Fran Lebowitz—Original NY Lesbian—to Grace Benaroya with Signature Wit

Some might think that Joan of Arc is the original Queen of Queens, but they would be wrong.

For us at The Evergreen Echo, Fran Lebowitz is That Dyke who established what it actually means to converse in “real talk.” Our dame of dry wit returns to Benaroya Hall on Sunday, September 22, 2024 (7:30pm) in an intimate chat hosted by bestselling Seattle author Claire Dederer. Lebowitz shall offer her acerbic views on current events and the media—as well as pet peeves like tourists, baggage-claim areas, after-shave lotion, adults who roller skate, children who speak French, or anyone who is unduly tan. In addition, she will share her unique take on the current state of our Union, which we’re sure will be a hoot and a half.

In a cultural landscape filled with endless pundits and talking heads, Fran Lebowitz stands out as one of our most insightful social commentators. Her Netflix series Pretend It’s a City, directed by Martin Scorcese, offers an unforgettable glimpse into her world view and has exposed her to a new generation of loyal fans.

Lebowitz has had quite the life and has worked odd jobs, such as taxi driving, belt peddling, and apartment cleaning (“with a small specialty in Venetian blinds”), before being hired by Andy Warhol as a columnist for Interview. That was followed by a stint at Mademoiselle. Her first book, a collection of essays titled Metropolitan Life, was a bestseller, as was a second collection, Social Studies. By turns ironic, facetious, deadpan, sarcastic, wry, wisecracking, and waggish, Lebowitz’s prose is wickedly entertaining. Her two books are collected in the Fran Lebowitz Reader, with a new preface by the author, and has been published in nine languages including French, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish. Lebowitz is also the author of the children’s book Mr. Chas and Lisa Sue Meet the Pandas.

Between 2001 to 2007, Lebowitz had a recurring role as Judge Janice Goldberg on the television drama Law & Order. She also had a part in Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street (2013). A raconteur if ever there was one, Lebowitz has long been a regular on various talk shows including those hosted by Jimmy Fallon, Conan O'Brien, and Bill Maher. In an interview with the Paris Review, Lebowitz said, “I’m not a nervous person. I’m not afraid to be on TV. I’m only afraid when I write. When I’m at my desk I feel like most people would feel if they went on TV.”

Fran Lebowitz on Pretend It’s a City / Netflix

She can also be seen in various documentary films including PBS’ New York City: A Documentary Film, as well as Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures (2016), Regarding Susan Sontag (2014), and Superstar: The Life and Times of Andy Warhol (1990), among others. In 2010 Martin Scorsese directed a documentary about Lebowitz for HBO titled Public Speaking. A limited documentary series, Pretend It's a City—also directed by Scorsese—premiered on Netflix in 2021, and was nominated for the 2021 Emmys in the Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Series category. That same year, she was awarded the Forte dei Marmi Festival della Satira Lifetime Achievement Award and was a 2021 Foreign Press Honorary Awardee, an award given by the Foreign Press Correspondents Association & Club USA.

Lebowitz was once named one of the year's most stylish women by Vanity Fair and remains a style icon. Having spent a lifetime in New York City, she does not believe that she would be allowed to live anywhere else. The New York Times Book Review calls Lebowitz an "important humorist in the classic tradition." Purveyor of urban cool, Lebowitz is a cultural satirist who many call the heir to Dorothy Parker. Her writing—pointed, taut, and economical—is equally forthright, irascible, and unapologetically opinionated. We look forward to hearing her words on these [insert adjective here] times in which we’re enveloped.

Tickets to what will undoubtedly be a cathartically unforgettable evening on September 22, 2024, are available through Benaroya Hall.