Okay, kiddos, tonight is the NIGHT! The Two Rivers theater benefit at the Count Bassie Theater, featuring an interview with out-of-character Stephen Colbert starts tonight at 7:30p EST. If you haven’t gotten tickets yet, there are a few left, but you’d better act fast!
Since I’m stuck in Dallas and can’t be there, I want to hear all about the event from you lucky Zoners who were fortunate enough to snag tickets. At least two Completists (Ann G. and Lisa) will be at the benefit, as will a good handful of Zoners. I also seem to remember a couple of you even snagging tickets to the VIP Meet and Greet afterwards. So I expect some excellent Return and Report comments in this post! Also, please feel free to e-mail me any pictures or other goodies you may be able to get from the performance. I cannot WAIT to hear reports from this event!
I’ll make sure to send updates as soon as there’s news!
I’m so excited for everyone’s reports, it’s just ridiculous. I have to live vicariously through you lucky folks.
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I’m bringing a camera, but I have no idea if we’ll be allowed to take pictures inside the theater. I’m guessing no, but just in case…
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New to the NFZ but still very jealous especially as I just moved back to London after living in NY for a year. Bad timing indeed. Have a fabulous night, looking forward to the reports.
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I can’t wait to see the videos about this ^^ I wish that I could go
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I really can’t wait to hear what everyone has to say about this, it sounds like it’s going to be amazing. Have fun, whoever’s going! :D
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I know, and the tickets aren’t that much, if only it wasn’t a 21 hour drive to there XD
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Haha, exactly! It wasn’t expensive, but I’m stuck in the Midwest! :P
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I’m in South Fl, and it takes a good 4 hours just to get outta the state XD
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Hey you’re in south florida too!
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Yup I am
Go us
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Can we PLEASE talk about the NFZ and DB shout out tonight? I think we should!
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I was following your tweets tonight. The shout out to NFZ and DB is so exciting!!! It sounds like an amazing night. I look forward to more details (and pictures if anyone has them).
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So I started writing a comment more than an hour ago, but wound up yakking on the phone instead (EXCELLENT conversation about the evening), and now it’s past midnight and I have to go to bed so I won’t be totally useless in the morning. But yes, I can confirm, NO FACT ZONE SHOUT-OUT!! All because a lucky Zoner got to ask a question during the Q&A, and mentioned that she was part of the NFZ community. I don’t want to steal anyone else’s thunder, so I won’t give details for now.
It was a great night, a fun interview, and I got to meet Lilimich and lockhart43 (that’s the correct name, right? Yeah, I think so) and I know there were other Zoners there. I’ll try to post some more coherent comments tomorrow, but right now I gotta get some sleep!
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*applause* Congratulations DB and NFZ! Can’t wait to hear the whole story.
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It was absolutely fantastic to meet Ann G. and Lockhart43! I just love the fact that No Fact Zone has brought such fabulous folks together for things like this. More of a reason for a huge shout-out for everyone over at No Fact Zone last night! I think that totally made everyone’s night. I know it made mine. : )
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I was so happy at his response to the shout-out! I’m so happy it popped in my head to mention it right before I asked my question – glad to know it made your night :)
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I was there! I wish I had been able to meet other Zoners last night, but it was great evening.
Getting ready for work, so I’ll come back here after school.
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It’s like Christmas morning, I’m so anxious to hear your reports (the T is silent)!
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Hi everyone,
Just wanted to thank all those who made it out to the show. It was a great evening, for a good cause– the benefit of our friends over at Two River Theater.
We hope you enjoyed yourselves– and please visit our website http://www.countbasietheatre.org to sign up for our email newsletter to make sure you find out about our events as soon as they’re listed!
And of course, we’d love if you became our fan on Facebook (www.facebook.com/countbasietheatre) or follow us on Twitter: CountBasieThtr.
Thanks again for being such a fantastic and fun audience! We hope to see you again, Nation!
–Count Basie Theatre
Red Bank, NJ
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Changing name from Harper to Jerzegrl.
As already mentioned, last night was beyond amazing. I had a very late night (involved getting lost on way home) and I’m not fully conscious yet. But I’ll start some comments & hope to add to them later.
