RAISED BY GAYS AND TURNED OUT OK! Set for 2016 San Francisco Fringe Festival

Elizabeth Collins did not have a "normal" childhood. Her formative years were shaped by her father coming out of the closet, her parents' divorce and the second half of her childhood living with two gay men. In the rollercoaster ride of her experience, what Collins developed most was a wicked sense of humor, a dry wit, acceptance, lots of love...and some amazing stories!

All of which she shares with her solo show Raised by Gays and Turned Out OK! playing limited dates from Sept. 17-22 at the EXIT Theatreplex as part of the San Francisco Fringe Festival.

"I am thrilled to be taking my show to San Francisco because it is the mecca for children with LGBTQ parents," Collins said. "With this show, audiences will get an insight into the mindset of someone who was raised by gay men at a time and place where it was more taboo than it is now."

Raised by Gays and Turned Out OK! is coming off successful runs at both the Hollywood Fringe Festival and the Houston Fringe Festival and she is also looking at potential performances in New York. Her story puts a unique twist on the solo show genre as she describes with her own brand of humor, total honesty and deep passion and compassion her experience of growing up with two gay men in Texas. She talks about both embracing and later questioning her father's choices as she finds religion, the difficulties and danger of the lifestyle in a conservative state, their growth together to a place of acceptance and love and all the hysterical stories that happened along the way.

"I've been sharing these stories as part of my routine for the past five plus years and knew that I wanted to make a show out of them," said Collins, whose stand up career has taken her to L.A., New York, Paris, Chicago and more. "There's such an interesting perspective that comes from experiencing what I did and I wanted to share it. It's really about the stories; they're the entertainment. What I'm trying to give are powerful stories that will also make you pee your pants!"

The show has garnered a lot of praise and press, including a feature story in the Houston Chronicle and rave reviews in Hollywood from even some of the toughest critics. "Collins writes of family drama with the wry observation of a David Sedaris and the understatement of a Sarah Vowell," wrote notoriously hard-nosed critic Jason Rohrer. "Elizabeth's story is hilarious and heartfelt and she tells the heck out of it," said DC Pierson, comedian, storyteller and author of "Crap Kingdom."

For Collins, she's just thrilled patrons are responding to her stories and that it's making an impact. "I experienced a lot in this adventure, from bigotry and confusion to compassion and acceptance," she said. "But I also learned a lot, especially when it comes to love. I'm just excited to share that...and to make people laugh!"

Collins said she can't wait to bring her show to San Francisco audiences. On top of being a new mother and working her entertainment career, Collins also heads the L.A. chapter of COLAGE, an organization for children of LGBTQ parents and contributes the Gay Dad Project, an organization for adults who have had one parent come out after being in a straight marriage.

"Many of the organizations I am associated with have their roots in San Francisco," Collins said. "I am looking forward to meeting up with people I have met online and seeing them in person and sharing my story with them and hearing their stories as well. It's like they are all long lost family members I can't wait to see for the first time."

IF YOU GO:

Saturday, Sept. 17 - 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 18 - 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 21 - 8:30 a.m.

Thursday, Sept. 22 - 7:00 a.m.

At EXIT Theatreplex, 156 Eddy St., San Francisco, CA 94102

General Admission: $12.00

For more information, visit www.sffringe.org/raised, or go to www.elizabethcollins.com.

Celebrating its 25th Anniversary, the San Francisco Fringe Festival brings fresh, daring, exciting theatre of all varieties to open-minded audiences of all persuasions. Often over-the-top and under-the-radar of traditional theatre, "The Fringe" whose motto is No Risk, No Art, has its rabid devotees - and wins more fans every year. Most performances run under an hour and Fringe Fans have fun trooping from venue to venue, seeing as many shows as they can in one day.

The 2016 San Francisco Fringe Festival, September 9-24 (every day but Mondays), brings 38 shows to San Francisco's EXIT Theatreplex, 156 Eddy Street and to PianoFight, 144 Taylor Street. Both venues are within walking distance of Union Square and the Powell Street BART station.

For complete listings of venues, shows and times go to www.sffringe.org or get the "San Francisco Fringe Fest" mobile app at the Apple App Store or Google Play. You can also call the Fringe Hotline at (415) 673-3847. Tickets are $12 (at the door, cash only) or less per show, with a ten-show Frequent Fringer pass at $85 and a five-show pass at $45. Online sales are available at the Fringe web site, www.sffringe.org.

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