The Mark Twain Society mission is to entertain, inform and enlighten audiences of all ages and circumstances. We do this through lectures, staged readings and productions of works that have been adapted from, inspired or influenced by Mark Twain.
HISTORY
In 1979, The Harristown Development Corporation of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania invited Alan Kitty to perform as Mark Twain. His 90 minute one-man show, Alive and Well, was presented by what was to become the Rose Lehrman Performing Arts Center. A variation of the show, Mark Twain’s Last Stand, followed in 2008 by a touring production. In 2012, the show premiered in New York at the Kraine Theatre. It was followed by a second tour in 22 states that ended with the COVID epidemic in 2020. The pandemic pushed us to a Virtual presentation that gave rise to our lecture series and two new shows. One of them is an adaptation of Twain’s Diaries of Adam and Eve, produced in 2024. That same year, They Told Me to be Brief- a condensed version of Twain’s 2010 three volume autobiography – was presented by two Theatres in Sarasota, Florida. Our current solo offering is the next installment of that autobiography.
Only 35% of our revenue comes from ticket and engagement sales. Your donation will help us provide lectures and entertainment to our physically limited and challenged audiences. Clicking the link below and donating will help us succeed in our mission.
Alan Kitty (Executive Director) is an actor, playwright, producer and event speaker best known for his solo shows and “Original Sin,” his adaptation of Twain’s “Diaries of Adam and Eve.” He also portrayed Twain in the film The Spirit of Giving and wrote the cable series Reel Exposure for Manhattan Cable. When not writing, performing or presenting, Alan lectures on all things Twain.
