Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words returns after twelve sold-out New York performances last spring for a sit-down, open-ended run beginning Monday, September 8, at the Triad Theater, 158 West 72 Street. (Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words will play a Monday night only schedule with performances at 7:30pm.)
Kristen Johnston and Rachel Dratch at Celebrity Autobiography
Photo By: Peter James Zielinski
The comedy sensation Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words features a line up of rotating performers who interpret the actual words and stories written by the famous and the infamous, in both solo and ensemble "chamber" pieces. Some of the "authors" that are featured include Ivana Trump, Vanna White, Mr. T, Star Jones, Kenny Loggins, Tommy Lee, Sylvester Stallone, 'N Sync, Zsa Zsa Gabor, David Cassidy, Neil Sedaka, Britney Spears, Madonna, Burt Reynolds and Loni Anderson, as well as the infamous memoirs of ElizaBeth Taylor, Eddie Fisher, and Debbie Reynolds, which are edited together to create a Rashomon-esque playlet in the participants' own words.
The line-up of rotating performers includes
Bob Balaban,
Rachel Dratch ("Saturday Night Live"),
Susie Essman ("Curb Your Enthusiam"),
Will Forte ("Saturday Night Live"),
Cheyenne Jackson (
Xanadu), two-time Emmy Award winner
Kristen Johnston,
Richard Kind ("Spin City" and The Producers),
Carson Kressley ("How to Look Good Naked"), Tony winner
Andrea Martin (
Young Frankenstein),
Dayle Reyfel,
Tony Roberts (
Xanadu),
Seth Rudetsky ("
Legally Blonde The Musical: the Search for Elle Woods"),
Claudia Shear (Dirty Blonde),
Sherri Shepherd ("The View"),
Michael Urie ("Ugly Betty"),
Bruce Vilanch,
Kristen Wiig ("Saturday Night Live"), Tony winner
BD Wong, Tony winner
Karen Ziemba,
Alan Zweibel, and creator/Emmy nominee
Eugene Pack.
The performer schedule for the first month of the run is currently scheduled to be:
September 8:
Rachel Dratch,
Kristen Johnston,
Richard Kind,
Eugene Pack,
Dayle Reyfel,
Sherri Shepherd
September 15:
Rachel Dratch,
Kristen Johnston,
Richard Kind,
Eugene Pack,
Dayle Reyfel,
Sherri Shepherd,
Bruce Vilanch
September 22:
Rachel Dratch,
Kristen Johnston,
Richard Kind,
Eugene Pack,
Dayle Reyfel,
Claudia Shear,
Sherri Shepherd
Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words was created by Emmy-nominated writer and performer
Eugene Pack. As Pack explains, "I would listen to a lot of books-on-tape, particularly autobiographies, and was astounded at what people would write about. When I would get a hold of one of these books and read it aloud to friends, they'd insist I was making it up. But people actually wrote these words! So I decided to put the material up in front of an audience, knowing that it would be extremely entertaining." An instant success, Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words began performing monthly shows in Los Angeles, co-hosted and co-produced by
Dayle Reyfel, quickly attracting celebrities as both guest performers and audience members, and garnering media attention.
In 2005, Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words premiered on Bravo TV as a one-hour comedy special (featuring
Bruce Vilanch, Jay Mohr,
Cheryl Hines,
Kevin Nealon,
Doris Roberts,
Fred Willard,
Julie Brown, Niecy Nash, Kel Mitchell,
Laraine Newman,
Dayle Reyfel,
Eugene Pack,
Jack Plotnick and
Andrea Martin), receiving enthusiastic raves.
Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words played its first New York performance on September 10, 2007 at the Zipper Factory as a benefit for the Actors' Fund, and added another show, by popular demand, the following month, on October 15.
Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words is produced by
Angelo Fraboni,
Peter Martin,
Eugene Pack, and
Dayle Reyfel.
Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words plays Monday at 7:30 pm at the Triad Theater, 158 West 72 Street. Tickets are $35 - $45 and may be purchased by contacting Smarttix at 212 868-4444 or
www.smarttix.com, or by visiting
www.celebrityautobiography.com. For group sales phone 718 631-0438. Please note that the Triad Theater has a two-drink minimum and is a cash-only venue.
