Asheville – The North Carolina Stage Company is taking on a mammoth production of epic proportions, depicting American capitalism over a period of years. Directed by Charlie Flynn-McIver, the NC Stage production will feature three well-recognized equity actors from March 13 through April 6: Adam Kampouris, Philip Kershaw, and Willie Repoley. The Trilogy weaves together nearly two centuries of family history, charting the humble beginnings, outrageous successes, and devastating failures of the financial institution that would ultimately bring the global economy to its knees. It depicts a piece of American history that needs to be remembered.
The 2022 winner of Tony Awards, The Lehman Trilogy by Italian playwright Stefano Massini, won Best Play, Best Direction of a Play for Sam Mendes, and Best Actor in a Play for Simon Russell Beale. It has been shown throughout the United States in recent years and recently returned for a short run in London at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in the West End.
There is no doubt that The Lehman Trilogy illuminates the shared human experience with artistic excellence and integrity. It depicts a fascinating history. Following the 2008 crash, Italian playwright Stefano Massini found himself asking, “how we got to where we are,” and wrote a script that took on many forms in Italian and French. Ben Power then adapted Massini’s play into an English version and pared it down to three actors.
The Lehman Trilogy shies away from lecturing the audience and employs a minimalist style and elegant set design to maintain its focus on adroit storytelling. Highlighting three distinct periods from the Lehman family’s illustrious lineage, the production begins in Alabama, where the original brothers start their rapid ascent into the annals of American history. The drama then moves to the 1960s, where a shift in the family dynamic to include a trading division of outsiders causes a rift that leads to an explosive demise still echoing throughout the present day. The Trilogy portrays three generations of a family whose name became synonymous with the 2008 financial collapse and the subsequent recession, taking us on the journey of the brothers who arrived with nothing, speaking not a word of English, and built an entire universe.
Henry Lehman left Bavaria in Germany in 1844 due to anti-Semitic restrictions and settled in Montgomery, Alabama. He was later joined by his two brothers, Emanuel and Mayer. Their business morphed from a dry goods retail store to credit to brokerage, eventually becoming a financial superpower as the fourth largest investment bank in the United States. They joined the New York Stock Exchange in 1887. As unregulated markets grew, so too did predatory lending and excessive risk. The company survived the 1929 stock market collapse; however, consumer debt skyrocketed. When the early 2000s housing bubble finally burst, the collapse of Lehman Brothers—and the subsequent Chapter 11 filing involving more than $600 billion in assets—became the biggest bank failure in history and the catalyst for the 2008 financial crash and Great Recession. On September 15, 2008, Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy.
Due to the depth and scope of the subject matter, this play is longer than usual, with a runtime of three hours and 20 minutes, including two intermissions. Evening shows will begin at 7:00 PM on March 13, with matinees at the normally scheduled time of 2:00 PM. Regular adult tickets range from $24 to $48; student tickets with identification are $10. Half-price ticket night is Thursday, March 13 at 7:00 PM; on Friday, March 14 at 7:00 PM—Pay What You Can; on Saturday, March 15, there will be an Opening Night Champagne Toast following the performance; and a Post Show Conversation on Friday, March 28 at 2:00 PM.
The North Carolina Stage Company is located at 15 Stage Lane in downtown Asheville. Parking is available nearby at City Parking Garages, such as Rankin Avenue or Harrah’s Cherokee Center garage. There are also several fine restaurants in the area within walking distance, including Zambras at 85 W. Walnut Street. This is a small 125-seat off-Broadway style professional theater; noteworthy is the word “professional.” NC Stage was founded by Charlie and Angie Flynn-McIver in 2001. Their choice of plays over the years reveals their commitment to artistic excellence, integrity, and exploration. This season’s plays have included “All is Calm”—a musical drama depicting the Christmas Truce of 1914—followed by the delightful comedy “Jeeves Saves the Day,” and now The Lehman Trilogy. “King James,” a basketball drama, will follow at the end of April. The Lehman Trilogy will undoubtedly be a riveting experience for the audience as it brings history and drama together.