Happy Friday!

After a challenging couple of months, I'm getting back into the swing of things. I've got a few recommendations for you this week.

BOOKS
I got through two important books this week.

THE MUELLER REPORT
The Final Report The Special Counsel Into Donald Trump, Russia And Collusion.
As Issued By the Department Of Justice
This week, I did what only and estimated 4% of Americans (including the U.S Congress) have done and read THE MUELLER REPORT.

All I can say is, “Man oh Man.”

Don't go by what anybody says...READ THE DAMNED THING. Decide for yourself based up the reported actions of the principals involved, the evidence laid out and the analysis and legal arguments and explanations whether or not Obstruction of Justice took place.
READ.

SIEGE: TRUMP UNDER FIRE
by Michael Wolff

SIEGE, the new book by Michael Wolff (FIRE AND FURY), came out this week and I couldn't put it down. It's filled with stories from insiders on what was going on in the Trump White House during the leadup to the midterms. Several sources went on the record. Wolff lifts the curtain on the disastrous Helsinki Summit (Trump is described by cabinet members as looking like “a beaten dog” after his private one on one with Vladimir Putin and no Americans present), the Brett Kavanaugh hearings, the aftermath of the murder of Washington Post reporter and Saudi  dissident, Jamal Khashoggi, that scathing anonymous New York Times piece written by a high level member of Trump's administration and more. This is a MUST READ.
READ.

MOVIES

ROCKETMAN
As executive producer of his own biopic, Sir Elton John pulls no punches in letting us in on his life of sex, drugs, addiction, self doubt and musical brilliance in this excellent movie. Taron Egerton (THE KINGSMEN) doesn't imitate Elton John as much as inhabit him. I was surprised to learn after seeing the picture that he'd actually done the singing as opposed to lip-syncing. It's a great jukebox musical and all of the hits are there.
GO.

THEATER

KISS MY AZTEC
I went to Opening Night of KISS MY AZTEC, the new musical by John Leguizamo and Tony Taccone at Berkeley Rep Thursday night. It's a satire on the colonization of Mexico by the Spanish. It's raw, brilliant and laugh out loud funny. Think Blazing Saddles during the age of the Aztec Empire. I'm gonna see it again!
GO.

PERFORMANCES

I've got performances of NOT A GENUINE BLACK MAN at the Marsh San Francisco and at Altarena Playhouse in Alameda this month as well as THE WAITING PERIOD and THE GREAT AMERICAN SHIT SHOW with my partner Charlie Varon. Show times and ticket information are on the home page at briancopeland.com.

READING OF MY NEW PLAY

I'm doing a special reading of my new play, Grandma & Me: An Ode to Single Parents Wednesday night, June 12 at 7:30 at the Marsh in San Francisco. The way it works is, I read you the play, then I leave. David Ford, my director and collaborator, then conducts a discussion where he takes your feedback and we keep what you have to say in mind when we do the next rewrite. You'll help us find where the laughs are (and aren't) and if the story is working as written. If you'd like to be a part of the collaborative process on this new work, come on down.

Have an awesome weekend.

Copie

FOLLOW BRIAN:

Twitter: Twitter.com/briancopie
Facebook: facebook.com/briancopie1
BrianCopeland.com