1500 people packed the theater. My seat was down front on the left, 3rd row. I was across the aisle from the lovely Evie (I recognized her from the latest Emmy pic!) & I was surprised at how she just blended into the crowd. Until Stephen outed her later in the interview.
At the beginning, Stephen & Aaron Posner seemed like 2 old friends catching up. A lot of their interview was spent on the “old days” at Northwestern/in Chicago. Aaron asked him for the 3 events that led him to be where he is now. I can’t remember them in order but it had a lot to do with Second City, which a lot of us already know. But what struck me was how special it was to be in the room while he was reminiscing over those old times.
My BlackBerry is running out of juice. Someone pick this up from here…
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Congrats, looking forward to reportage.
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My report from the night is up on my site:
http://star-crossedcomic.com/fnr/basie.html
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I can’t believe you remember all of those quotes! Did you take notes? LOL! You summed it up so well. Anything else I would offer would be editorializing.
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Pretty much when my friends and I made it back to the car after the show I whipped out the sketchbook and was like “Ok! Everyone start remembering stuff! Let’s go, let’s go!” So this was a combined effort.
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What a great write-up Page! Thank you (and your helpers) for getting it all down and sharing it with us. I hope the experience inspired more awesome Rumble panels.
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:D That’s exactly what my friends and I did after the show…I can’t remember a thing unless I have pen & paper, but mostly other people to talk about it with immediately.
Love your comic by the way :) Good thing I didn’t know you were going to be there otherwise you would have had to deal with squee in person
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Thank you for writing all that up for those of us who live too far away to have gone. It sounds like it was a wonderful and fun evening. :-)
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You must be a really nice person. How considerate for you to write all this up for everyone. I know sometimes one feels like bursting out from inside if a story one thinks everyone will enjoy doesn’t get out, but it takes time to write it all up and get it accurate as possible – So (I never can be brief) thanks, so, so much again for your wonderful report!
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Thanks for the account of the evening, it was great fun to read! :)
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Awesome report, Page! Thanks so much.
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One of the audience questions was about losing his Southern accent and would he say something “Southern”. He was a little on the spot, but his wife shouted up to the stage to do the “Gerald’s(?) Tire” thing. He told the story of this tire shop in SC that “recapped” tires or what we would call retreading. Then he launched into the accent and did a little of the commercial.
During the 10 questions for the character, I loved how he lapsed from himself right into “Stephen Colbert”, like it was as natural as breathing. He makes it look effortless!
I had the chance to ask a question. I was incredibly nervous but I asked him how/why he got involved in DonorsChoose. I knew alot about it, but its so important that I wanted anyone in the room who didn’t know about it to learn how great it is.
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I just love that we were right across the way from each other asking our questions lol :)
Thanks for the question about DonorsChoose – I know a lot of people in that theater didn’t know about it, and Stephen seemed entirely anxious to let everyone know what it was about :)
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Thanks for the note taking and great recall, it’s very much appreciated.
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I attended the reception and got a picture with Stephen, which really made my year, but the interview was also fantastic.
One story I can remember now was him talking about how he was actually afraid of bears when he was little because of a Richard Harris film (I looked it up when I got home, it’s Man in the Wilderness) he watched at age seven, in which Harris is horribly mauled by a bear, buried alive, then sets out to kill all the people responsible for burying him alive. Stephen had to go through the woods to get to his bus stop for school, and was terrified that a bear was going to get him. When he talked to his dad about it, rather than telling him that as they were living in South Carolina, there were no bears around, he went with “Ahh, with modern medicine, they’d patch you up like *that*”
Toward the end of the ‘official’ questions, Posner did a lightning round of questions that he asked to Stephen, and then to his character. One of the questions was about his favorite Bible stories. Stephen listed the Sermon on the Mount (‘which is like saying I like chocolate ice cream’ – the favorite ice cream question was right before) and the moment in Revelations when the lamb breaks the seal and there was silence in heaven ‘for about a half an hour’ which Stephen went on to describe as ‘the length of a Seinfeld episode’. When asked the same question, “Stephen” went with the OT story of Elisha, who was teased by some kids for being bald, and God sent a she-bear to kill 47 of the children, lesson being ‘Don’t f**k with a prophet.’
Editor’s note: We bend the rules for language sometimes for interviews, etc., but if you could please make use of your family friendlier “*” symbol, it would be lovely.
That said: it’s a great story. Thank you!
