Mike White’s exploration of identity and memory takes the spotlight as his 2014 book is adapted for the stage in New York today, placing the focus keyword, Mike White Past Lives stage, in the city’s arts scene. The live performance, featuring Sawyer Spielberg and Anne-Sophie de Villeroy, interprets a story rooted in personal transformation and artistic collaboration.
‘Past Lives’ Receives a Theatrical Interpretation in Manhattan
Mike White’s book Past Lives, released in 2014, finds new life through a staged reading at Maxim’s on Madison Avenue. Directed by art curator Isabelle Le Normand, the actors Sawyer Spielberg and Anne-Sophie de Villeroy present a live interpretation of the narratives in White’s work. The performance draws both on the written word and a strong visual component, as Past Lives was originally published by Le Normand and includes paintings by artists Sam and Ali Demke depicting the author’s described incarnations.
The book details 11 of White’s supposed past identities, ranging from a British explorer’s ship in the 1600s and a Spanish royal in the 1700s, to a Maori tribesman, a young woman in mid-century Morocco, and a Cuban waitress in the 1960s. These stories are accompanied by the Demkes’ paintings, which are said to hang on the walls of White’s home in Santa Monica.
Live Music Enhances the Dramatic Experience
The atmosphere for the performance is enriched by a suite of twelve original piano pieces, composed by Corentin Apparailly. Pianist Héloïse Pieaud, the founder of La Maison School of Music, provides a live soundtrack for the reading. This musical element weaves together the narrative and artistic intentions behind White’s project, further elevating the event’s creative impact.
The Origins Behind Mike White’s ‘Past Lives’
The inspiration for Past Lives traces back to a spiritual journey shared between Mike White and his friend Shirley MacLaine in 2009. The pair spent four days at The Light Institute, a past life regression center located in New Mexico. This personal voyage provided White with the concepts for each of his past lives, prompting him to commission Sam and Ali Demke for accompanying artwork. White’s spiritual exploration was previously covered in a New York Times interview in 2017.
Plans for Additional Performances Across Cities
According to Le Normand, the live adaptation will extend to further venues in New York and also travel to Los Angeles. This ongoing presentation aims to reach a broader audience and highlight the varied artistic contributions of all involved, from Isabelle Le Normand’s direction to Sam and Ali Demke’s visual interpretations.
Concurrent Projects and Broader Creative Context
As this stage event unfolds in New York, Mike White continues working on the fourth season of his acclaimed TV show, The White Lotus. White is currently in France, both scripting new episodes and starting the casting process for a storyline that will shift the show’s setting to the South of France and Paris. This simultaneous creative output demonstrates White’s ongoing influence in both literature and television, alongside notable names such as Sawyer Spielberg, Anne-Sophie de Villeroy, and Isabelle Le Normand, all contributing to the current theatrical venture.
The adaptation of Past Lives for the stage, with its blend of live performance, music from Héloïse Pieaud, and visual art by the Demkes, underscores Mike White’s lasting impact on the arts and his continued collaboration with figures across creative fields, offering audiences in New York and beyond a unique look at the intersections of history, memory, and performance.
