The Lehman Trilogy: An American Story

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

The Lehman Trilogy at the Guthrie Theater is an epic story of one family, from immigration to America in the early 1840s to the collapse of the Lehman Brothers company in 2008. Three very talented actors portray approximately 50 characters - you will be amazed at their talent and stamina. I keep thinking about the play – it’s such an American story of immigration, persistence to succeed, losing touch with your family traditions and how greed can cause the collapse of all dreams. I suggest you get your tickets now – The Lehman Trilogy is playing through October 13th. Two of the actors, Mark Nelson and William Sturdivant, shared with me their experience of performing multiple characters, 8 performances a week, in a play that stretches to three and a half hours in length. 

Mark NelsonQ:  Tell me about the challenges of playing so many characters in an epic production.

Mark Nelson:  My most satisfying challenge is playing two members of the Lehman family over the span of their lives: Mayer starting at age 19, and Bobby at age 6! Both start as the shining soul in the family. In the 1850s, Mayer is the sweet peacemaker between his two hot-tempered brothers, and the business grows on the strength of his trusting smile. But when he follows the business from Alabama to Wall Street, from handshake deals to cold numbers, he’s a stranger in his own life, his soul starts to shrink. Then in the next century, little Bobby adores drawing and horses. He doesn’t care if his horse wins, he just loves watching them run. But under the pressure of his family’s ambition, and the unwanted role of savior after the 1929 crash, his exuberance gradually turns into a tense mask, and finally into unhinged greed. It’s a very human arc: the inexorable power of money to warp the best impulses of our hearts. It’s an amazing gift to tell their stories.

My other big takeaway is that I’m not as young as I thought I was. I’m playing 25 characters in a 3-and-a-half-hour play 8 times a week. I love it, and I don’t need to ever do it again!

William SturdivantQ:  What are your takeaways from performing in this epic play? 

William Sturdivant:  As a Minneapolis-based actor, I am continuously blown away by the vigor, artistry, and courage of this entire theater community and their willingness to venture into the unknown as a matter of cultural necessity. After performing in the History Plays at the Guthrie Theater this past spring, I get to embark on yet another epic trilogy (after having only 10 days off from performing as Claudius and Benedick at Great River Shakespeare Festival).

The Lehman Trilogy seemed like an obvious, "only up from here" opportunity, with the entire process being communal, collaborative, and awe-inspiring. I was shocked the most by the incredible fortitude and willingness to adapt, by both the script and the artists collaborating on this project. This principle of adaptation was instilled daily and acknowledged throughout the work. From director, to designer, to stage management, to crew and in-house costume builders, we as actors have been supported beyond, BEYOND! Quick shout out to Draper/Costume Builderess, Juliann Benson, whose expertise makes me feel like a million bucks every time I step on the stage.

My biggest takeaway is that it takes a village, a community, a populace to hold fast to the dream of what America can be, and the shock and awe, that so many at the Guthrie hold as a core principle to their craft/designated titles, and want nothing more than to help shine that light from offstage, so that audiences watching the stage have magic introduced into their veins and, indeed, their souls!