Here is a montage of a few minutes from our staged reading.

Marie Dressler was a wildly popular vaudeville, stage and film star from the 1880’s to

the 1930’s. She was a dynamo whose off-stage life was as thrilling and varied as the roles she played, and yet few people today have ever heard her name. Perhaps that’s because she didn’t always adhere to the norms of her day, but for us, that just made her more interesting! To wit:

• She wasn’t attractive by the beauty standards of her day 
• She stood up for the underdog, founding a union for underpaid and overworked chorus members and working tirelessly to sell War Bonds during World War One (selling more than any other performer)
• She had romantic relationships with both men and women
• Before her, comedy had been almost exclusively the property of men
• After decades as a slapstick comedienne, she achieved her dream of playing serious roles, winning a Best Actress Oscar for “Min and Bill” at age 62
• To this day, she remains the only female performer to be declared “top box office draw” when over the age of sixty

As is evident, many of the obstacles Marie faced are still present today, particularly for older women (like the show’s writers). In addition to its bearing on today’s issues, however, Marie’s story includes laugh-out-loud comedy, toe-tapping musical numbers and fascinating elements of vaudeville and film history. The result? A show that can appeal to a wide range of potential ticket buyers, from fans of classic musical theater to history buffs to newer audiences who’ll appreciate its contemporary relevance to general arts supporters who enjoy supporting new work.