"My Ship" Sails to TV - Singer/Comic Laura Ainsworth's Musical Lampoon of Age-Phobia Coming to DCTV/Comcast Cable

Dallas singer/comedian Laura Ainsworth's skewering of society's pressure to stay young and beautiful has hit a nerve, with fans dubbing it a "musical 'Defending the Caveman' for women." Selling out ever-bigger venues, it has attracted the support of a DCTV/Comcast Cable producer, who will be filming it for a TV special on July 18.

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) July 5, 2004 -- When Dallas-based singer/comedian Laura Ainsworth decided to create a one-woman show based on her pet peeve -- the intense pressure society puts on women to keep looking young -- she felt certain it would appeal to a lot of people who agree with her that age is "the last culturally-acceptable bias." She even saw it ending up on TV someday. But she never imagined it would happen so soon: on July 18, the cameras start rolling, less than a year after the show was born.

Ms. Ainsworth (a tall, striking redhead of adamantly undisclosed age, who co-writes the internationally-syndicated radio service, The Comedy Wire) dubbed her show, "My Ship Has Sailed: How To Be A Late-Bloomer In A World Obsessed With Extreme Youth." She filled it with biting monologues and parody songs that wed jazz, pop and classical melodies to witty lyrics about plastic surgery, cosmetics, double standards on aging, and every other aspect of todays hell-bent pursuit of youth. And she topped it off with an inspirational message that age shouldnt matter, plus her own advice, such as, "Never tell your age. If anyone asks, just say, 'I can't recall. But how much do you weigh?'"

Teaming with longtime friend and pianist Brian Piper, she launched her ship in a tiny club on Lower Greenville, a funky Dallas entertainment strip that attracts more boozy college students than consumers of anti-wrinkle creams. But word got around, helped by her humorous weblog at www.lauraainsworth.com and some newspaper articles that hailed the show as "a potential cult phenomenon" and compared its shoestring origins and feminine appeal to "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." Suburban adults began braving the bohemian neighborhood to see this rare show that actually spoke to people over 25.

Ainsworth said, "Women would see it, then return the next week with all their girlfriends. Some nights, we had nothing but groups of eight or ten or 12. They'd hang around afterward to hug me, or tell me their own horror stories. I could tell from the applause for certain jokes about 'Extreme Makeover' or lying about your age on your resume that people had been waiting a long time for someone to ridicule this stuff."

"And I know when my audience is happy, because they don't overdo the Botox."

The act also began getting corporate and private bookings, including a birthday party in a living room for an audience of five women. Ainsworth said, "It was one of the best shows we've done. Those five girlfriends made more noise than a club full of college sophomores."

In its next step up, the show found a new home at Django On The Parkway, a spacious supper club in upscale North Dallas. Even Ms. Ainsworth was shocked on opening night: "This huge club was sold out! The staff had to drag extra chairs into the bar area to handle the overflow."

Soon, the show began attracting the attention of Las Vegas bookers and media members, including award-winning Dallas TV producer David Clements. He said, "I was at a cabaret showcase where Laura did a song that was like Julie Andrews meets 'Weird Al' Yankovic. It was 'The Simple Joys of Maidenhood' from 'Camelot,' except the words were about designers expecting grown women to squeeze into raunchy Britney Spears outfits that show 'the tiny purple veins on your upper thighs.' The women in the crowd were roaring. I could tell this had enormous potential."

Clements attended Ms Ainsworth's next performance at Django and became a convert. He said, "I thought this could be a musical 'Defending The Caveman' for women, and I wanted to help it take off."

So on Sunday, July 18, Clements will be directing a multiple camera crew as they tape "My Ship Has Sailed" for a special to air in Dallas on DCTV and Comcast Cable. He sees it as only the beginning and envisions the show moving on to PBS, Showtime or Lifetime.

Clements said, "The concept is really strong. Plus, Laura is an amazing singer and a very funny commentator who can be sarcastic, sexy and sweet, all at the same time. And the message really hits a nerve with mature adults, especially women, who are criminally underserved in todays entertainment market. I think it could be huge."

Ms. Ainsworth would be thrilled if the show had that kind of success, but her original goal was more modest.

She said, "One of the inspirations was 'American Idol.' I wanted to point out that the only ironclad disqualification was that singers couldn't be over 24. Once you were 25, you were officially declared useless. Well, I hear Simon Cowell is finally planning a new show that will look for singers over 30."

"Sorry, Simon," she smiled. "Im busy now."

The TV taping of My Ship Has Sailed" starts at 7 p.m., Sunday, July 18, at Django On The Parkway, at Beltline and the Tollway in North Dallas. Reservations required.

For more information, visit www.lauraainsworth.com .

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