“You’ll laugh. You’ll cry… Randolph mines new depth of hilarity.” – Robert Hurwitt, San Francisco Chronicle “Irreverent, hilarious and deeply human.”- Linda Ayres-Frederick, SF Bay Times

“Riotously demented and brilliantly humane. Not to be missed.” Rob Avila, SF Bay Guardian

“Best Solo Performer of San Francisco 2010” San Francisco Examiner

Death becomes her – Actress mines grief for hilarity in LOVELAND

What’s so funny about death?

Plenty if you’re award-winning writer/performer, Ann Randolph, renowned for transforming pain into humor.

Randolph’s critically acclaimed solo show, LOVELAND shows June 21st at the Shatford Centre.

The impetus for the show was the year preceding Ann’s father’s death. Continuously flying between Los Angeles, Calif. and Loveland, Ohio, Randolph thought every time she boarded the plane it’d be the last time she’d see her father. Mining humor and pain, LOVELAND was written in flight as a way to deal with the anguish.

“I thought the grief would over-take me,” she said. “So I explored every aspect of what I thought would happen if I let myself lose it and I found the humor along the way.”

In LOVELAND, Randolph takes the audience on an unforgettable cross-country flight that is hilarious and deeply human. Randolph embodies multiple characters, including heroine, Frannie Potts, an out of control, sexually charged misfit overwhelmed by grief. Facing the loss of the greatest love of her life, she stumbles from outrageous confrontation and awkward confusion to a glimpse of the mystery, tragedy and beauty that unites us all.

Solo Performance and humor as a coping mechanism for challenging life experiences is not new to this seasoned actress. Randolph’s past productions have examined social issues running the gamut from homelessness to mental illness. Mel Brooks and the late Anne Bancroft produced her solo show, “SQUEEZE BOX,” Randolph’s story about working the graveyard shift in a homeless shelter. “SQUEEZE BOX” ran Off-Broadway and garnered many awards including LA Weekly’s “Best Solo Show” and the Ovation Award for “Best Solo Performer.”

In conjunction with the show, Randolph will be leading a mini writing workshop immediately following the performance. Also, the following day, Randolph will lead a 2 day workshop for the Okanagan School of the Arts. In addition to being an award winning performer. Randolph tours the country and teaches regularly at Esalen, Hollyhock, and arts centers across the country, helping people write their stories.

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Ann Randolph’s LOVELAND

Directed by Matt Roth WHEN: 7:30 pm, Friday, June 21st

WHERE: Shatford Centre, 760 Main Street, Penticton TICKETS: $25
For tickets, call 250-770-7668

For more information, visit www.shatfordcentre.com and www.annrandolph.com