I See You Made an Effort (2015)
Written and performed by Annabelle Gurwitch
Directed by Bart DeLorenzo
I See You Made An Effort asks the question: Is it possible to enjoy just one night off from the hilarious indignities that are visited upon a woman of a certain age?
Synopsis: I SEE YOU MADE AN EFFORT is actress and author Annabelle Gurwitch's (Dinner & a Movie; You Say Tomato, I Say Shut UP; Fired!; NPR) hilarious personal accounting of hitting the half-century mark and the effort it takes to forge ahead.
Based on her New York Times Bestselling book of the same name,
I SEE YOU MADE AN EFFORT is an unflinching mid-life roller-coaster escapade that weaves biting social commentary with exhilarating pathos. Whether she's navigating the tricky waters of acceptable behavior with her teenage son, being hounded by the AARP, realizing she's aged out of her own Mrs. Robinson sex fantasy, or discovering her invisibility at a punk rock concert, it's the ultimate coming- of- middle-age story.
Bart DeLorenzo
director
is the founding Artistic Director of the Evidence Room Theater. Recent work includes Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike and the premieres of Sugar Plum Fairy, tokyo fish story, Fast Company, Doctor Cerberus and Shipwrecked!: An Entertainment at South Coast Repertory; Stage Kiss and the premieres of Death of the Author, and Coney Island Christmas at the Geffen Playhouse; Annapurna with The New Group (Off-Broadway); Nomad Motel at Pittsburgh’s City Theatre; Kiss, Go Back to Where You Are, and A Number at the Odyssey Theatre; Need to Know at Rogue Machine Theatre; Cymbeline at A Noise Within; The Projectionist at the Kirk Douglas, and The Night Watcher at Washington’s Studio Theatre. Recent Evidence Room productions include The False Servant, Passion Play, Ivanov, Margo Veil, and The Receptionist. Faculty at CalArts. Awards: LA Drama Critics Circle including career achievement, LA Weekly, Backstage Garlands, and TCG’s Alan Schneider Director Award.
Annabelle Gurwitch
writer / actor
New York Times Bestselling author and actress, Annabelle Gurwitch's latest book is, "I See You Made an Effort" (Blue Rider Press).
"I See You Made an Effort," was selected by the New York Times' Books of Style and is a Jewish Book Council Selection 2014-2015. Her book is a brutally honest and wickedly funny collection of essays that confronts the realities of middle age. She gained a loyal comedic following hosting Dinner and a Movie on TBS. Annabelle is also the author of "You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up", and "Fired!" also praised by the New York Times' Book of Style. She has been a regular commentator on NPR and a contributor to the New York Times, The Nation, The Los Angeles Times, More, Marie Claire, Glamour and many other national publications. She is currently adapting "Effort" for the F/X television network.
Her acting credits include Seinfeld, Boston Legal, Dexter and hosting programs on Planet Green Network, The Style Channel and HBO. Her media appearances include The Today Show, Oprah, Real Time with Bill Maher, MSNBC, CNN, FOX.
On stage, the "I See You Made an Effort" book was launched in sold out evenings at Second Stage Theater with readings performed by Broadway stars including Jessica Hecht, Gina Gershon, and Alice Ripley and in Los Angeles readings with Annabeth Gish, Joely Fisher, Jane Kaczmarek and Amy Brenneman. "You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up" is now a play which Annabelle and her husband launched at The Snapple, Off B-way, it has played at The Pittsburgh CLO, The Blumenthal, The Kravits, The Denver Center, Penn's Landing Playhouse and over 30 other theaters around the country. "Fired!" played sold out evenings at Second Stage and toured the country at venues including The Scottsdale Center of Performing Arts, Hampton Theater in Virginia and Long Beach Center for the Performing Arts.
Gurwitch starred in the world premiere of A Coney Island Christmas at The Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, the 20th anniversary production of Uncommon Women at Second Stage in NYC, LA Theater Works shows include, Our Lady of 121st Street, Adam's Rib and Sixteen Wounded. Her work Off- Broadway in Joe and Betty earned her a place in "The Top Ten Performances of the Year" in both The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times.
Her live appearances include: The Moth Mainstage, 92nd St Y, New York Comedy Festival, UCB, Groundlings, SXSW in Austin, Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts, The Nashville Library, many story salon series, JCCs around the country.
REVIEWS
Fresh and funny - LA Times
Hilarious everyday experiences!
Gurwitch possess a charismatic stage presence
- BroadwayWorld
You will applaud until your 'gnarly hands' are raw!
- Discover Hollywood
She is funny.
The lady can make us wince at and chuckle over each body blow!
- Curtain Up
