Alumnus Portrays Mark Twain at Turner Center July 21

VALDOSTA -- Valdosta State University Alumnus Van Brown will perform selections from the witty and moving works of Samuel Clemens, better known by his pen name Mark Twain, at 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 21, at the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, 527 N. Patterson St. in Valdosta. A pre-show dinner will be held at 6:45 p.m.

Having traveled the country as the American author for more than 25 years, Brown has mastered the cadence and mannerisms of the widely quoted humorist, who wrote "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" (1876) and its sequel "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" (1885). Brown, who also serves as a motivational speaker to young adults, has developed a dynamic script taken from novels, essays, speeches, and letters to provide audiences with a glimpse into the life of the Missouri-born riverboat pilot and avid traveler.

"Even as a school boy, and long before college, Twain was so instrumental in causing me to think about and reconsider so many things, and to do it with an open mind. His wit and humor are priceless gems, and often subtle," said Brown, who lives in the Atlanta area. "My scripts portraying Samuel L. Clemens are carefully selected texts from his writings. Adaptations have occurred, but part of that is due to changes in perception and understanding that happen when you get as old as I am. The expressive Mark Twain he showed off publicly was different from the quiet and reticent Sam Clemens at home with his family. Audiences can expect to see a little of both sides of this remarkable literary person."

General admission for the concert is $20 per person. The dinner and general concert seating is $35, and the dinner paired with reserved seating for the concert is $45. Purchase tickets and learn more about the evening online or call 229-247-ARTS (2787). Read more about Brown and the show at http://marktwainreturns.com.