Cowan Palace: When Life Gives You Lemons, Find a Theatre Community

Ashley Cowan pours a thoughtful glass of lemonade. Most likely with a stylish straw and heart shaped ice cubes.

Yesterday, I was on the phone with my mom, reflecting over some of the challenges presented by 2013, when she pulled the age old expression “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade” to inspire me to stay optimistic. My mom is great cheerleader and can make even the cheesiest cliché heartfelt and personal.

Along with once again being struck by her earnest attitude, I also appreciated her timing considering Theater Pub is two days away from presenting an open mic night to fundraise for the Lemonade Fund, a resource designed to help theatre practitioners with terminal or life-threatening illnesses manage their finances during difficult times.

As I’ve mentioned in blogs past, 2013 has been fairly generous with its lemon supply, so to speak. And I’ll be honest, most of the time I let the fruit rot. I neglected to make refreshing beverage with it. Looking back, perhaps that was a missed opportunity. Maybe behind every rocky road was the potential for ice cream. (Whoops, sorry, we probably only need one food/drink connection here, huh?)

But the expression has been around for a while. Clearly, it’s a message that bears repeating. So in the midst of weighing my ups and downs, I thought it would be fun to look into the etymology of the saying and why it’s remained widespread.

Google to the rescue! Sort of. The origin story proved to be a little tricky to properly pin down.

It’s believed Dale Carnegie is the guy who popularized the phrase with his 1948 book entitled, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living Life in which he titled a chapter, “If You Have a Lemon, Make Lemonade.” Though others consider H.J. Whitley (known as “the father of Hollywood”) as the source because it referred to the literal transformation of lemon fields being torn down to create the Hollywood we’re all familiar with today. Adding yet another citrus twist to the mix is Elbert Hubbard, a Christian anarchist. He deserves some credit (or at least a shot of tequila with a lemon chaser). He wrote an obituary back in 1915 for dwarf actor, Marshall P. Wilder, admiring his many achievements in the business despite his disabilities, writing, “He picked up the lemons that Fate had sent him and started a lemonade stand.”

While researching this well-known piece of advice, my favorite takeaway was its relationship to fellow artists. This token of wisdom has managed to survive the ages and has found a home with our very own community.

As the mind behind the Lemonade Fund, Theatre Bay Area has once again proven itself to be a place of support and collaboration. Surviving challenges and honoring growth, it has truly become a haven to the theatre makers and lovers of the Bay Area and unites us in a shared passion. The Lemonade Fund reflects a dedication to the community and is an important example of using each found lemon as an opportunity.

When I was cast in my first show in San Francisco six years ago, it allowed a door filled with new people and experiences to open. Once welcomed inside, I found a theatre community that made me feel like I was home. And even though I’ve moaned about this past year pushing me a bit further than I would have liked, it’s been my experiences within this theatrical house filled with people who have poured me delicious glasses of lemonade when I needed it, that made it all seem a little easier.

I hope to see you on Friday in celebration of our community (and home) as we support an important cause. I look forward to clinking my beverage to every lemon thrown our way this year as we promise to continue lending each other lemonade recipes in the future.

The show is on Friday the 13th at 8PM at the Exit Theater (156 Eddy Street, San Francisco) and admission is a $10-20 recommended donation at the door.

Don’t Miss Our Friday The Thirteenth Fundraiser For The Lemonade Fund!

The San Francisco Theater Pub and the Individual Services Committee of TBA, in association with The Exit Theatre, presents a one night only, open-mic night to raise money for the Lemonade Fund!

The Lemonade Fund is a confidential resource for theatre practitioners with terminal or life-threatening illnesses who are in need of supplemental financial assistance to improve the quality of their lives as they deal with medical conditions. Since 2000, Theatre Bay Area has distributed over $100,000 through the Lemonade Fund to theatre workers in need throughout the Bay Area, much of it made possible by generous donations by fellow artists.

Theatre Bay Area’s mission is to unite, strengthen, promote and advance the theatre community in the San Francisco Bay Area. The ISC (Individual Services Committee) is the working advisory group for TBA’s individual membership that often acts as a sample focus group and resource for Theatre Bay Area on issues concerning the individual membership of Theatre Bay Area. The San Francisco Theater Pub seeks to be a leader in bringing the Bay Area indie theater scene together to create, converse and collaborate in casual venues that break down the barrier between artists and audiences.

What better way to unite all these great organizations than with an open mic where our best and brightest get to strut their stuff? Our exciting line up includes performances from Blue Diamonds Belly Dance Group, the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts, James Grady, Ramya Vijayan, Brian Vocalist, Sara Breindel, Anthony Miller, Allison Fenner, Helen Noakes, Christian Cagigal, Melissa Keith, Rachel Bublitz, Jim Fournidias, Sam Bertken, Meg Cohen, Dana Goldberg, Christie Chew, Elliot Weiss, Juliana Egley, Annabelle King, Jovelyn Richards, Yasmine Love, Theodore Love, Marga Gomez, Dale Albright and many more!

The show is on December 13th- as in Friday the 13th at 8 PM at the Exit Theatre (156 Eddy Street, San Francisco)! No reservations required and admission is a $10-20 recommended donation at the door! Come support our local theater artists! See you there!

