'CELEBRITY AUTOBIOGRAPHY' Hits SF with Forte, Dratch On 1/19

A performance of Celebrity Autobiography will be part of SF Sketchfest on Monday, January 19, with a cast that includes Rachel Dratch, Will Forte, Michael McKean, Laraine Newman, Annette O'Toole, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel, Jason Sudeikis, and Scott Thompson.

SF Sketchfest is a national comedy festival in San Francisco that mixes national headliners, local favorites, and the best up-and-coming groups from throughout North America for a month of sketch, improv, stand-up, and alternative comedy.

The festival has featured performers from every major North American television comedy hit of the last 25 years including "Saturday Night Live," "The Kids in the Hall," "Arrested Development," "The Upright Citizens Brigade," "The State," "Mystery Science Theatre 3000," "Strangers with Candy," "The Simpsons," and "The Daily Show."

Celebrity Autobiography is playing to sell-out audiences and rave reviews. Charles Isherwood of The New York Times called the show "big-yuks entertainment" and a "merry compendium of the witlessness and wisdom of the rich and famous." Joe Dziemianowicz of the Daily News called it a "potent comic cocktail...you weep with laughter." The New Yorker called it "inspired." And Sam Thielman of Variety wrote, "Audience members hyperventilate. It should lead a long and happy life." The show was recently feature on an episode of ABC's "The View" and will be featured in the coming weeks on the same network's nighttime news show, "Nightline."

The comedy sensation Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words features a line-up of rotating performers who interpret the actual words and stories written by the famous and the infamous, in both solo and ensemble "chamber" pieces. Some of the "authors" that are featured include Ivana Trump, VAnna White, Mr. T, Star Jones, Kenny Loggins, Tommy Lee, Sylvester Stallone, 'N Sync, Zsa Zsa Gabor, David Cassidy, Neil Sedaka, Britney Spears, Madonna, Burt Reynolds and Loni Anderson, as well as the infamous memoirs of ElizaBeth Taylor, Eddie Fisher, and Debbie Reynolds, which are edited together to create a Rashomon-esque playlet in the participants' own words.

The line-up of rotating performers for the season includes Scott Adsit, Joy Behar, Bob Balaban, Matthew Broderick, Rachel Dratch, Susie Essman, Will Forte, Neil Patrick Harris, Jackie Hoffman, Cheyenne Jackson, Kristen Johnston, Richard Kind, Carson Kressley, Andrea Martin, Dayle Reyfel, Seth Rudetsky, Paul Rudd, Claudia Shear, Sherri Shepherd, Jason Sudeikis, Michael Urie, Bruce Vilanch, Julie White, Kristen Wiig, BD Wong, Alan Zweibel, and creator Eugene Pack.

Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words plays Mondays at 7:30 pm at the Triad Theater, 158 West 72 Street. Tickets are $35 - $45 and may be purchased by contacting Smarttix at 212 868-4444 or www. smarttix.com, or by visiting www.celebrityautobiography.com. For group sales phone 718 631-0438. Please note that the Triad Theater has a two-drink minimum and is a cash-only venue.

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