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Oh, do post the photo if you can. I’m glad you were able to attend the reception – wish I had.
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The “Don’t F**k With the Prophet” should be on a t-shirt. LOL!
Editor’s note: I know we get a little more lax about the “family friendly” policy when it comes to quotes and all, but please, asterisks are your friends. :)
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Ohhhh I would have given my right leg to get a picture! You’re so lucky! What was the reception like?
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This was my first experience with an event where people offered me tiny bits of food impaled on sticks- the first half hour or so was just everyone milling around, poking at the cheese selection (a lot of them seemed to know each other- maybe they were the regulars at this theater?)
There was no official announcement when Stephen arrived, just a swell of people in the direction of the door :) My friend and I watched him for a while, he had a glass in his hand, and was also checking out the snacks in between talking to people. Then we realized we’d have to be a bit more aggressive if we wanted to get closer, since he kept getting turned in different directions.
Finally, my friend got his attention and I was able to introduce myself (by the correct name, I think) and she took the pic of us. He was very sweet and had amazing eye contact, it seemed like he was genuinely interested in each person as he spoke to them, not just making his way through a crowd. Later, once I’d finished hugging the stuffing out of my friend in my joy, I approached him and asked if we could reverse positions from before, and he said “Sure!” and I took her picture with him- it’s easier to ask for someone else, somehow. I might have just stood gazing at him from afar if I’d been alone
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It sounds like you had such a great time! Again, you are incredibly lucky for that picture :D I was waiting around the front of the theater after the interview let out, but I think he left through the back :(
Thankfully I’ll settle for my audience question haha
I’m so glad you got to meet him! :D
reCaptcha: col- psycho. Just what is reCaptcha insinuating here? lol
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Wonderful summary, Page! I was hoping someone would be able to write while memories were still fresh – thank you!
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Ohhhh where to begin? :)
Seeing as I drove 12 hours from Michigan to get to the show, please forgive me if my memory is currently a bit hazy – I’m working on about 4 scattered hours of sleep here ;)
Let me just say that the staff at both the Count Basie Theater and the Two River Theater Company were FAN-tastic. They were so helpful and I ended up chatting with a few of them about Stephen and TCR. One conversation in particular was with an older lady who asked me if I watched the show a lot (to which I replied, “EVERY NIGHT.”), and then asked for clarification on whether or not Stephen was serious with the things he said on the show, or if he was kidding. I just love the fact that he’s so good that most people can’t tell the difference! :)
My brother and I had GREAT seats. I was in the very front at the end on the right side of the theater with my brother sitting behind me. I do wish that they would have let us take pictures, especially since my camera broke earlier in the day in Philadelphia and I bought another digital camera in Red Bank before the show, just in cases (Stephen’s worth it) :). I snagged a couple of videos though with the new camera, so it did come in handy, and I’ll post the videos when I can (actually, DB, would it be easier if I just emailed them to you?)
I did love at the beginning of the interview when Stephen greeted Aaron and just as Stephen was about to sit down, Aaron remained standing, prompting Stephen to ask, “Well, how come you get to stand?” Then, when Aaron finally sat down, Stephen stood up and greeted the crowd once more. Adorable :D
I always enjoy when Stephen talks about his early career and early influences, so the first half of the interview was a real joy. A few other people have said in the earlier comments what most of the questions were so I won’t repeat them, but my favorite story was about when Stephen knew he wanted to do comedy. He gave the story about his early improv days when he was waiting backstage while a girl was doing a “Song For The Whales” and how joyous he and the other cast members became when the song completely failed. I never get sick of that story because it completely captures my own love for comedy.
I’m kind of jumping around a bit now, simply out of exhaustion, so here goes. I’ll just do bullet points lol.
- Aaron asked why Stephen moved to New York, and he mentioned that he would rather have lived in New York than Los Angeles.
- In the beginning of the interview when he was talking about improv, one of the reasons he said he liked it was because it was easier than being a dramatic actor and spending your whole day in deep character imagining what your “life would be like as an avacado” (Something like that, anyway).
- I do remember that he mentioned how he liked that most people can differentiate between Stephen and “Stephen” and the fact that they recognize he’s smiling behind everything he’s saying, so they forgive him for it and realize that he’s kidding.