Open Mic Prep: An Interview With Erin Carter

On December 13, Theater Pub will be putting on an “open mic night” in collaboration with the Individual Services Committee of Theatre Bay Area and the Exit Theatre to raise some funds for the Lemonade Fund. We recognize that not everyone will know what the fund is or how it works, and so what better way to bring home just how important this fund is than to interview a local theater artist who benefited from it? Many thanks to Erin Carter for talking to us about her experience and we hope to see you at the event on December 13, 8 pm, at the Exit Theatre in San Francisco!

So, in a nutshell, who are you?

Erin Carter: I am an actor, writer, director, and teacher, and recently I also became a recruiter! So any starving artists, please call me if you’re looking for a day job!

And how has the Lemonade Fund played a role in your life?

Erin Carter: The Lemonade fund appeared in my life at literally the darkest moment. Two years ago, I suffered a cerebral aneurysm and underwent emergency surgery. I spent 6 weeks in the hospital, during which time they removed part of my skull, operated on my brain, put my skull back on, waited for me to heal, re-taught me how to walk, eat, cook, function, and just be a human being in the world again. The Lemonade Fund appeared in my life in the midst of all this as the best possible surprise, an announcement over email informing me that my Bay Area theater community was looking out for me, that they knew what I was going through and that they were there for me. It was an enormous boon to me during an extremely traumatic time, and a reminder of the hugeness of heart and spirit that runs through this community. It gave me hope and strength, which are two things you need most when going through a medical trauma.

Did you know about the fund before you took advantage of it?

Erin Carter: I had heard of it, and I might have donated to it before.

How did you access the fund? How does it work for someone who needs it and what should they do to take advantage of it?

Erin Carter: I actually did nothing to apply for it. Someone in the theater community had heard what was going on with me and applied on my behalf. It was incredible, especially because neither my family nor I would have even thought to apply for the funds, but the Bay Area community was looking out for us. I am so grateful to that person and to Theater Bay Area for taking me under their wing.

Looking back, what’s the most significant impact the fund has had for you?

Erin Carter: Obviously, the money was huge. After six weeks in the hospital, my bills were significant. Additionally, I was unable to return to work for six months, and I needed all the extra funds I could get. But more than the money, I felt supported by my community. As theater practitioners, we are constantly trying to touch people’s lives, and yet here, completely outside of the theater, my community touched my life in an intimate, tangible way.

What else do you want to tell people about the Lemonade Fund?

Erin Carter: For a person and a family going through medical trauma, the stress is incomparable and touches every aspect of your life-physically, emotionally, mentally, financially, everything in your life changes. It is the time when we need each other the most and when you can make a real and immediate impact on a person. If you want to do something good, if you want to help someone in need, this is an incredibly impactful way to go.

And how are you doing these days?

Erin Carter: I’m great! I have been among the lucky 30% who survive a brain aneurysm and suffer little to no side effects. I am stronger now than ever, more vigilant with my life, more clear about who I am and where I’m going. The brain aneurysm was the absolute darkest time of my life, but it also brought about a greater sense of gratitude and clarity for me.

Announcing Our Next Event! Open Mic Night!

The San Francisco Theater Pub and the Individual Services Committee of TBA, in association with The Exit Theatre, presents a one night only, open-mic night to raise money for the Lemonade Fund!

The Lemonade Fund is a confidential resource for theatre practitioners with terminal or life-threatening illnesses who are in need of supplemental financial assistance to improve the quality of their lives as they deal with medical conditions. Since 2000, Theatre Bay Area has distributed over $100,000 through the Lemonade Fund to theatre workers in need throughout the Bay Area, much of it made possible by generous donations by fellow artists.

Theatre Bay Area’s mission is to unite, strengthen, promote and advance the theatre community in the San Francisco Bay Area. The ISC (Individual Services Committee) is the working advisory group for TBA’s individual membership that often acts as a sample focus group and resource for Theatre Bay Area on issues concerning the individual membership of Theatre Bay Area. The San Francisco Theater Pub seeks to be a leader in bringing the Bay Area indie theater scene together to create, converse and collaborate in casual venues that break down the barrier between artists and audiences.

What better way to unite all these great organizations than with an open mic where our best and brightest get to strut their stuff?

The show is on December 13th– as in Friday the 13th!- so we’re hoping to put together a night of 5 minute acts that can range from singing a song to performing a monologue, a short play, sketch or improv, dance- whatever you can fill that time with and that you can bring ready made the night of the show (think of it as open-mic night at your local pub, but on an actual stage)! It’s a great opportunity to try some new work out, reveal a hidden talent, or just practice your cabaret act, and the money we raise at the door goes to keeping theater and theater makers in the Bay Area healthy!

Performers- Please contact Stuart at theaterpub@atmostheatre.com and let us know what you’d like to bring to the mix. Space is limited so don’t wait to sign up!

Audience- the show starts at 8 on the 13th at the Exit Theatre! No reservations required and admission is a $10-20 recommended donation at the door! Come support our local theater artists! See you there!