Mark Twain Travels Upstream to UD’s Babka Theatre
Mar 8, 2019
DUBUQUE, Iowa – University of Dubuque Heritage Center closes the second season of its B.I.T.E. Size Series with a Mark Twain tribute performance on Friday, April 5, at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in Babka Theatre. An Afternoon (or Evening) with Mark Twain will be performed by New York actor Dr. Michael Mauldin. The show is an intimate portrait of one of America’s most beloved and controversial figures.
B.I.T.E. stands for Babka Intimate Theatre Experiences. The series showcases one-person or small-cast performances in the intimate setting of Heritage Center’s black box venue. With maximum capacity of about 200, Babka Theatre offers general admission and stadium-style seating.
WHAT: Live at Heritage B.I.T.E. Size Series – An Afternoon (or Evening) with Mark Twain starring Dr. Michael Mauldin
WHEN: Friday, April 5 – 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (two performances)
WHERE: Babka Theatre, Heritage Center, University of Dubuque
TICKETS: Adult $19 advance/$24 day of show; UD Alumni/Military $15 advance/$20 day of show; Child/Student $9 advance/$14 day of show.
Mauldin’s hilarious and insightful portrayal of Mark Twain recreates an actual lecture that the world-famous humorist and author would have delivered during his highly-acclaimed world tour culminating in 1905. Having toured the United States and Canada for over 35 years with this theatrical tour-de-force, Mauldin undergoes a makeup transformation of almost three hours to achieve an uncanny likeness to the 70-year- old "Grand Old Man of American Letters.” Mauldin leaves each and every audience with the indelible impression that they have actually witnessed the Old Man himself.
In his customary white suit and ever-present cigar, Twain takes us through a fascinating panoply of uproarious comedy, biting social satire, and often dark commentary of the human condition. It’s all seen through the eyes of a man who had been at the top of the literary and social spectrum for most of his life. Twain had reached the age and level of esteem where he felt free to say what was on his mind with almost no fear of censure.
Mauldin has constructed the format of the show to include as many facets of Twain’s complex and varied personality as possible within his solo performance. With the combination of Twain’s published and unpublished novels, short stories, journal notes, autobiography, and speeches, the experience proves to be exciting for the Twain aficionado and novice alike.
In addition to numerous national tours and countless appearances on university campuses across the country, Mauldin’s performance as Twain has been shown on PBS and was adapted into a one-hour ABC special entitled Mark Twain: Sketches from Life.
A Q&A conversation with Mauldin follows each performance.
Tickets for An Afternoon (or Evening) with Mark Twain can be purchased Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Farber Box Office, Heritage Center, University of Dubuque, 2255 Bennett Street; by phone at 563.585.SHOW; or online at www.dbq.edu/heritagecenter.
