David Alford’s A Holiday to Remember

A treasured Music City tradition returns as Nashville star, David Alford, performs two of Truman Capote’s best-loved short stories, “The Thanksgiving Visitor,” and the perennial favorite “A Christmas Memory,” with live original music by Paul Carrol Binkley and friends, at the historic Belmont Mansion.

Full details on David Alford’s A Holiday to Remember are below:

Dates: November 23, 25 & 26

December 1 & 3

Time: 7:30 PM CT

Ticket prices: $45

To purchase tickets: 
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-holiday-to-remember-tickets-394754520397

Venue: Belmont Mansion

Address: 1900 Belmont Blvd, Nashville, TN 37212
Belmont University campus corner of Acklen Avenue & Belmont Blvd – behind Freeman Hall

Event notes: The Victorian Christmas decorated first floor of the mansion will be open for viewing and light holiday refreshments will be provided with admission. A portion of the ticket price will be donated to the historic Belmont Mansion.

A Holiday to Remember brings back David Alford’s rendition of Truman Capote’s beloved “A Christmas Memory” to Nashville’s Belmont Mansion. After nearly a decade away from appearing on local stages, the Nashville actor returns with a one-man recitation of two of Capote’s short stories “A Christmas Memory” and “The Thanksgiving Visitor.” Performed in the historic Belmont Mansion Grand Salon and accompanied with original music by Paul Carrol Binkley, this promises to be a highlight of Nashville’s holiday season.

Alford says: “I first worked with Paul on ‘A Christmas Memory’ way back in 1995, and it was the centerpiece for a number of holiday shows through the years. First, with my company Mockingbird Theatre’s ‘A Southern Christmas Sampler’ that was devised by Rene Copeland, and then later with ‘Christmas Down Home.’ What we’re doing this year is to reprise a version we did in the early 2000s with Tennessee Rep: two Capote stories told by me with Paul’s underscoring. ‘Thanksgiving Visitor’ has a full band, but the version of ‘A Christmas Memory’ will be the same one that audiences came to know and love. Just me and Paul doing the entire story as Capote wrote it.”

“Being away from the piece for a while has made me appreciate how fortunate I’ve been; first, just to say Capote’s words, but also to be a part of something that’s meant so much to so many people. It’s really humbling and gratifying. I’m looking forward to the experience of doing it again now with a few more years under my belt.”

“We are so excited to once again have David Alford’s masterful telling of Truman Capote’s short stories, ‘A Christmas Memory’ and ‘The Thanksgiving Visitor’ performed here at Belmont Mansion.  While it has been many years since David’s last performance, I am asked several times each holiday season to bring the performance (fondly referred to as the fruitcake story) back to the Grand Salon.  Those lucky enough to have enjoyed his past performances understand the magic created when this actor, accompanied by renowned guitarist Paul Carrol Binkley, conjure vivid images of Capote’s beautifully written characters from these poignant stories” – Mark Brown, Executive Director Belmont Mansion

“I remember when David first gave me a copy of ‘A Christmas Memory.’ He had this idea that he could simply tell the story, and I should compose underscoring music and accompany him as he did so. I remember reading the story on an airplane headed somewhere with tears streaming down my face. We have since performed the piece together hundreds of times since 1995 and I still fight back tears every time (sometimes unsuccessfully), though I’m also guilty of laughing out loud. I sit just a bit lower, to the right, and slightly upstage in the best seat in the house! Whether you know the story or not, you will never experience a better telling than David Alford’s.” – Paul Carrol Binkley