Behold The Power of the Story Circle

Our second story circle was held in the Sand & Surf room, overlooking the pool at the Annenberg Beach House.  With a theme like Stand Up & Laugh, and another gorgeous day at the Beach, there was sure to be waves of love and laughter.   About 25 of us joined in the fun and the adventure.  The photo was taken before the story-sharing so, unfortunately, we're missing a few latecomers.

Earlier that morning, LA Magazine sent over Jason Kehe to interview me, and find out what I was up to :-).  I assured him, all things good :-)  Naomi and I were thrilled!  Ruthie Kott, editor of the University of Chicago Alumni Magazine, told me I'll be in the March/April issue.  

We shared many embarrassing moments, as well as countless stories of how humor enabled us to heal, grow, overcome.  Participants thanked me for creating a safe place where we can connect, remember who we were, reclaim who we are, and stake out who we want to be.  Sharing stories is a lot like swapping spit, or kissing.   It creates this intimacy and this longing that you never want to end, or break.  Richard & Rahla graciously invited everyone to their home in Topanga Canyon at a future date to be determined.  

That's right.  History repeated itself.  Independently.   Richard & Ralla had no idea that Eli & Shayna (also in attendance)  invited us to their lovely home after the first story circle.  I was tickled pink.  Imagined Marion Davies was too. 

Behold The Power of the Circle.  The Power of Your Stories.  Our Stories.

As some of you know, and expressed interest in attending, I'm reading Tuesday night, downtown LA.  99% Guerrilla Literature, 100% Fun.  Downtown LA, Brewery Art Colony.  Love to see you there if you can make it.  

 http://youtu.be/Da_8c2OVHt4

Be Revolutionary; Stand Up and Laugh! A Tribute to Marion Davies

Want everyone to see and have the official invite.


We had such a delightful time at the first story circle that we didn't want it to end. Zoe offered to cook her Serenata so Eli and Shayna opened up their home this coming Saturday, and invited everyone to bring a dish, and the story behind the dish because as we know, every dish has at least one story.  


Looking forward to the magic that will surprise us February 18th.  


Check out "Tell Your Story Circle with Lucy Wang - "Be Revolutionary; Stand Up and Laugh!"..." http://beachculture96-estw.eventbrite.com via @eventbrite

Laughter, A Revolutionary Emotion

It's a gorgeous day at the Marion Davies Guest House.

Gloria Steinem said laughter is the most revolutionary emotion.  Why?  Because while you can force someone to love you, fear you, respect you, you can't force someone to think something is funny.

Ever notice how easy it is to make someone cry, especially in the movies where you just cue up the music.

Not only is comedy a gift that keeps on giving, laughter supposedly is the best medicine.  I'm told people who laugh more live longer.  This gives me an even greater appreciation to people who can make you laugh.   Marion Davies was such a person.  A rare comedienne.  Physical and verbal.

Here are some of my favorite gems I discovered in her book, The Times We Had, Life With William Randolph Hearst.

Barbara (Cary Grant's wife) doesn't like to exercise at any time.  I'm the same way.  My exercise is going from chair to chair.

It's a very funny thing -- I just love the smell of a hamburger.  Nothing in life like food to make you feel good and give you strength and make you think nothing matters  You know, I do many bad things in my life that I hate, but when I eat food I think, It's not so bad, after all.

A man working on the Telegram in New York wrote a scathing article about the picture Cain and Mabel;  he said I should be washing dishes.  Little did he know that I loved to wash dishes, and I liked to dry them, too.

That's why I wanted the February 18th workshop to explore our sense of humor, and gifts of love and laughter.

Year of the Dragon

Wow, what a harrowing drive today.  Took two hours, gallons of patience and nerves of steel, to get to the Annenberg Beach House today.  Lots of accidents, vehicles of mass and minor destruction dumping water on the windshield, limiting visibility.  One driver nearly collided into me, but luckily I was fully focused.  No texting, No talking on the cell phone (bluetooth falls out of my ear most of the time), no, no, no.  Marion wouldn't have it.  Me dying on the 405.

Some good news, a short play of mine, WIDOW'S PEAK, is a semi-finalist in the 8th Annual Lakeshore Players Ten-Minute Play Festival.  From 350 to 40.  Fingers crossed.

Colin Newton, a reporter for the Santa Monica press, sent me this link this morning to share his article:

http://www.smdp.com/Articles-local-news-c-2012-01-22-73342.113116-Playwright-Lucy-Wang-begins-beach-house-artist-residency.html In spite of the rain, my writer friend Eric is on his way to visit this historic landmark, and learn more about the Annenberg.  Excited to show him around, and discuss the process, and business of writing.  And to warm the writing fingers and stimulate brain cells, did some creative writing prompts for this private writing group I belong to.   One of the prompts.... Describe what is outside your window.... Second,  What you should never do on a treadmill...

Perfect Day for Banana Fishing, Perfect Day at the Annenberg Beach House

Opening Day.  Always conjures up so much excitement.

I recently bought and started reading The Times We Had by Marion Davies, and forced myself to stop.  How cool, I thought, it would be to hear her voice, her laughter, her stories while a writer-in-residence at her guest house.   The sun is out, hear the roar of the PCH as well as the roar of the ocean.   Does it get better than that?

My opening workshop today is full, with people on the waiting list.  Music to my ears.  I love stories, and look forward to sharing.  Stories nourish and elevate the soul.  So happy that I'm not alone in recognizing the importance of the arts.  Already thinking about what might be a barrel of laughs for workshop number two, and a fun tribute to comedienne Marion Davies.

Come visit.

Please welcome our next Writer in Residence, Lucy Wang!

Lucy Wang, photo by Julia Dillon

Playwright Lucy Wang is starting her tenure on January 16, 2012 and will be working out of the second floor Resident's Office in the Marion Davies Guest House through March 26, 2012. She will be adapting her young adult novel Teen Mogul into a play, completing a second draft of her play-in-progress, Moo Goo Gai Pan Asian, and developing a ten-minute piece to perform in New York this fall.

Lucy's public events will focus on working with the public to unearth and exchange stories, especially stories around cultural and social traditions, as well as narratives about the Beach House and its history. On most Mondays and Saturdays throughout her term, she will be available to field questions from the public about playwriting, the residency, and the writing life from 11am-1pm from her office on the second floor of the Marion Davies Guest House. A full schedule, subject to change is appended below.

Her first public event, a Story Circle with Lucy Wang; New Year, New Beginnings, will take place from 2-4pm on Monday, January 16th. Save the dates of February 18th and March 19th for another participatory event and a final reading.

Open office hours - come by to say hello! Mondays 1/16, 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26 and Saturdays 2/18, 2/25, 3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24.

Information about the Annenberg Community Beach House and its Beach=Culture program.