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The Tragedian
created & performed by
Rodney Lee Rogers
directed by Peter Karapetkov
LOOK
Image Gallery by Red Shutter Studio
READ
Charleston City Paper Piccolo 2008 preview
Learn more about PURE Historical
The Tragedian is the debut production for PURE Historical. Penned by PURE cofounder and playwright in residence Rodney Lee Rogers (Killing Chickens) and directed by Peter Karapetkov (The Pillowman and Thom Pain (based on nothing)), this one-man tour de force is a breathtaking and explosive portrait of Edwin Booth, one of the most brilliant theatrical artists in history, arguably the greatest American actor of the 19th century, and the older brother of Lincoln assassin (and actor) John Wilkes Booth.
Charleston City Paper city pick of The Tragedian:
“Rodney Lee Rogers refers to Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth as the Brad Pitt of 19th century American theatre. Though not as infamous, his older brother, Edwin Booth, is more akin to Daniel Day-Lewis. The actor—argued by some to be the greatest American actor of the 19th century—specialized in tragedies, namely Shakespeare’s Hamlet, which he spent much of his life performing. PURE cofounder Rogers wrote and stars in The Tragedian, a one man show. He describes the writing process as a sort of editing/writing/DJing combination utilizing old letters and other historical documents to really get a sense of Edwin’s character. Particularly interesting are the parallels between his own life and his performances of Hamlet, and how they influenced each other as the years progressed. Peter Karapetkov directs.” —Erica Jackson, Charleston City Paper
PURE Theatre is a small professional theatre producing the work of contemporary playwrights with specific interest in new plays. PURE has been continually praised for its commitment to quality and unyielding drive for excellence. Receiving both audience and critical acclaim, PURE has been the recipient of Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Play, Best One-Person Play, and Most Diverse Theatre Company critic and audience awards.