{"product_id":"leading-lady-a-memoir-of-a-most-unusual-boy-9781637744147","title":"Leading Lady: A Memoir of a Most Unusual Boy","description":"\u003cb\u003eA poignant, deliciously anecdotal account of a talented artist's Oz-like journey in the worlds of Off-Broadway, Broadway, and Hollywood\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe Tony Award-nominated writer of \u003ci\u003eThe Tale of the Allergist's Wife \u003c\/i\u003eand the long-running hit Off-Broadway play \u003ci\u003eVampire Lesbians of Sodom\u003c\/i\u003e, and a Sundance Festival award winner, Charles Busch has created a unique place in the entertainment world as a playwright, LGBT icon, drag actor, director, and cabaret performer, with his extraordinary gift for both connecting with and channeling the leading ladies of show business. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn wonderfully readable chapters, by turns comic and moving, Charles writes how ever since his mother's death when he was seven, he has sought out surrogate mothers in his life. In his teens, Charles moved to Park Avenue in Manhattan to live with his Auntie Mame-like Aunt Lil, who encouraged and nourished Charles' talents and dreams, and eventually he discovered his gifts for writing plays and performing as a \u003ci\u003emale actress.\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBusch also shares his colorful and sometimes outlandish interactions with film and theatrical luminaries including the hilarious comedian Joan Rivers (who became a mother figure to Charles after Aunt Lil's death), Angela Lansbury (who attended her first Passover seder with Charles), Rosie O'Donnell, Claudette Colbert, Valerie Harper, Kim Novak, and many others. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFull of both humor and heart and featuring rare photos, \u003ci\u003eLeading Lady\u003c\/i\u003e is for readers of entertainment books as well as anyone who enjoys real-life stories of artists who break the mold, ditch the boundaries, and find their own unique way to sparkle.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Smart Pop\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 09\/12\/2023\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781637744147\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 288\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 07\/01\/2023 pg. 71\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Charles Busch","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43049647800501,"sku":"9781637744147","price":23.76,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/files\/img_7cda385b-b025-4958-8520-2dfc7d01bdf4.jpg?v=1689692229","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/leading-lady-a-memoir-of-a-most-unusual-boy-9781637744147","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}