Los Angeles One Woman Musical "Excuse Me Im Talking" Debuts on Broadway

For Immediate Release
Contact: Marla Dennis/805.492.4155
February 1, 2001

New York, NY -- January 30, 2001 - Critically acclaimed Los Angeles one-woman musical EXCUSE ME IM TALKING" makes its Broadway debut February 3, 2001 at the New Duke Theater on 42nd St. STARRING New York based actress/writer/songwriter ANNIE KORZEN (Doris Klumpus of Jerry Seinfeld Show).
Excuse Me Im Talking," DIRECTED by Los Angeles writer-director-producer JUDY CHAIKIN, offers a poignant and satirical look at a New York Jewish woman's journey to find her true identity. EXCUSE ME IM TALKING," previously titled Yenta Unplugged," was developed in a Los Angeles Writers workshop and previewed in Los Angeles to critical acclaim. It has since traveled the country and made its way down under to Australia before heading to Broadway. The show ran for three months at Broward County Stage in Coral Springs, Florida in February 1998 and followed with an off-Broadway three month run in New Yorks SoHo Playhouse in 1999. Korzen has since performed the show in Cleveland, Long Island, North Carolina, Las Vegas, and Sydney, Australia.
   During its original run in 1996 at L.A's West Coast Ensemble Theater, the L.A. Times reviewer F. Kathleen Foley writes "... it is as life affirming as it is entertaining," and Robin Campbell of the L.A. View writes "...a witty autobiographical rumination....that reaches the kind of emotional intensity that makes attending the theater really worthwhile." While the L.A. Weekly chose it as "Pick of the Week."    
I was part of the workshop development of the show and always knew it had great universal appeal," says Director Judy Chaikin. " Everyone can relate to Annie's humorous struggle to 'fit in and rejoice in her eventual discovery of who she really is."
In addition to directing the Broadway show, Chaikin is screening her first narrative short film, COTILLION '65," a romantic short comedy, at film festivals nationwide. The 22-minute film marks Judys directorial debut into narrative films after two decades of writing, directing and producing for theater and television. COTILLION '65" has played in 17 festivals and been awarded Best Comedy Short "at the 6th Annual Santa Clarita International 2000 Film Festival and Best Film" at The Oceanside Short Film Festival 2001.            #