Alison Arngrim's "Confessions of a Prairie Bitch" comes to LA
By: BWW News Desk Feb. 05, 2005
TV fans around the world remember Alison Arngrim as hateful Nellie Oleson, the acid-tongued hellcat who tormented pure, sweet Laura Ingalls for seven years on TV's Little House on the Prairie. Arngrim has gone on to successes in many arenas, but Nellie has remained a centerpiece of her public acclaim. She recently premiered her one-woman show, Confessions of a Prairie Bitch, in New York City and now brings a newly re-invented version of the hit show to the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Renberg Theatre. The show, developed with and directed by the Center's Producing Artistic Director, Sue Hamilton, plays March 18 and 19 at 8:00 p.m. In addition to her role on "Little House," Alison guest-starred on such television classics as The Love Boat and Fantasy Island, and lampooned her own status as "ex-child star" on the month-long parody, "Hollywood Survivor," on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. She can also be seen in numerous independent films, including For the Love of May, with RuPaul, and The Last Place on Earth, co-starring Billy Dee Williams and Phyllis Diller.
A talented stand-up comedian, Alison has created quite a name for herself on the professional comedy circuit, headlining such venues as The Comedy Store and Laugh Factory, as well as comedy clubs across the U.S. and Canada. After the passing of her "Little House" co-star Steve Tracy, who died of AIDS in 1986, Alison immediately began volunteering at AIDS Project Los Angeles, providing AIDS education to doctors, nurses, prison inmates, service clubs, churches and schools. She has supported the cause of AIDS research across the country. Alison stunned viewers of The Larry King Show when she revealed a history of childhood sexual abuse. This led her to become very active in the cause of preventing child abuse, and she joined the advisory board of the National Association to Protect Children - PROTECT, for short.
Still, it's Nellie that people remember most, and Alison says even now strangers sometimes shy away from her until they realize that she's not going to hurt them. At least, not when she's offstage. In Confessions of a Prairie Bitch, audiences can expect the unexpected and more than a little Nellie Oleson-style wickedness on this hilarious ride through the twisted heartland of America. Net proceeds from all ticket sales support the complete range of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's programs and services.The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center provides a broad array of services for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, welcoming nearly a quarter-million client visits from ethnically diverse youth and adults each year. Through its Jeffrey Goodman Special Care Clinic, on-site pharmacy, and many other programs designed specifically for the community, the Gay & Lesbian Center is home to a spectrum of free and low-cost health, mental health, HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, advocacy, legal, social, cultural, and educational services, including unique programs for youth, families and seniors.
Information about the Gay & Lesbian Center and its programs and services is available on the Web at www.laglc.org.
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