- A fave of mine was I think when Aaron asked Stephen for his “job description” – Stephen at first said he was a writer, host, and executive producer, but I think that’s when he mentioned that what he really does plain and simple is he makes jokes.
- After he explained the Barney Frank interview, he took a drink of his water and he mentioned that he was glad he was drinking Fiji water because he was worried he wouldn’t be drinking a water that didn’t have a big enough carbon footprint, which made me laugh until I cried.
- Aaron asked Stephen if he liked being a celebrity, and Stephen replied that it was useful because he “gets very good service at the Garden Shop and can get people to bring the mulch to his car.” He said that other than when people come up to him when he’s with his kids, being a celebrity is “Jim-dandy. I recommend it.” The Jim-dandy part was quite adorable.
Alright, audience questions. I’m just going by what I remember and what I managed to snag on video, so bear with me if they’ve been repeated:
- A guy in the balcony made a comment that he thought Chuck Noblot was the coolest teacher ever, and Stephen replied that he thought Chuck Noblot, and I forget exactly what he said here, but Chuck Noblot may or may not have been a famous man in sports lol, but that Chuck NOBLET was cool. It was a funny correction haha.
- There was a woman who flew all the way from England to see Stephen and I forget her question, but she did ask for a ticket to what would have been tonight’s show, and I’m really wondering if she ended up getting one after Stephen said yes.
- Stephen’s answer to an audience question about Glenn Beck (it was the “Beck walks up to a tree every morning, wraps the genius noose around his neck, and just leaps off” comment) was by far, one of my favorite things he’s ever said.
- One audience member mentioned an event coming up this week with all 5 of the living US Presidents, and Stephen spent the next minute or so trying to remember what the event was and who the 5 living Presidents were. He then mentioned something about how he needed to do more research lol.
- Someone behind me asked Stephen a Dungeons & Dragons question, and then when Stephen started talking about D&D he said “we just alienated EVERYONE else in this room” :)
And that’s all I remember (which is actually a lot, now that I look back on it), because then it was my turn to ask a question! I ended up being the last person to get to ask Stephen something, which was crazy. I was SO incredibly nervous and my legs felt like jelly afterwards, so I don’t quite know how I pulled it off. It was actually Jerzegrl’s question about DonorsChoose.org that the idea to give a shout-out to No Fact Zone popped in my head. In my head it went something like this: ‘DonorsChoose….Internet…Blogging…Stephen….No Fact Zone!’ lol. I said Hi to Stephen and then said “while I’ve got it in my head, I wanted to say hi on behalf of the folks at No Fact Zone.” There was some applause from the crowd and Stephen got a great big smile on his face and asked me what my name was on the board. When I told him mine he said he only knew of “DB” (your own personal shout-out DB! :D). He said it was a really great site, and, because I couldn’t think of anything else to say, I replied, “I…enjoy it as well.” – I’m really happy he laughed at that, because I really didn’t know what to say back LOL. I said thank you to Stephen for his coverage in Iraq earlier this summer because I learned more in the 4 days that he was there than the entire time on basic cable news. He smiled and said Thank You. Then I told him that I read Wigfield earlier this summer (he seemed pleased to know that there are actually people out there who LOVE that book. I really wish more people knew about it; it really is brilliant and funny) and heard the audiobook, and told him that his impression of Raven was really great. He laughed and interjected so that he could describe to the audience what Wigfield was. Then, off the top of my head, I also mentioned that there was a really great picture of him in there that I highly recommend, and that made him laugh again. (If any of you haven’t read Wigfield, there’s a super-hilarious picture of him as a stripper named Raven, and that’s all I’ll say about it lol) Finally I asked him if there were any similarities between Russell Hokes and “Stephen Colbert” and he replied that Russell was ignorant and inept and “Stephen Colbert” was ignorant but skilled.
What happened after the show was great too, because it was a mini-NFZ Reunion! Lilimich and I were wearing the same Property of Colbert Nation shirt, so I introduced myself and low and behold, her and Ann G were from the site! It was so great to meet you guys! I just love how Stephen brings people together :D
Whew! I apologize for it being so long, I just wanted to post as many things as I could remember about the night, because it truly was the best night of my life. Never in a million years would I have thought I would be talking to my hero :) I had such a wonderful time and I could thank Stephen a million times over for such a great night.
