The premier of David Wagoner’s one-act play First Class opened last night at Seattle’s A Contemporary Theatre (ACT).
For Wagoner the play is a “remembrance of his friend and mentor, the legendary poet Theodore Roethke. In this world premiere, you’re a student in Roethke’s classroom. Why does art matter? When does genius become madness? And what does it mean to live a passionate life? Please discuss.”
Seattle actor John Aylward plays the lead and does so so convincingly that Wagoner says “he’s absolutely channeling Roethke in many instances.”
Roethke is a legend around these parts. His time here in Seattle raised the literary stakes for the region. In addition to Wagoner his students at the University of Washington included Richard Hugo, James Wright and Carolyn Kizer.
The play is a must see for anyone interested in a glimpse of how influential he was as a teacher and as a poet.
The ACT blog has numerous videos and links about Roethke and the play.
The Roethke Readings: Meter and Madness (co-produced with Eleventh Hour Productions) will follow many of the performances. The program is inspired by the early 20th-century nightclub Cabaret Voltaire and will feature readings, dance, and music.
Here is an awesome one minute trailer for the Roethke Readings:
Wessel & Lieberman Booksellers has also published a broadside for the event featuring David Wagoner’s poem The Rosebush: a memory of Theodore Roethke and a photograph of Roethke taken by legendary Northwest photographer Mary Randlett.