TRUNK is a one-man, interactive production that delves into the mind of a young artist reckoning with his approaching death. Written and performed by Riley Samuel Merritt, the play draws from over a decade of his personal writings—poetry, prose, and eight original songs—to examine the fragile intersections of identity, ambition, and connection. Inspired by the 15th-century morality play Everyman, TRUNK reimagines the age-old confrontation with mortality through the lens of a flawed, modern creative. While the narrative is not autobiographical, Merritt uses his own life as a vessel to explore the universal story of what it means to live truthfully—and die honestly—as an artist. Audience participation is central to the show, making each performance a shared act of reflection and storytelling. Viewers are invited to contribute their voices, reinforcing TRUNK’s core themes of community and collective memory. Ultimately, TRUNK is both a personal unpacking and a public offering—a meditation on legacy, vulnerability, and the moral responsibility of the modern artist in a world that often forgets to listen.
Videos
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Irving Berlin's White Christmas
Paramount Theatre (11/12 - 1/11) | |
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Anthony Rapp: Home for the Holidays
Lookingglass Theatre Company (12/17 - 12/20) | |
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Jingle Belles Comedy
Raue Center For The Arts (12/11 - 12/11) | |
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Amadeus
Steppenwolf Theatre Company (11/6 - 1/4) | |
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A Soulful Motown Christmas Holiday Cabaret
Harris Theater (12/13 - 12/13) CONCERT HOLIDAY SHOW | |
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Miracle on South Division Street
Citadel Theatre (11/14 - 12/14)
DISCOUNT
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Holiday Brass & Choral Concerts
Grace Lutheran Church (12/18 - 12/18) | |
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Chaos Theory of Everything
The Second City (6/11 - 1/1) | |
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South Pacific
Paramount Theatre (4/29 - 6/14) | |
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I Hate Hamlet
Saint Sebastian Players (4/24 - 5/17) | |
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It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
The Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University (12/13 - 12/13) | |
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