Joan Rivers: In Progress

Joan Rivers, the legendary American TV and celebrity personality, is workshopping her new original play The Joan Rivers Theatre Project at San Francisco's Magic Theatre.

BroadwayWorld.com's News Desk Editor, Eugene Lovendusky (a native of San Francisco), had the fortunate opportunity to chat with Rivers yesterday morning, to discuss her work-in-progress..

Eugene Lovendusky: Hi, how are you?

Joan Rivers: Very good thank you!

Eugene: Thank you very much for taking a moment out of your busy day and congratulations on the near-completion of The Joan Rivers Theatre Project at San Francisco's Magic Theatre.  I have to admit, in this case, it feels kind of funny for me to be asking the questions to you!

Joan: But that's good, it's nice for me to be answering.

Eugene: How's your stay in San Francisco?

Joan: Oh, it's amazing! Come on, it's a just a great theatre town. It's a very smart city, which is why I brought it here; because the audiences are really smart audiences. Also, the Magic Theatre is terrific. I mean, this is the home where Sam Shepard tries things out, so it's a very theatre-oriented group. It's just been wonderful. And I got to see Alcatraz!

Eugene: [laughs] How has the show been received?

Joan: You should get a hold of yesterday's Chronicle. It's been received amazingly. We wouldn't let them review us, but they've been writing about it ever-since. We're getting standing ovations. We put on extra shows. It's all very good, but it's all still very much a work-in-progress.

Eugene: Tell me about this work-in-progress.  What's it about? It starts with a cheese platter...?

Joan: I don't want to go into it now because you blow things away before they're finished. Lose the energy. I think it's all going to be fine and dandy and it's getting amazing response; much more than I thought it was going to get.

Eugene: Is it completely autobiographical?

Joan: Totally autobiographical! And it's based on a true story, a true incident that happened to me. And that makes it really wonderful for me, because you know when you look at something and say: "Wow! That could be a play! That could be a movie!" And then you do it and it really works.

Eugene: Awesome. You've definitely earned your name in the New York celebrity-world, but people don't immediately associate you with theatre...

Joan: It's funny. This will be my fourth foray into the theatre.  I did my first own original play called Fun City, then I did Broadway Bound and Sally Marr that I was given a Tony nomination for.

Eugene: A lot of people don't know that about you...

Joan: Yeah, well a lot of people don't know a lot of things... We all know what we see.

Eugene: Why did you decide to workshop the show in San Francisco?

Joan: I wanted a city away from New York; I didn't want people coming in when you don't think it's ready to be seen yet. In the old days, they went out of town. And my very good friend is David Rockwell, who is the scenic designer; and he took Legally Blonde to San Francisco and I thought: "What a good idea!"

Eugene: Yep, I was there for that! Are there plans to bring it to New York or other cities?

Joan: We're getting a lot of nibbles now.  Other cities, yes. We've already started a line-up tour; so other cities immediately.  Already the New York people are smelling around.  That's really great; a good position to be in.

Eugene: How did Director Mark Rucker come into the picture?

Joan: I am very friendly with Charles Busch who wrote The Allergist's Wife among a million other things... He directed Charles' movie and Charles thought he was terrific, and the theatre out here recommended him.

Eugene: You're also working alongside San Francisco actors. What's it like?

Joan: Oh they're very good! You forget that there's a whole community of actors outside New York City.

Eugene: What secrets other side of Joan Rivers are audiences are going to discover with this piece?

Joan: I think they're going to have many many many many many many many laughs. And there are four moments in it that are really very serious. I think it's a very good piece in a theatre to come away happy and sad and to have a good philosophy. It's a nice theatre evening.

Eugene: If I could step away from the show for a few seconds? If you weren't Joan Rivers, what do you think you'd be doing?

Joan: Who cares? [laughs] But I am! You know what I'm saying? I'm doing what I want to do, I love it. I probably would have been a teacher or an anthropologist.

Eugene: Working with people...

Joan: Always working with people.  Did you ever think what you would be?

Eugene: [laughs] Oh, now I'm on the spot! You basically invented working the red carpet. Do you remember with whom you had your "virginal on-carpet moment," so to speak?

Joan: Yes, and I did invent the red carpet. There was no red carpet before me. My first interview was lucky because I saw the paparazzi, and they don't ask questions? and I saw John Travolta. He was my first interview!

Eugene: Wow! What was it like? What'd you say?

Joan: Oh, who the hell knows! It was twelve years ago [laughs] John stopped and it was great because I knew him from "The Tonight Show." He was a friend so he stopped and that was it.  It was lovely.

Eugene: Congratulations with your show.  Where are you going next?

Joan: Right now I go back to New York, then I do a club date in Boston, and my QVC. All these things. I'm always busy. Busy is happy.

Eugene: Can I ask you one more question?

Joan: Anything you want!

Eugene: Who are you wearing?

Joan: Oh... that's very funny. I'm wearing the Fairmont Hotel bathrobe.

Eugene: [laughs] Well awesome.

Joan: A pleasure talking to you... Oh, one question for you: What have you seen that you've loved in New York?

Eugene: Oh! Last season I saw Sweeney Todd which blew me away.

Joan: It's out here now, by the way.

Eugene: Yeah, I'm so upset that I left before it showed up.  I haven't seen Spring Awakening yet, I plan to see that.  And I would love to see Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp back in Rent.

Joan: I saw Spring Awakening and it was wonderful, beautifully done!

Eugene: Have a great performance!

Joan: If you see me in the theatre, come over and tell me who you are!

Eugene: I certainly will. Thank you.

Joan: Bye bye.

Performances of The Joan Rivers Theatre Project are through September 2; Wednesdays - Saturdays at 8PM; Sundays at 2:30 & 7PM at The Magic Theatre (Bldg D, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco at Marina Blvd and Buchanan St). Tickets are $40 limited premium seats and $25 general (student, senior, educator discounts available) and are available at 415-441-8822 or www.magictheatre.org.

Photos of Joan Rivers by Charles William Bush