Alan Wilbar fell 47 feet to a brain injury and gripping recovery tale that he presents through poetry, visuals and music in The Learning Man at the Hatbox Theatre starting Friday through March 19.
“The tent was too old,” Wilbar said.
It was 1988, and Wilbar, former circus tent rigger and a passionate artist was in Cohasset, Mass., as part of a summer tour. “So here, standing on top of the circus tent, I took off the rain capper, turned around and that’s all I remember.”
The Learning Man is a one-man, multimedia production that is brought to life by poems Wilbar wrote while suffering from the pain of his fall. The show educates survivors to know that their injury can be a starting point for growth.
And although he continued to write throughout recovery, his writings had no theatrical intent.
“It just became what it is,” Wilbar said of the production.
“I have a brain injury so I’m always running to catch up,” he said. But through his artistic illustrations of his life-changing experiences, “the truth presents itself.”
Dialogue readings will begin the show, followed by a poem explanation, Wilbar said. Three songs will be performed towards the end of the performance, with help from guest musicians.
In the lobby of the Hatbox, there will be several pieces of art on display, submitted from local traumatic brain injury survivors as well those suffering all forms of illness.
Fort Hanover Productions brings The Learning Man to the community during March, which is National Brain Injury Awareness Month. Showings will be Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30, and Sundays at 2 p.m. through March 19.
Tickets are $16.50, or $13.50 for members, seniors and students.