the lady with all the answers

photo by: malone and co.

a few weeks ago i was asked by a dear friend katie, who happens to be the new pr director of the omaha community playhouse, if i would be interested in joining a 'buzz team.'

its pretty simple: i get opening weekend season tickets to the playhouse and then i work my social media and networking magic to spread the word about the show and tell people what i think about the play.

this weekend the first play opened.

the lady with all the answers

what the playbill says:

For decades, renowned newspaper advice columnist Ann Landers responded to countless questions from lovelorn teens, confused couples, and a multitude of others in need of advice on matters small and momentous – like the proper way to hang toilet paper rolls. This one-woman show provides a compelling portrait of this folksy, funny, frank, and slightly eccentric writer and personality. Eppie Lederer was born in Sioux City, Iowa, and for several years was a happy Midwestern housewife. When her family moved to Chicago, she applied for a job to assist the woman writing the syndicated “Ann Landers” advice column for the Chicago Sun-Times. But the woman had just died and Eppie was hired to write the column … and she also inherited the Ann Landers pen-name. At the height of her popularity, Ann Landers was read by some 90 million people. Her daily dialog with America helped shape the social landscape for almost half a century.

what i thought:
this one woman show was awesome! i have never seen a one person play before and i was super impressed by how she didn't miss a beat and interacted with the audience.

the gal who played eppie aka ann landers, kathy wheeldon, was just great. so funny. she got the iconic hair swoop right on.

i loved her jewelery: it reminded me of the vintage glam stella and dot pearls that i use to sell.

i loved the one room set that was set up like her office with her typewriter adored with owls everywhere.

i loved how she sprayed chanel number 5 into the air and how it wafted up to me as she described how she wore it everyday and how special it was to the injured troops she visited in vietnam.

i loved how it reminded me my days as a columnist at the gateway at uno.

i loved her typewriter...ps- i still want an old one like this someday.

and i loved listening to my mother-in-law giggle throughout the show.

who would like this show:
this show is sure to please long time readers and youngsters (like me) alike. i dont remember reading her columns like my mother-in-law did, but i loved it just the same. so cool to learn about this ground breaking iowa woman who really set the tone strong, smart, savy business ladies to come.

when you can catch it:
august 26-september 19
you can get tickets here.

next on the docket:
footloose, the musical on september 17th (it's like the theatre gods knew it was the day after my birthday)
i can't wait to foot-foot-footloose!!