Any Minute Now

There's the show, then there's the "show". Backstage is where all is common ground. We take down, add to, color, twist, shape and remove our hair. We tuck away our body fat and put on our eye lashes to become the carefully crafted illusions the audience expects. Imagine four women from unique backgrounds and traditions sharing in laughter, love of family, and conversations of accomplishments and failures while sitting side by side preparing for A Prairie Home Companion at the Greek Theatre. It was June 2013. For us, sharing a room with iconic comedians Lily Tomlin and Paula Poundstone included lots of stories but it was the heartfelt memories shared that stick. We were comfortable with one another. Most surprising was the depth of our exchanges. These were not the frivolous reflections of four women who for the first time were completely frank in our sharing. No, this was something special. Paula finished primping first. She could have left the room to mingle with others. Instead, she hung around to enjoy the camaraderie fostered in that space. In hindsight it was simply words - genuine and funny. Although the stars have not brought us together again, we cherish that moment in time. That is the show we won't forget.

In June of 2006, my wife Judy ran into Martin Sheen in the parking lot of the Hollywood Bowl. She had been friendly with Lily Tomlin, Martin's cast mate from "The West Wing," during the filming of the Prairie Home Companion movie. Judy mentioned Lily's comment that Martin was jealous that Lily got to be in the movie, and he said it was true - he had been a huge fan of Garrison for over 30 years, and was thrilled to bring his family and friends to see the show live. Judy encouraged him to come backstage after the show to meet Garrison, which he did, and after that he became a frequent APHC guest. Fast-forward to the Greek Theatre in L.A. and this 2013 Friday night taping (the only show we tape the night before, to keep the audience from baking under the afternoon sun) which brought Martin and Lily together again. The powerful voice of Colin Hay reached the back row of The Greek (right below the dramatically lit trees of Griffith Park) with his hit, "Overkill," the mighty voices of Jearlyn and Jevetta Steele literally knocked it out of the theater into the Park, and the amazing Paula Poundstone, Martin, and Lily hammed it up in some scripts with GK and the Radio Actors: that's a show to remember.