Writer Lisa Graff sets final show with local musicians April 25
Writer Lisa Graff, along with singer Holly Lane and pianist John Flynn, will give their final performance of “The Education of Moi,” the second chapter of Graff’s memoir, at 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 25, at Shrimpy’s restaurant north of Rehoboth Beach. Doors open at 5 p.m. for dinner.
Cost for the show is $10 cash at the door. Seating is limited; sign up at signupgenius.com/go/70a0a4ca9ab2aa7f85-educating2#/. Reservations will not be accepted by the restaurant. For more information, email lgraff1979@gmail.com.
Graff’s first show “The Schoolgirl, the Scandal and the Scoundrel” was about being a waitress so she could earn money to earn a college degree. All performances gathered a capacity crowd. The second chapter exposes the challenges of being a resident assistant in a freshman dormitory.
In September 2022, Graff first approached Terry Plowman, publisher of Delaware Beach Life Magazine, with the idea of an original show. He asked two of his old bandmates from the Gone Boys group to play along.
It was the creative process that Plowman and Graff enjoyed most. Graff didn’t really know what songs Plowman’s band had in their repertoire, so they had to meet multiple times to choose songs that matched the action of the script.
For example, when 19-year-old Graff suddenly found herself on a date with her older boss, the Gone Boys played the song “Bad Moon Rising.”
Graff admits she had a vision. “I didn’t know Terry well, but he took a chance on me. Before our first show ‘The Schoolgirl, the Scandal, and the Scoundrel’ was about to debut, I heard Holly and John perform at a private party. I was brazen to invite Holly to the opening night of my first performance with the Gone Boys. I loved that she is fluent in French, and I had a scene in mind. Lucky for me, she and John agreed to join me for the second chapter.”
Lane settled in Rehoboth Beach in 1996 after years of living and performing in the Bahamas, Greece, Switzerland, Martinique, Haiti and Paris. She has been performing with Flynn for 13 years, singing while bartending at Café Azafrán, as well as booking local venues and private events.
In addition to the Great American Songbook, Lane’s repertoire includes French music, show tunes, ballads and light rock. She has recorded two CDs with Shore Jazz.
Flynn, a Philly native now residing in Rehoboth, has performed everywhere from Provincetown, Mass., to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. In addition to performing at Café Azafrán with Lane, Flynn plays at Shrimpy's three Wednesdays a month and at The Pines happy hour on Friday and Saturdays. His popular Dueling Pianos show with Matthew Kenworthy every Monday at The Pines draws a cheerful crowd.
Graff said, “It’s been an unbelievable opportunity to be able to resurrect a 1980s autobiographical novel, then to polish the manuscript and look for local musicians willing to collaborate with me to create a unique performance. I’m grateful to Shrimpy’s and the community for their support.”
“John and I are looking forward to doing more collaborations in the future,” said Lane. Stay tuned for another chapter from Graff’s memoir, covering when she moves to Chicago in 1979 to pursue a master’s degree in theater!
