I open regularly for David Sedaris on his tours, usually doing about six to eight shows every spring and again in the fall. I try to write new pieces each time a new tour starts. It’s one of my favorite parts of being a writer. I love the pressure of writing something for the stage. I love hearing the audience laugh. I especially love hearing David’s new work as it evolves from night to night.
Part of my process for this gig is to keep a running file of things I find funny. About two months before the first show, I start to go through my file to see what I can make from the fragments I’ve collected. A lot of what I find funny is stuff that comes out of my son’s mouth. Teenagers are great to quote. But there are things in the file that have sat there for a long time and just haven’t made it into a show essay yet. Some things may never make it. They’re like outtakes. These little pieces that have no home. So I thought I’d share a few here.
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