When "Celebrity Autobiography" performs at Feinstein's At the Nikko on September 20 and 21, audiences will have a chance to laugh at, and with, all those "shocking" tell-all autobiographies that Hollywood stars are so fond of writing, often during the waning days of their careers.
The concept of the show is simple. A group of well-known performers, many with strong backgrounds in comedy, will perform dramatic, or perhaps tongue in cheek, readings from actual celebrity autobiographies. Audiences will hear the stars' (or their ghost writers) own words, in all their campy glory.
Laraine Newman, one of "Saturday Night Live" 's original Not Ready For Prime Time Players, will be among those who spill the "secrets" of other stars.
"I would say that 'Celebrity Autobiography' is a show where actors, singers, musicians, and other 'celebrities' read from the autobiographies of other actors, singers, musicians and celebrities," Newman said in a phone interview. "The catch is that the creators of the show, after culling through over 300 celebrity autobiographies, have selected ones that really need to be heard to be believed. From people listing the contents of their refrigerators to three noted stars' different accounts of the same incident. This show is unique each time because of the variety of performers doing it and the rotation of material."
Newman explained why audiences-show biz buffs will enjoy "Celebrity Autobiography," and why she enjoys doing it.
"The casts are always terrific and it might be the first time the audience has seen some of these actors live onstage," she said. "I think what's also appealing to audiences is seeing actors performing in a way they've never seen them before. I love doing the show because I get to meet a lot of great people I've admired, and there's a lot of fun to be had in getting laughs from the material."
One can only imagine what we can expect. Many "Titanic" fans were shocked when Gloria Stuart (Old Rose) published her 1999 autobiography "I Just Kept Hoping." 89 years old at the time, Stuart admitted to her fondness for masturbation. But these are the kinds of hilarious tidbits which fuels "Celebrity Autobiography."
Newman will be joined on stage by Tim Bagley, who's best known for his recurring role as Larry (one half of the gay couple Larry and Joe) on "Will and Grace." The openly gay Bagley currently appears on Showtime's "Web Therapy."
"It's a wonderful show," Bagley said of "Celebrity Autobiography." "When I first saw it with Laraine and Fred Willard, they took real autobiographies by Elizabeth Taylor, Cher, and Debbie Reynolds. They found little snippets and you hear how ridiculous they sound. You can't believe what they're writing. It's not mean-spirited, just funny."
Bagley assures us that the celebs are okay with these readings, or they've at least remained silent about it.
"There's been no backlash, ever," he said. "These are their words. They wrote these words. And I'm not afraid of people being upset with me; in comedy you can't be afraid. And we're selling these books!"
Bagley still wasn't sure what he'd be reading from at the upcoming Feinstein's show.
"They let us know a week before," he said. "We work on stuff at home and then get together to rehearse. Last time I read from Cher! Anything they put in front of me will be fine: David Hasselhoff, Ricky Martin, Britney Spears. It crosses gender and is hilarious!"
Bagley and Newman will be joined on the Feinstein's stage by comic legend Fred Willard, and by the co-creators of "Celebrity Autobiography," Dayle Reyfel and Eugene Pack.
The laughs commence September 20 and 21 at 7pm at Feinstein's at Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. $35-50. www.ticketweb.com www.celebrityautobiography.com