One more lesson from "Morrie": many ways to tell a tale

"Writing the story again brought out the kidding around, the moments between Morrie and I that were most poignant," says Mitch Albom, author of the 1997 book "Tuesdays with Morrie" and co-writer of a stage adaptation of that best-selling memoir. "I didn't realize there was so much more to say."

A 90-minute production of Albom's theatrical version of "Morrie," a collaboration with renowned playwright Jeffrey Hatcher, opens Wednesday at Seattle Repertory Theatre. (Previews began on Saturday.)

The show is essentially the one that debuted Off Broadway in 2002: directed by David Esbjornson, with sets by Robert Brill and starring actor Alvin Epstein as Morrie Schwartz. In the Seattle production, Lorenzo Pisoni plays Albom in the two-person drama.

Schwartz was a Brandeis University sociology professor who mentored Detroit Free Press columnist Albom at school, then met with him, years later, for a series of sage, life-affirming discussions while Schwartz gradually succumbed to Lou Gehrig's disease. Albom's relationship with Schwartz, who died in 1995, is the subject of "Tuesdays with Morrie." Albom says he resisted offers for several years to turn the 1997 book into a play.

"After the book became popular," says Albom, "I said yes to Oprah Winfrey's television movie of it. After that came requests from others to make 'Morrie' ... calendars, day planners, all kinds of stuff. I refused it all. I also said no to plays, but a group in New York was particularly persistent. I met with them in 2001 and realized there was another way to tell the story."

With no background in theater, Albom initially left the adaptation to Hatcher.

"Jeffrey was working from the book only," says Albom. "When I saw an early version of the play, I knew I had more to contribute: notes and memories that didn't make it into the book. Jeffrey agreed to let me work with him, which was generous."

Among the new material are references to one of Albom's earlier experiences with death.

"My uncle was like a second dad to me," Albom says. "I witnessed his dying and was repulsed by it. I didn't want anything to do with sick people. Morrie made me come to terms with that."

A top sports writer, syndicated radio host and panelist on ESPN's "Sports Reporters," Albom covers more than sports in his Sunday newspaper columns. Recent pieces touch on Iraq, hate groups and the Academy Awards.

Since adapting "Morrie," Albom has written two other plays produced at Jeff Daniels' Purple Rose Theatre, not far from Albom's Detroit home. He's working on a fourth, and credits his theatrical ambitions to a friendship with the late "A Thousand Clowns" playwright Herb Gardner.

"He encouraged me to stay in theater," Albom says. "He was effusive about it, gave me books. I caught a bug from him."

Tom Keogh: tomwkeogh@yahoo.com