As part of Williamstown Holiday Walk festivities and the Clark’s “First Sunday Free” program, Williamstown Theatre Festival is thrilled to announce a special one-time-only performance of Ed Napier‘s Music Lessons.

Tracing his years of voice and theater training with two larger-than-life mentors, in Music Lessons, Ed Napier shares his funny, moving, and revelatory adventures from southern West Virginia to New York institutions like Columbia University, HB Studio, and the Juilliard School. With scenes, stories, and songs in a range of genres, he recounts the process of growing up, becoming an artist, and learning to relish the glory of just being alive. Directed by the late Robert LuPone, Music Lessons also will feature Lynn Kao on piano and soprano Deborah Lifton.

Admission to Music Lessons is FREE with general admission seating. We currently are not accepting additional reservations at this time. A limited number of seats in the balcony will be available for walk-ups on the day of the performance beginning at 1:45 PM.

The Williamstown Holiday Walk takes place December 2-4 with a line-up of family-friendly festivities, including the beloved ReinDog Parade, a visit with Santa Claus, a Soup-er Bowl Cook-off, Gingerbread House Exhibition, Penny Social, Tree Lighting & Caroling, and so much more! For a complete schedule of holiday fun, visit DestinationWilliamstown.org.

As part of the Clark’s “First Sunday Free” program on Sunday, December 4, admission to the museum galleries will be free all day and from 1-4PM will be filled with art-making and other surprises all themed to the concept of celebration. Family programs at the Clark are generously supported by Allen & Company. Visit clarkart.edu to learn more. Please note: use of facemasks is optional for all visitors at the Clark. Visit clarkart.edu/visit/health to learn more about the Clark’s COVID-19 healthy and safety protocols.

TESTIMONIALS

“Music Lessons is one of those remarkably rare and honest solo shows, that takes you into the agonizing heart of what it means to be an artist, a musician, and to maintain your deep humanity and compassion in a world that challenges you to dare to be that vulnerable… Ed Napier stuns us with his invitation to come into his life from almost the beginning, and inspires anyone who watches him to be as brave and daring in their own life and times.” – actors Kathryn Grody and Mandy Patinkin

“At the heart of Ed Napier’s deeply moving, ceaselessly funny, and profoundly personal solo play, Music Lessons, in which he also performs, is his lifelong quest to develop an authentic voice as an artist and human being. Whether he is relating stories about a wildly idiosyncratic array of acquaintances he made as a West Virginia transplant in New York City, or digging for meaning in the beautiful music he sings throughout the show, Ed pulls the audience along a patchwork path to the present moment of his middle age – where he has found joy in who he has become. This is a play about learning to love who you are. It is thrilling in its intimacy, in poignant moments of personal discovery, and in the power of Ed’s voice filling the space with operatic arias and Appalachian folk songs. The experience is as honest as a breath of fresh air.” – John Eisner, former Artistic Director of The Lark