Fisher's WISHFUL DRINKING to be Filmed Live at SOPAC for HBO Documentary Feature, 6/25

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Carrie Fisher will perform her Wishful Drinking at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) on June 25 & 26. Today, BroadwayWorld has learned that the June 25 performance will be filmed live for television as a feature-length documentary by HBO and World of Wonder Productions. The special will combine elements of her one-woman stage performance, taped before the live audience at SOPAC, with archival footage and interviews with friends and family.

In Wishful Drinking, Carrie Fisher recounts the true and intoxicating tale of her life as a Hollywood legend, told with the same wry wit she poured into bestsellers like Postcards from the Edge. The daughter of Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, Carrie Fisher became a cultural icon when she starred as "Princess Leia" in the first Star Wars trilogy at 19 years old. Forever changed, Carrie's life did not stay picture perfect. Fisher is the life of the party in this uproarious and sobering look at her Hollywood hangover.

An HBO Documentary Films presentation, Wishfu Drinking is produced and directed by World of Wonder's Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey, whose previous HBO and CINEMAX credits include "Heidi Fleiss: The Would Be Madam Of Crystal," "Monica in Black and White" and "The Eyes of Tammy Faye." Senior producer is Lisa Heller. Sheila Nevins executive produces. 

Additional production and broadcast details have not yet been released.

Wishful Drinking plays SOPAC Friday, June 25 at 8PM and Saturday, June 26 at 2PM & 8PM.

Tickets: $85, $65. Call 973.313.ARTS (2787) or visit http://www.sopacNOW.org.

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Since her feature debut opposite Warren Beatty in SHAMPOO in 1975, Carrie Fisher has been a compelling force in the film industry. She attained international recognition as Princess Leia, a role that made her a cultural icon, in the box office sensation STAR WARS and the smash hit sequels THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and RETURN OF THE JEDI. Other acting credits include THE BLUES BROTHERS, GARBO TALKS, WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, & AUSTIN POWERS to name a few.

Carrie became a sensation with The New York Times bestseller, POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE, for which she won the Los Angeles Pen Award for Best First Novel. Three additional best selling novels SURRENDER THE PINK and DELUSIONS OF GRANDMA & Wishful Drinking followed. Fisher also wrote the screenplay based on her best seller POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE, which starred Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine.

Ms. Fisher's fourth novel, THE BEST AWFUL, received rave reviews and she is currently adapting THE BEST AWFUL for Lifetime & Sony, with producers Bruce Cohen & Dan Jinks.

Carrie Fisher's experience with mental illness and addiction has made her a very popular speaker on the lecture circuit as well. She has appeared on the Senate floor urging state legislators to increase government funding on medication for people living with mental health issues. She has received dozens of various awards for her courage and commitment to fighting mental illness and the stigmas that are associated with it.

Ms. Fisher completed a major run of her hit autobiographical one-woman show, "Wishful Drinking" at The Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles in 2006 and most recently on Broadway at the Roundabout Theatre Company's Studio 54.

She resides in Los Angeles with her daughter, Billie, and other occasional house-guests (like you care): Sean Lennon, Craig Bierko, Michael Rosenbaum, Garret Edington, Mary French, Marianne Faithful, Francois Ravard, Charlie Wessler, Griffin Dunne, Edgar & Rachael Phillips, James Blunt ...And Greg Stevens Oh...and her mother lives next door to her, as well.

For more on Carrie Fisher, visit www.carriefisher.com.