Oh! What a Night!

When I was a little girl I had big dreams. Lots of big dreams. I wanted to be like Annie Oakley. A cowgirl of the West. I wanted to be like Nancy Drew. Solving every mystery in sight. And I wanted to be me - whoever that was - when I grew up.

Well, I am happy to report that on December 13th, at the Company of Angels Theatre, one of my dreams came true. I didn't shoot anybody or solve a crime, but what I did see was a part of myself come alive. My words were performed. Not yours, or Harry's or Bob's or Betty's - but my words. MY WORDS.

When I began Tales of Downtown, about my adventures living in a loft in downtown LA, I had no idea, that my posts would make the leap from blog page to theater stage. That they would be performed by four actresses - Juanita Chase, Deborah Geer, Betty Goldstein, and Jill Weiss -  who were funny, and talented, and kooky, and endearing. Women (except for Betty) who I had only met four days before at rehearsals!

But, as I sat there in the audience, an observer of them observing me, I couldn't believe it. It was as though someone else had written the words - as if I had heard them for the first time, even though I knew what the next line would be. How could that be? 

Okay, the whole experience was surreal. Out of body. Fantastic. A dream. And I laughed - oh how I laughed. At MY WORDS. 

So did many others. They actually giggled - some with tears streaming down their faces when they heard, "I Am a Chinese Woman Living in a Jewish Woman's Body," "The Ghost of Alfred Hitchcock Talks to Me," "People are Graffiti," and eleven more tales. Granted many of them were my friends, there to support me - but if I realized one thing that night - you can't make someone else laugh - it's either funny or it isn't. And they laughed!

As we all left the theater on our way for hot dogs and champagne at Julie Rico's Weeneez, we were all on a high. "We did it!," we shouted.  "Oh! What A Night," I said again and again.

And it was. One of the best nights of my life. Nancy

See more pictures from the event here.

Comments

[Vicky DeCoster]

Oh Nancy, I am so proud of you and so happy that your dream has come true. No one deserves it more than you and thank you for making me laugh all the time.

[Linda Jay Geldens]

From blogs to "the boards" (the stage)-- maybe, eventually, to Broadway?!? Great, Nancy, you've accomplished something truly rare!

[TalesofDowntown.com]

Thank you for the wonderful comments. It was such a great experience. Nancy

[Oakley Sunglasses]

I can see and feel how wonderful it is to make your dreams come true and I hope you will continue writing songs and articles of inspiration.