Here Comes The Brown Belt (and it's not what it sounds like)

This is the week from hell for me. If you didn't know, I've been studying Shaolin Kempo at United Studios of Self-defense for the past 4 1/2 years and this Saturday I'm taking my test for Brown Belt. Kia! The test will be at least 6 hours so I've been working on my stamina for the last couple of months -  cutting back on the crack cocaine, etc.  So this week is all about practice, practice, practice. Of course, I didn't practice today because I went to lunch with 5 friends (fellow traffic/news reporters) - from left to right - Jon Bruno, Tori Signal (the blonde on top) Sioux-z Jessup, Dona Dower and me. We went to the Gordon Ramsey At The London West Hollywood.  (You know - the dude from Hell's Kitchen?) The food was great but be warned - we spent $40 just on water. How is that even possible?

Still time to see an awesome show - and ridiculous '80's clothes!

The Next Great Thing was sold out this past Friday (the 25th) so if you're planning on coming to the show, be sure to buy your tickets a day or two prior to the performance. By the way, if ME being in the show on Fridays isn't enough incentive for you to go, it's now an L.A. Times Critic's Choice! Go to www.thenextbigthingmusical.com for tickets and be sure to use the promo code for a discount.

Lisa performs in a new show this summer!

That's right - I'm going to be in a new show called THE NEXT BIG THING starting on Friday, July 19th. My friend, Jeff Favre wrote the book for the garage rock musical, and Missy Gibson and Mike Flanagan of the Indie band Breech wrote the music and lyrics.

THE NEXT BIG THING is about a garage band in 1983 that's looking to find a sound that will take them to the next level, so the songs performed by the band are straight 80's retro pop, while the rest of the songs reflect Breech's edgy style. This definitely isn't the SOUND OF MUSIC, my friends.

In the spirit of total transparency, I have to tell you that when I say I'm "in" it, what I mean is that I'm going to perform on Friday nights only, and by "perform" I mean I'm going to say one paragraph at the very end of the show. The thing is - this is a musical. And I can't sing. The great tragedy of my life. But the show is great, and I wanted to be part of it, and so this is what I'm doing.

THE NEXT GREAT THING runs 5 weeks, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from July 19th through August 16th, with one matinee at 3pm on Sunday, July 20th. (there are also a couple of previews)

Go to www.thenextbigthingmusical.com for all the info, plus a promo code that will save you $5 off the tickets, and if you come on a Friday night, you'll see me!!!!!!