Most people are familiar with the story of Vincent Van Gogh, a crazy man who painted bizarre pictures, cut off his ear and eventually killed himself.
While all this is true, it only plays a small part in Vincent's life. His true thoughts and feelings were revealed to his brother Theo and will be depicted in Leonard Nimoy's play, "Vincent."
"Vincent" will stop at Emens Auditorium at 8 p.m. Friday as part of its ARTSable program.
Leonard Nimoy, the star of science fiction shows such as "Star Trek, " took a step back from his normal genre and wrote this stirring play about the life of Van Gogh. Nimoy spent years working on this play which opened in 1981, starring himself. After success on Broadway and a PBS broadcast in 1983, Nimory stepped off the stage and abandoned "Vincent."
"Vincent", a one-man show starring Jim Jarrett, was sent to Jarrett in 1994 by a former acting student, who said, "This was written for you."
After reading the play, Jarrett discovered that there was so much more to this man than meets the eye.
"This was someone with a dream, someone with integrity," Jarrett said. "I immediately understood him as an actor and found a universal connection."
"Vincent" has been touring the all over the world, allowing Jarrett to partake in an "extraordinary part of theater."
While "Vincent" may be written as a one-man play, Jarrett said that when the show is performed well, the audience can be integrated.
"Those who come will be blown away," Jarrett remarked. "Many people say, 'I had no idea who he really was.'"
The play begins a week after Van Gogh's death. His brother Theo has been asked to explain the life of his brother to anyone who will listen to him talk. The audience are the people who came to hear Theo.
"What's fun is when Vincent comes back to life through his brother," Jarrett said. "I'm playing two brothers at one time.
"This story will inspire college students, well, anyone who sees it, to find their gifts and to figure out what they are here on earth to do; to find their dream and pursue it," Jarrett said.
The show begins Friday at 8 p.m. The doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets for the show are $3 for students, $8 for faculty and staff, and $10 for adults. Tickets can be purchased at the box office at 7 p.m. on Friday. Seating is general.
To find more information about Vincent and other shows by Jim Jarrett, go to www.jarrettproductions.com.
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