-man performance starring veteran actor Kelley Elder as the well-known American humorist — in a special three-day engagement May 2-4 at TWO’s Trinity Centre.
Elder, who has been portraying Twain for more than 50 years, will bring the famed author to life using Twain’s own words — drawing from his novels, short stories, essays, speeches, and non-fiction writing.
Elder portrays Twain at age 72, near the end of the writer’s life. Twain — born Samuel Clemens — spent time as a riverboat pilot, journalist, miner, foreign correspondent, lecturer, and bestselling author. He lived in various U.S. states as well as abroad, traveling the world and gaining international fame. His pen name, “Mark Twain,” refers to a riverboat term meaning “safe water.”
Twain’s personal life was marked by loss, having outlived his wife, son, and two of his three daughters before his death in 1910 at age 74.
“My goal, as an actor, is to make the audience feel like they have gotten to know Twain a little bit. He was a very complex man,” Elder said. “At the same time, the audience will discover that Twain is a lot funnier than they might have thought.”
Elder first performed as Twain in 1973 and has since delivered the performance hundreds of times across the U.S. and Europe. He said the transformation process takes up to two hours, though that’s changed over time.
“As I have gotten older, the makeup does not take as long as it used to,” he said.
The performance aims to be entertaining rather than academic.
“This is not an academic exercise or a literature lesson,” Elder said. “Instead, it is an evening with a true American character who is funny, entertaining, insightful, and very human.”
The staging is intentionally simple, reflecting how Twain himself appeared on the lecture circuit. The show is suitable for all ages and families.
“We are so appreciative of Kelley Elder and his longtime support of Theatre Workshop of Owensboro,” said Board President Lisa Mingus-Tullis. “Mr. Elder is an impressive actor, and his portrayal of Mark Twain is an authentic and inspiring performance. I urge you to not miss this limited engagement — a great night of theatre enjoyment while supporting TWO.”
Tickets are $20 and are available by calling the Theatre Workshop of Owensboro Box Office at 270-683-5333. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. on May 2 and 3 and 2 p.m. on May 4. Doors open 30 minutes before curtain at the Trinity Centre, 407 West 5th Street in Owensboro.
All proceeds from the event will benefit the Theatre Workshop of Owensboro’s mission and ongoing programs.
