Carrie Fisher’s one-woman show Wishful Drinking, based on the former Star Wars star’s bestselling memoir of the same title, is coming to Broadway. The show, directed by Tony Taccone, will begin previews at Studio 54 on September 22 with opening set for October 4. It will play a limited engagement through January 3, 2010.
In Wishful Drinking, Fisher reveals tidbits and tales from the life of the self-described "daughter of Hollywood inbreeding." Her parents are Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher. Like the book, the show chronicles her parents' divorce, her own failed marriages, the Star Wars phenomenon, various romantic affairs and Fisher’s struggles with alcoholism and bi-polar disorder. Wishful Drinking debuted at Los Angeles' Geffen Playhouse has since played in Berkeley, Boston and Washington, D.C. It is currently playing through May 3 at Seattle Repertory Theatre.
In addition to the Star Wars films, Fisher’s numerous onscreen credits include Shampoo, The Blues Brothers, Garbo Talks, The ‘burbs, When Harry Met Sally and The Women as well as TV credits like Come Back, Little Sheba, Ringo, Frasier, Smallville, Weeds, 30 Rock and Family Guy. The actress made her Broadway debut in 1974, playing in the ensemble of Irene, which starred her mother, and went on to appear two other times, in Censored Scenes from King Kong and Agnes of God.
Taccone made his Broadway directorial debut with the solo show Bridge & Tunnel. He commissioned Tony Kushner’s iconic Angels in America, co-directing the show’s world premiere at the Mark Taper Forum. He is currently the Artistic Director of California’s Berkeley Repertory Theatre, where he has staged more than 35 productions.
Wishful Drinking will be produced by the Roundabout Theater Company in association with Jonathan Reinis, Jamie Cesa, Eva Prince and the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Alexander V. Nichols will provide scenic, lighting and projection design.