Coming in 2021!
Written by James Lecesne
Directed by Nathan Cummings
A one-character play, this production is an 80-minute monologue that begins with a detective from a small town on the Jersey Shore eager for a case that gets him out from behind his desk.
On one extraordinary day, he finds it: the disappearance of teenager Leonard Pelkey. Digging deeper and deeper into Leonard’s life, he follows clues that lead him to unexpected places and show him how one boy’s bravery can light the way toward truth.
Mike Pavone, a distinguished and versatile actor, embodies the nine characters he plays on stage. He skillfully captures their physical presence, posture and manners of expression. The play stirs quite a range of emotions, from the slapstick physical comedy of police officer Marty Branahan to Beckerman’s remorseful weariness, and Pavone is the able conduit and catalyst of it all.
Playwright James Lecesne has a gift for ferreting out hope from anguish. In his 1994 short film “Trevor,” a flamboyant 13-year-old Diana Ross superfan survives a suicide attempt. After that work won an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, Lecesne co-founded the Trevor Project, a 24-hour crisis hotline for LGBTQ youth (call 866-488-7386 or text “Trevor” to 202-304-1200).
Mr. Lecesne won awards from the Off Broadway Alliance, United Solo Theatre Festival, and Outer Critic Circle for his performance in The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey. The New York Times ranked him “among the most talented solo performers of his (or any) generation.”
A pair of rainbow-heeled Converse high tops that he fashioned from flip-flops sits on a table throughout the show.
“A Whodunit with a Heart Of Gold!” —The New Yorker
“BRAVO! LEAVES YOU BEAMING WITH JOY.” —The New York Times
“Life-Changing Entertainment!” —Forbes
“A Crowd Pleaser Loaded With Laughs!” —The Huffington Post
“A Funny, Heartrending and Utterly Inspiring Show.” —Towleroad
BEST SOLO PERFORMANCE —Off Broadway Alliance Award
- Tickets on Sale December 1, 2020
How to Watch the Live Stream of The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey
To watch the performance on your computer, tablet, smartphone, or smart TV, follow the instructions below.
We recommend giving yourself 20 MINUTES of set-up time before the performance begins
Accessing the Streaming Performance
Step 1: Click on the link provided in your confirmation email from the ticket provider, ShowTix4U (see example below).
If you did not receive a confirmation email, look in your SPAM and/or JUNK files. Confirmations are sent momentarily after placing the order, so please go back to the spam folder and look for the day you made the purchase.
Step 2:
Click on the link (in confirmation email as shown above). This will take you directly to the viewing site. If you have joined prior to the performance time you will see a “Starting Soon” message. You are in the right place. The performance will begin at the designated time. If you have joined after the streaming performance has started, you will either see the stream immediately (picking up where it may be) OR you may have to press PLAY.
Step 3:
Browse the Show Guide while you wait. Once you are on the ShowTix4U streaming show site, you may access the Show Guide to find info about the cast and crew. You’ll find it in the upper, left-hand corner of your viewing screen. Click on the three white bars and select Show Program.
Viewing Instructions and Helpful Tips:
Tip 1: For the best online experience, access the internet with Google Chrome or Firefox.
Tip 2: Having trouble logging in? Ticket holders have access to live streaming coaches using the Chat feature found in the lower left-hand corner of the screen once you log on to ShowTix4U.
Tip 3: Make sure that your computer volume is up and not muted.
Tip 4: Adjust the volume by clicking the arrow in the middle of the player to reveal the player control bar where you can make volume adjustments and changes to the video quality levels. The volume icon is in the lower right corner. Click on the volume icon to adjust the volume levels.