Happy Friday!
I hope you've had a great abbreviated work week. I've been as busy as a bear in the proverbial beehive producing shows and working on the latest writing tweaks on Grandma & Me. This is a very special play. It has to be because it's Grandma's play. I think it may turn out to be my best yet. I can't wait for you to see it!
Here's what else I've been into this week:
BOOK
LOVE, LUCY
I spent a wonderful seven hours over the course of this last week listening to Lucie Arnaz read the unabridged version of her mother's autobiography, Love, Lucy. There's a great back story. Lucille Ball died back in 1989. A few years back, her kids, Lucie and Desi Jr. were going through
her papers and found that she'd written a memoir back in 1964 that was her life story from birth to that point. She had apparently written the book and then decided against its publication because she didn't want to hurt Desi Sr. for whom she still cared a great deal.
The book, especially the way Lucie Arnaz reads it, is positively addictive. I'd listen in the car and then find myself sitting in front of my house listening half an hour after I'd parked. There have literally been dozens of books written on Lucy (I'm a huge fan and I've read them ALL) but this is the first time her story is heard in her own words. We think of her as an icon. It's weird to discover that at the height of I Love Lucy, when she was the most famous and admired woman in America, that she was insecure and had that whole “imposter syndrome” and doubts about whether she “deserved” the success. This from a comedic genius. READ IT. I recommend the audiobook version. It adds a whole new dimension to this fascinating story of a little girl from Jamestown, New York who grew up to be the biggest television star of all time.
You can get it here.
READ IT!
MOVIE
IT CHAPTER 2
When I saw IT a few years ago, it was the scariest movie I'd ever seen. I had nightmares for a week about being chased through a sewer by clowns. IT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME.
I went to the press screening of IT Chapter 2 the other night. My review is simple. Bring a change of underwear.
If you like scary movies, see it.
RESTAURANT
My friend Angela Alioto took me to lunch this week at a marvelous little Italian place on Columbus called Caffe Macaroni. I had a chicken and eggplant dish that's one of the best things I've ever eaten. It's a great restaurant with a marvelously authentic Italian atmosphere.
Caffe Macaroni is located at 59 Columbus Avenue in San Francisco.
PERFORMANCES
Here's where you can catch me live in the coming weeks!
Upcoming Shows:
The Great American Sh*t Show: Monologues on life in the era of Trump:
SEPTEMBER 21: Altarena Playhouse, Alameda, CA, 7:30 PM
NOVEMBER 7: Castro Valley Performing Arts Center, Castro Valley, CA, 7:30 PM (Tickets on sale next week)
NOVEMBER 14: Marin Center, San Rafael, CA, 7:30 PM
Not a Genuine Black Man:
SEPTEMBER 26: The Marsh, San Francisco, CA, 7:30 PM
SEPTEMBER 11 & 18: The Stephanie Feury Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, 7:30 PM
SEPTEMBER 20: Altarena Playhouse, Alameda, CA, 7:30 PM
SEPTEMBER 28: Tabard Theatre, San Jose, CA, 8 PM
The Waiting Period:
OCTOBER 5: Douglas Morrison Theater, Hayward, CA, 8 PM
SEPTEMBER 8 & 22: The Marsh, San Francisco, CA, 2 PM (FREE!)
OCTOBER 12: El Cerrito High School, El Cerrito, CA (FREE!)
OCTOBER 26: The Marsh, San Francisco, CA, 8:30 PM (FREE!)
OCTOBER 27: The Marsh, San Francisco, CA, 5:30 PM (FREE!)
Grandma & Me: An Ode to Single Parents:
(Workshop performances of my newest play)
OCTOBER 19 & NOVEMBER 2: The Marsh, San Francisco, CA, 8:30 PM
NOVEMBER 16 & 23: The Marsh, San Francisco, CA, 5 PM
The Jewelry Box:
NOVEMBER 30: Douglas Morrison Theater, Hayward, CA, 8 PM
DECEMBER 1: Altarena Playhouse, Alameda, CA, 5 PM
DECEMBER 6: The Marsh, San Francisco, CA, 8 PM (Tickets on sale soon)
DECEMBER 7: Castro Valley Performing Arts Center, Castro Valley, CA, 7 PM (Tickets on sale next week)
Have a safe and wonderful holiday weekend!
Copie
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