Have a hoot

The best comedies always make you cry. What's a good laugh if it doesn't touch your heart and make you care? That's what's so great about Bernard Slade's "Same Time, Next Year" at Circle Theatre. It's that hearty kind of funny.  And to make the evening even funnier, my guest for Thursday's opening performance, Diane Steggerda, was talking about plans for the 50th reunion for Grandville High School. A woman in the audience that neither of us knew overheard her and determined that her family purchased the house where Diane's family once lived in Grandville. It turns out the two women grew up in the same bedroom at different times. That could be the inspiration for a new play, "Same Room, Different Time".

Tickled pink

What fun I've been having the past few days making arrangements to promote my books. All of a sudden, people want to book me to speak, to teach about memoir writing, to talk on self-publishing. Even Kent District Library has requested copies of my books. And I'm putting together a display for my beauty shop. Imagine that! I know this is the 15-minutes of fame everyone talks about, but why not enjoy it? Afterall, I am experienced at laughing for a living.

Who's laughing now?

Got drenched tonight at the free members concert at Meijer Gardens. We had moved to the back of the arena area because the music was so loud and we were trying to save a little bit of our hearing. We would put up our umbrella for light sprinkles but when it turned into a downpour, we had no option but to packup and head out. It was a shame because it was really a fun concert.

Smile and chuckle

You know, not all Laughing for a Living is a knee slapper. I spent a great weekend in Holland and Saugatuck seeing fantastic professional theater, which I enjoyed tremendously, even though I don't remember too many belly laughs. Saturday I saw I Remember Mama at Hope Summer Repertory. It's a warm family saga with plenty of light moments and a chuckle or two -- especially when Uncle Chris is teaching his great nephew how to curse. Then Sunday I saw Five Guys Named Moe at Mason Street Warehouse and all I can say is Moe, give me Moe! This show features a snappy, high-energy male quintet singing the 40s jazz of Louis Jordan, smooth and sassy. And get-outta-your-seat fun, at times. Read my reviews on Encore Michigan

Zimmer's zingers

Enjoyed a few chuckles today with Kim Zimmer, the West Michigan native who has reigned over soap operas for more than 30 years. Kim has a new book coming out Aug. 2 and it's just as straight forward as she is. Balls-to-the-wall is the way she describes it. "I'm known for being honest," she told me in a phone interview from her New Jersey home. "Fans deserve to know the truth. Why lie about anything?"  She blamed the producers for the demise of "Guiding Light"  in 2009, and likened their decisions to "Springtime for Hitler," the planned-to-fail musical that's the central joke of "The Producers." The show was torpedoed by cutting corners and staff, she said, ignoring the fans and trying to appeal to a new audience. I couldn't help but think how closely that scenario parallels the demise of newspapers.

More Laughing for a Living

Not to be outdone by my new release, Great News Town,  my memoir Laughing for a Living is now being featured on  Self-Publishing Spotlight a service of the Kalamazoo Gazette. Check it out -- and please recommend the book if you like it.  I'll be talking about both books at 7 tonight at Schuler's Books and Music on Alpine. See you there.

Two beeps or not two beeps?

No puns are worse than Shakespeare puns and there a puns a plenty in Return to the Forbidden Planet, which opened Friday at Hope Summer Repertory Theatre. What an energetic show.  I couldn't believe that small, 9-member cast could create such a whirlwind of activity. Of course, having a score with more than 20 rock tunes including "Wipeout," "Great Balls of Fire" and "Shake, Rattle and Roll"  had something to do with it. And when everyone in the audience joins in a mass hand jive to reverse polarity... well, it was just another day of laughing for a living!