Tag Archives: David Cross

Poems from the dark side: actress Amber Tamblyn presents at Schuler Books

Amber Tamblyn reads from her new book "Dark Sparkler."
Amber Tamblyn reads from her new book “Dark Sparkler.”

It seems wherever comedian David Cross shall be, actress Amber Tamblyn is sure to follow.

 

Tamblyn, who has starred in “Joan of Arcadia,” “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” and “Two and a Half Men,” has been touring with her husband Cross, whose “Making America Great Again!” tour is part of this year’s LaughFest lineup.

 

And the arrangement works out well for area residents as Tamblyn, who is a writer and acclaimed poet, will be at Schuler Books & Music, 2660 28th St. SE, discussing her latest book “Dark Sparkler.”

 

Dark Sparkler
Dark Sparkler

“[What drew me to poetry] I think, like anybody, is being able to have a feeling that’s expressed and reciprocated — to be able to make others feel and emote,” Tamblyn said in a recent article with Boulder Weekly. “It’s also what’s powerful about acting — that you get to affect people. Writing to me, when I was younger, had the same power that acting did.”

 

“Dark Sparkler” started with Tamblyn digging into the life and death of child star Brittany Murphy. Murphy died in 2009 from pneumonia and anemia. Tamblyn, also a child star who got her start on “General Hospital,” did not know Murphy but was moved by Murphy’s death as she was the first female contemporary of Tamblyn’s to die.

 

Tamely wrote a poem about Murphy that appeared in [Pank] magazine. The overwhelming interest in that poem encouraged Tamblyn to delve deeper into the topic of the female actresses who were gone before their time.

 

In total, more than 30 actresses, both famous and obscure, are featured in the book such as Murphy, Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield. The poems are paired with original artwork, commissioned for the book, by David Lynch, Adrian Tomine, Marilyn Manson, and Marcel Dzama.

 

Tamblyn’s talk and book signing is set for 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 18, at Schuler Books & Music, 2660 28th St. SE. Also that evening, her husband, David Cross, will be at Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain St. NE. His LaughFest show is at 8 p.m. with tickets running from $39.50 – $32.50. Tamblyn’s talk is free.

LaughFest Announces Additional Artists and Shows for 2016

LAUGHFEST_final_2By: Tyler Lecceadone

 

Gilda’s LaughFest, the nation’s only community-wide festival of laughter, today announced the addition of Miranda Sings and other ticketed shows for the 2016 festival,which takes place March 10 to 20, 2016. Individual tickets for all events will be available for purchase on Friday, Jan. 15 at 10 a.m.

Laughfest - Miranda Sings
Miranda Sings

 

Most recognizable for her signature big red lips, international YouTube sensation, Miranda Sings first established herself on YouTube quickly generating over 60 million views all over the world. Her one-woman show is filled with comedy, hit songs, magic tricks and much more. Her performance will take place on March 19 at Fountain Street Church, and will be her second appearance at LaughFest after a sellout show in 2014.

Laughfest - Hasan Minhaj
Hasan Minhaj

 

Hasan Minhaj is best known as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah and stars in his own one-man show off Broadway. Minhaj will perform on March 11 at 10:30 p.m., at Wealthy Theatre.

Laughfest - David Cross
David Cross

 

Emmy Award winner and Grammy Award nominee, David Cross was named one of the Top 100 Stand-Up Comedians of All Time by Comedy Central. Perhaps best known for his role as Tobias on Arrested Development, Cross will launch his own nationwide tour this year and will premiere on IFC’s third season of Todd Margaret. You can see Cross perform at Fountain Street Church on March 18.

 

Michael Palascak is known for clean adult laughs and recently finished in the top 5 of last season’s Last Comic Standing on NBC. He has previously performed on a variety of late night television shows such as The Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Comedy Central’s The Half Hour, The Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Palascak’s performance will take place at Grand Volute in Lowell on March 18.

Laughfest - Michael Palascak
Michael Palascak

 

Other shows announced today include Failure:Lab – LaughFest Edition, an intimate event showcasing the untold failures behind success and exploring the space between people who fail and quit, and those who get back up again; the Rockin’ Homegrown Jam is returning for its fifth year as part of LaughFest, with an added twist – special musical guest The legal Immigrants join the comics on stage to perform songs between each comic’s set; and Hen Sapp and Friends Keeping it Clean, featuring edgy Christian comedian Hen Sapp performing for the sixth time at LaughFest along with special guests Crystal P. and Laughin Lenny.

 

LaughFest 2016 will include more than 200 free and ticketed shows featuring over 100 artists at more than 40 venues in Grand Rapids and Lowell during the 10 days of the festival. Artists already previously announced include headliners: Seth Meyers, performing during Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids Signature Event, Kathy Griffin, Ron Funches, Anjelah Johnson, Roy Wood Jr., Chris D’Elia, Bert Kreischer, and Heather McDonald.

 

Individual tickets are priced from $7 to $80, excluding the Signature Event. These will be available beginning Friday, Jan. 15, 2016 at the Van Andel Arena Box Office, Ticketmaster outlets, LaughFest Central, when it opens in mid-February, through the closing day of LaughFest, and at ticketmaster.com.

 

Gilda’s LaughFest was created by a team at Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids in 2011. Designed to celebrate laughter for the health of it, LaughFest features free and ticketed events including stand-up, improv, film, authors, community showcases and a variety of seriously funny stuff. Past LaughFest headliners have included George Lopez, Wanda Sykes, Billy Gardell, Jay Leno, Lily Tomlin, Mike Birbiglia, Margaret Cho, Betty White, Whoopi Goldberg, Rodney Carrington, Martin Short, Kevin Nealon, Wayne Brady, Joel McHale, Lewis Black and Brian Regan.