Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words continues its sit-down, open-ended run at the Triad Theater, 158 West 72 Street, tonight Monday, January 19, at 7:30pm, with a cast that includes Scott Adsit, Jackie Hoffman, Cheyenne Jackson, Kristen Johnston, Richard Kind, Seth Rudetsky, and Sherri Shepherd
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.
A special performance of Celebrity Autobiography will be part of SF Sketchfest tonight with a cast that includes Rachel Dratch, Will Forte, Michael McKean, Laraine Newman, Annette O'Toole, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel, Jason Sudeikis, and Scott Thompson. SF Sketchfest is a national comedy festival in San Francisco that mixes national headliners, local favorites, and the best up-and-coming g roups from throughout North America for a month of sketch, improv, stand-up, and alternative comedy. The festival has featured performers from every major North American television comedy hit of the last 25 years including "Saturday Night Live," "The Kids in the Hall," "Arrested Development," "The Upright Citizens Brigade," "The State," "Mystery Science Theatre 3000," "Strangers with Candy," "The Simpsons," and "The Daily Show."
Celebrity Autobiography is playing to sell-out audiences and rave reviews at the Triad Theater. Charles Isherwood of The New York Times called the show "big-yuks entertainment" and a "merry compendium of the witlessness and wisdom of the rich and famous." Joe Dziemian owicz of the Daily News called it a "potent comic cocktail...you weep with laughter." The New Yorker called it "inspired." And Sam Thielman of Variety wrote, "Audience members hyperventilate. It should lead a long and happy life." The show was recently featured on an episode of ABC's "The View" and on the same network's nighttime news show, "Nightline."
The line-up of rotating performers for the season includes Joy Behar, Bob Balaban, Matthew Broderick, Rachel Dratch ("Saturday Night Live"), Susie Essman ("Curb Your Enthusiam"), Will Forte ("Saturday Night Live"), Jackie Hoffman, 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"), Paul Rudd, 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.
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, an d garnering media attention.
Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words plays Mondays 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.
