Come See My Show, "RETARD!" This Saturday

The word "amazing" is tossed around much too easily but I will stake whatever reputation I have in saying that the story of Jeffrie Givens and me is amazing. No Hollywood filmmaker would make the movie because it's so improbable. Yet it's absolutely true.

I'm so moved by her story, our story, that I created a play starring her (with me in a secondary role) to tell the tale. We do so with story and song.

A Taste of "RETARD!" 

Every performance of "Retard!" has received a standing ovation . 

We perform the show every few months. The next performance is THIS Saturday, June 13, 2015 at the Berkeley Arts Festival. 2133 University Ave. Berkeley, CA.

Doors open at 7:30 and the show begins at 8:00 and is over at around 9:45. 

Admission to this performance is free. 

If you'd like to come, please RSVP me at mnemko@comcast.net.

My Most Inspiring Career Counseling Client

Woodminster Amphitheatre, where Jeffrie Givens has performed in nine shows.

I tell the story of my most inspiring career counseling client, Jeffrie Givens, in my PsychologyToday.com article today.

I'd Love it If You'd Come See "Retard!"

For the past three years, I've been revising and polishing the one-woman show I've co-written, direct, and piano-accompany. It's called "Retard!" because that's what the woman, Jeffrie Givens, was called by students and teachers alike.

I must admit to being proud of it. Earlier versions have gotten a standing ovation and the current version is significantly improved.

We're doing a performance of it this Saturday, Nov. 1 at 8 PM at Wisteria Ways, a lovely brown shingle home in the Rockridge area of Oakland. There is a suggested donation of $15 to $20, all of which will go to Jeffrie. For info, reservations, and a one-minute video clip from the show, go to http://www.wisteriaways.org/events.html

An Autistic Person Performs

The latest show I've co-written with Jeffrie Givens is "Retard!" It tells her story from when she was called retarded by both children and her school to today, when she has been diagnosed with autism.

I've been her career coach and musical performance coach and here is a sample from the show.  I accompany on the piano.  

I haven't yet figured out how to keep the video from rolling over to my previous videos. So, after you've watched this, you may want to press "Stop."

Come See Jeffrie Givens and Me in Her One-Woman Show: Big, Black, and Shy

Jeffrie Givens with my doggie, Einstein, who has a role in the show

I'm pleased to announce the seventh performance of the one-woman show I have produced, directed, co-wrote, and piano-accompany: Big, Black and Shy. 

It will be at 2 PM on Sunday, Nov. 17 at my home at 5936 Chabolyn Terrace, Oakland, CA. The first six performances all sold out and all received a standing ovation. And since then, we've changed and improved the show significantly.

Me accompanying Jeffrie in Big, Black & Shy

Big, Black, and Shy is the inspiring story of, and told by, Jeffrie Givens, one of the shyest people ever to come out of East Oakland who additionally struggled because her values were different from the typical kids' in her community.

She tells her story in words and in songs---mainly some of Broadway show's greatest (and most challenging) songs--and truly, she's gone from being a performer who was as stiff as a cadaver to, well, you'll see.

The Rossmoor News review of the show:

 "Wow, what a terrific voice and what an inspiring story. Givens is an extremely talented young woman! After the show, I found myself comparing this experience in some degree to what I felt when I first witnessed Susan Boyle perform on 'Britain's Got Talent.'”

We believe the show is enjoyed best in an intimate setting so we are doing it in the living room of my home, which can seat only 22 people. Starting at 1:30, champagne will be served while I play the piano. The show will begin at 2:00 and end at around 3:30.

As I mentioned, each of the previous six performances sold out, so if you'd like to come, I suggest you buy your tickets now. They are $20 (all goes to Jeffrie) and you can buy them by emailing me your MasterCard or Visa number, expiration date, the zip code on the card's billing address and, of course, the number of tickets you want. My email address is mnemko@comcast.net. No one has ever emailed me their credit card information and had that information stolen but if you're concerned, you can call it into my office: 510-655-2777.  Also feel free to call if you have any questions about the show.  (Update: only eight seats remain as of this writing.)

A Very Shy Person Performs: A Black Susan Boyle

Jeffrie Givens was the shyest career counseling client I've ever had. She readily admits that cadavers are less stiff.

She was seeking a job in fundraising research. Even though that's a behind-the-scenes job, I knew her job search prospects were dim unless I could get her to become less shy.

Her hobby is singing and I asked her to sing for me. Indeed stiff as a cadaver. I then showed her videos of great performers doing the same song. She improved immediately.

I kept working with her and not only does she now have a great job--fundraising researcher for Children's Hospital in Oakland--she's become quite the performer.

She has received a standing ovation at every one of the five performances of her one-woman show, Big, Black, and Shy. Essentially it's the story of the person least likely to become a star. She's a Black Susan Boyle.

Here's 15 minutes of her singing to a packed house at The NoName in Sausalito. I accompany on the piano.

Big, Black, and Shy: A one-woman show truly worth seeing

I'm delighted that the one-woman show I co-wrote, direct, piano-accompany, and play comedic foil continues its ascension. Following yet another standing-ovation performance to a packed house at the NoName in Sausalito, our next performance is TONIGHT Feb 22 10 PM at The Park Avenue in Oakland, CA.  I'd love to see you. Here's the poster:

See the one-woman show that has received a standing ovation

EVERY performance!

Jeffrie Givens

in 

Big, Black, and Shy 

with accompanist and thorn in her side, 

Marty Nemko

She'll make you laugh, cry, relate, and go WOW!

One night only!

Friday, Feb. 22 10 PM

No cover charge. Just a one-drink minimum!

The Park Avenue

4184 Piedmont Ave.
 Oakland CA

A Sampler from the One-Woman Show I Co-Wrote and Piano-Accompanied

Here's a six-minute sampler from the one-woman show I co-wrote and piano-accompanied, Big, Black, and Shy. 

It starts with the performer, Jeffrie Givens, recreating an incident as a preschooler that reveals her extreme shyness. It includes a cameo appearance by my doggie Einstein.

At 1;04, there's the first snippet of her remarkable singing/performing ability.

That's followed by the improbable (and funny) true story of how I helped her go from being so shy to someone who performs in front of thousands of people.

At 3:45, she ends her show with a song the lyrics of which embed a lesson we all could probably benefit from.

As you'll see, she got a standing ovation, as she has every time she's performed the show.


 

You're Invited to What I Believe Will be A Great Experience--and it's free!

Update, Jan. 28, 2012: The seats are all gone. Sorry.

I believe the free show I'm about to invite you to will be more entertaining and inspiring than are many shows for which people pay $50 to $100.

A while back, a 40-minute version of the show got a standing ovation. The two-hour version I'm inviting you to should be much better still.

It's a one-woman show called Big, Black, and Shy. Jeffrie Givens tells her improbable story punctuated by songs from opera to show tunes to rap, from "In My Own Little Corner" to "Mean Green Mother from Out of Space" to "I Am What I Am." Funny, poignant, and inspiring, I believe you'll truly enjoy it. Of course, I'm biased, I created the show with Jeffrie, am directing it, and will be accompanying her on the piano.

The show will be at my home in Oakland, CA on Sunday Feb. 26 at 2 pm. My living room seats only 22 and, especially because it's free, if you want to come, email me as soon as possible: mnemko@comcast.net