by tony reverditto
South Coast Repertory has introduced an American Icon Series, a program of plays that highlights people who have made a significant impact on the United States. The newest production in the series is Joan, a world premiere that explores the life, legacy and barrier-breaking legend of Joan Rivers. The show will run through Sunday, November 24 on the Julianne Argyros Stage in Costa Mesa.
Rivers was a ballsy comedian and a trailblazer, and even a decade after her passing, she remains a relevant comedic voice and an inspiration to women comedians of all generations. Joan takes audiences from Borscht Belt showrooms and Greenwich Village nightclubs to The Tonight Show to Hollywood’s red carpets. Along the way, Rivers made and remade her career through triumph and tragedy. Her story is that of a pioneer with a tireless work ethic and a mom — who were one and the same.
Her first Grammy nomination in 1984 for her gold-selling comedy album, “What Becomes a Semi Legend Most?” was another feather in her cap. By then, she was already a comedy legend, playing to sold-out audiences on three continents and becoming the permanent guest host of The Tonight Show. This led to her own Fox Television Network series, The Late Show, Starring Joan Rivers, from 1986 to 1988.
Creatively, Rivers knew no boundaries. She wrote 12 books, several becoming New York Times Best Sellers, won The Celebrity Apprentice, starred in a documentary about that victory, and lent her voice to Shrek 2, Spaceballs: The Animated Series, TV’s The Simpsons, and the PBS award-winning animated children’s series, Arthur, for which she received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination. She also appeared on Broadway three times. Her Joan Rivers: A Work in Progress by a Life in Progress, which she co-wrote and starred in, opened to rave reviews at the Geffen Playhouse before playing to sold-out audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Through thick and thin, Rivers continued to reinvent herself. She became one of the world’s most popular fashion experts, and started a jewelry collection for QVC. Rivers then revolutionizing what a trip along the red carpet meant. She coined a signature phrase, “Who are you wearing?” and turned it into a fashion statement, hosting Live from the Red Carpet for the E! Network. She hit her stride again when she started hosting the hilarious Fashion Police in 2010, recapping the week’s celebrity fashion hits and misses.
Rivers was 81 when she died on September 4, 2014, a week after suffering cardiac arrest during a vocal cord medical procedure in New York.
The play features Tessa Auberjonois as Joan. She returns to SCR after appearing in the 2022 Voices of America productions of The Little Foxes and Appropriate.
THE RAGE MONTHLY CAUGHT UP WITH TESSA AUBERJONOIS A WEEK BEFORE THE WORLD PREMIERE DEBUTED.
Can you share the process of landing the role of the iconic legend Joan Rivers?
I have had a relationship with SCR since 1999, and the casting director, Joanne Denaut, asked me to come in for an informal table reading, something that is often done as plays are being developed so the playwright can hear it out loud, about two years ago. I was shocked when I saw that she had cast me as Joan, and so of course I researched Joan Rivers and worked on her very specific voice and was surprised that it was somewhat in my vocal register. I said to Joanne, “I didn’t know I could do this — how did you know??” — and she said, “Oh, I knew you could do it.” But that is the magic of a good casting director. I have been involved with the project ever since, all through the various stages of development until now, when we finally get to bring it to the South Coast audiences!
I met Joan on the set of Fashion Police a couple of times. She was so kind and, of course, hilarious. Were you ever able to meet her?
Oh, I am so jealous! No, I never did. Anyone I know who ever met her said the same thing.
The amazing Melissa Rivers is a creative consultant on Joan. Were you lucky enough to get any advice about playing her mom?
Yes. Melissa has been so helpful! The first thing she told me was that Joan was very educated and classy; the New York accent is not stereotypical. That was very helpful. She also told me how angry Joan was after they lost Edgar Rosenberg, Melissa’s father. That really helped me activate the scenes around that tragedy, instead of sinking only into sadness or self-pity.
What has been the most challenging part of channeling and portraying a convincing Joan Rivers on stage?
Trusting that I am doing an interpretation, not an impersonation. The play is such a wonderful piece of theatre on its own, as written by Daniel Goldstein and directed by David Ivers, and we are so lucky to be able to use a lot of Joan’s original jokes, so all of that just kind of carries me through it. I had to let myself off the hook that NO ONE will ever be as amazing as Joan Rivers herself was, so this is me playing a rich and deep character role. However, it is very vocally challenging, and I am working on keeping my voice healthy and strong and developing the stamina to be on my feet telling jokes in heels all day. Joan is an inspiration for all of that because she never stopped!
Readers would love to know what the easiest part has been.
Definitely working with the incredible team. It is a joyful group to be with, very collaborative and no egos, and we laugh A LOT. I am sure they will, too.
What do you hope audiences take away after seeing the production?
Inspiration from the woman who was Joan Rivers, the comedian who made us all laugh (and still does!) and the kind soul that did it all with tons of love. It is a story of how to persevere, how to be true to yourself and also very much a story about the importance of family.
Joan is presented with permission from Mills Entertainment and Melissa Rivers in association with Sheboygan Productions and Larry Amoros. Melissa Rivers serves as creative consultant.
Tickets and more information at scr.org / 714.708.5555
