Living Large
a new musical
Book and Lyrics by Diane Sampson
Music and Lyrics by Lauren Mayer
Directed by Cindy Goldfield
Based on an idea by Tim Heitman
Staged Reading -- December 10, 11 - 2021
Potrero Stage, 1695 18th Street, San Francisco
A story worth telling
"Living Large" is a new musical about Marie Dressler, Hollywood’s biggest star in the 1920’s and early 30’s but little known today. A dynamo whose off-stage was as thrilling and tragic as the roles she played, she was the first true female comedy star, parlaying her ungainly appearance into a comic persona that made her a hit in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in Hollywood. Marie broke with tradition in multiple ways. She had relationships with men and women, always stood up for the underdog, was instrumental in starting a union for chorus members and in selling war bonds for WW1. In her later film career, she relished playing more serious roles, winning an Academy Award and immense stardom.
Here's what the press has to say about Lauren Mayer:
"More talent than a body ought to have" - Jim Eason, KGO-Radio
"Someone new, amusing and nervy" - Gerald Nachman, SF Chronicle
Here's what the press has to say about Diane Sampson:
"Sleeping Cutie pours on the charm from the get-go.”
- Leslie Katz, the SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER
Re “Oh, Progeny!”
“…Instantly memorable tunes…clever mixture of truth and humor…”
- Allen Clapp, FOSTER CITY PROGRESS
About Us
Diane Sampson, Book and Lyrics
Diane has written the books and lyrics for 4 other musicals, including Oh, Progeny! (two Bay Area productions) and The Tale of Sleeping Cutie, a commissioned work produced in San Francisco in 2014. Full-length non-musicals include Naked and The Greater Good, a finalist in Memphis’s Playhouse on the Square’s New Works Competition in 2019. Diane’s short plays have been staged in venues as far afield as Seattle, Miami and London, and her short piece Undone was made into a film shown in PlayGround’s Annual Film Festival in 2013. She was an associate producer and co-writer for the documentary Faces of Genocide,
winner of an award for Excellence in Filmmaking at the Newport Beach Film Festival in 2019. Diane is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild and delighted to be collaborating with Lauren and Tim on Living Large.
Lauren Mayer, Music and Lyrics
Lauren is a songwriter who works in educational theatre, musical revues, cabaret acts, and her own comedy performances. She wrote the music, lyrics & books for several published children’s shows, including December Rainbow which was commissioned by Broadway by the Bay, and she was the songwriter/music director for Darlene Popovic’s award-winning solo show. She has performed her own comedy songs at Society Cabaret, The Plush Room, Feinstein’s at the Niko, and others, and she is a 5-time recipient of the San Francisco Cabaret Gold Award, as well as a phi beta kappa graduate of Yale University (where she studied songwriting and music theory with composer/lyricist Maury Yeston). Lauren is thrilled to be working with Diane and Tim to help audiences fall in love with Marie Dressler, just like we have.
Tim Heitman, Producer
Tim has spent most of his career as a presenter working for the Nederlander Producing Company at Broadway San Diego and Broadway San Jose. He spent 6 years at the La Jolla Stage Company as Artistic Director where he produced all, directed most, and even wrote some of the work at that theatre. He is currently the General Manger of Society Cabaret and Theatricals and is very proud to be working with Lauren and Diane to produce Living Large. If you have any questions or comments about the show, please feel free to reach him at tim@societycabaret.com
or by phone at 650-504-9792.
Cindy Goldfield, Director of Staged Reading
Award-winning director, CINDY GOLDFIELD is delighted to be working on Living Large. Ms. Goldfield’s directing credits include work with the ACT/MFA program, 42nd Street Moon (director and/or choreographer: Once, As Thousands Cheer, Once in a Blue Moon, Finian’s Rainbow, The Roar of the Greasepaint…, SNOOPY!!!, The Boyfriend, The Most Happy Fella, Baker Street, No, No, Nanette), Playground, The Willows Theatre, Cubit Productions and many other regional and corporate theatrical events. A two time recipient of both the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle and the Dean Goodman Choice awards for acting, Cindy’s regional performing credits include work at ACT, Center REP, San Jose Rep, The Willows, Broadway by the Bay, Marin Theatre Company, Brava, 42nd Street Moon, Playground and SF Playhouse. NY credits include D’Arcy Drollinger’s productions of Project: Lohan and Mr. Irresistible, in which she also starred in SF.
Contact Us
For more information about the show, please send us an email.
Living Large