On another note, anyone have any idea when or if the footage from the night will be posted online? It would be SO GREAT to have the interview in its entirety.
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Thank you so much for that report!! It’s so awesome to hear about what happened. That was a whole conversation you had with him there!
Also, the woman from England is a member of the Colbertnation.com forums (she’s written a report in the fangirl section of the board) and I can tell you she did get a ticket. :)
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I know! Just the fact that what I said made him laugh makes me infinitely happy :)
That’s awesome that she did get a ticket – she was right in front of me when she asked and I saw a staff member taking down her information, so she’s certainly a lucky gal :) I wonder if he mentioned it at the taping yesterday…
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I can imagine! I wish I could do that, too. Make him laugh, or at least smile. Kinda return the favor for making me laugh all this time. Unfortunately it’s going to be quite a challenge considering I live about half a world away…
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That was lovely! Thank you for such a detailed report! It sounds like it was a wonderful night.
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Wow! Another lovely write-up. Thanks! :-)
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I think you did a great job talking to him- you didn’t sound nervous, just excited
The DND question was whether his character had ever gotten past the Tomb of Horrors- after that, I understood nothing
Thanks for reminding me about the genius noose, I think that needs an icon
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Ohhhh I was INCREDIBLY nervous! I don’t know how I made it lol. I think it was because of the fact that I make jokes when I get nervous, because it helps calm me down, and then when he laughed at what I was saying, I fell soooo much better. I’m glad to hear that I didn’t appear nervous :D
Tomb of Horrors – that’s right! And yes, he completely lost me after that too hahaha ;)
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Wow, an amazing report on the night! Thanks!
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OH! I just remembered a couple more worthwhile details :)
- Stephen mentioned the upcoming bit with a skateboard for Better Know A District! I think he said he got a couple of congressmen/women to skateboard with him and that he ate it on the skateboard in an attempt to go down the stairs…as funny as that truly sounds, poor Stevie C!
- They played Movits! in the theater before the show started! I heard “Fel Del Av Gården” and I about exploded with joy :D
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Could all the lucky girls who attended this event post some of their mentioned pics. That would be lovely :-)
It’s a torture to hear about pics and not be able to see them :-(
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WOW…THANKS FOR ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE REPORTS!!
Aww..I really hope they do post a video of the interview in its entirety. I’m glad all those who went had such a fantastic time and were so generous in writing their reports! Thanks again!
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If the theatre did tape the event, they could sell those DVDs to raise even more money! Well worth it! Just an idea Two Rivers…get on it! ;)
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I am so jealous. Of all of you! Holy! But, thank you so much for writing these reports up, it’s a great honour to live vicariously through you. HAHA.
/fingers crossed for video!
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Great reports girls; thanks for all the lovely details.
Sounds like a smashing time was had by all =D
…they bring the mulch to the car… LOL!
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Hi all!
I’m the naughty lady from England who asked Stephen for a ticket for the show! I did indeed get a VIP ticket as Stephen’s guest!!!!!!!!
I wrote my report up in The C-Section on Colbert Nation along with pictures, but would be happy to post them here along with my taping report!
I am the happiest woamn on the planet because Stephen was SO wonderful! He was worth every single penny of my (expensive!) trip and will be saving up for the next event!
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I was the person right behind you when you asked him that! :D
I’m so glad you ended up getting a ticket for the show! Actually, if you could just post the link to that thread on the Colbert Nation boards, that would be awesome – that way I won’t have to rummage about the site too much lol. Pictures? As in pictures with Stephen or pictures during the show? Either way, congrats you lucky girl!! :D
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Unfortunately, the story is in the private “C-Section” fangirl forum. Unless you have access to that board, you won’t be able to see the story at all.
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Yes please Mrs C2. Please post your reports here. I would love to read them.
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http://mrscolbert2nd.livejournal.com/
Hello again! I’ve posted a link to the reports I wrote about Two River theatre AND the live taping on my livejournalpage. I need to edit it because the format has gone all weird, but hopefully you can open it. Hope you enjoy.
PM me at ColbertNation if you can’t and I’ll send you a different link WITH PICTURES!!!!
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http://forum.colbertnation.com/tcr/board/message?board.id=fangirl_club&thread.id=9718
Another thread to the official nation thread!
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