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The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe

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The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe
Directed byJohn Bailey
Written byJane Wagner
Produced byJane Wagner
StarringLily Tomlin
Clay Walker
CinematographyJohn Bailey
Edited bySally Menke
Distributed byOrion Classics
Release date
  • September 27, 1991 (1991-09-27)
Running time
120 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe (1985) is a one-woman stage show written by Jane Wagner. The original Broadway production starred Lily Tomlin,[1] won the Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience, and was turned into a film in 1991.

The show, Tomlin's second Broadway billing as a solo performer, follows Tomlin as she performs various characters or personae, all while wearing simple black pants and a white blouse. The show appears disparate at first, but becomes unified under the sensibility of the opening "bag lady" persona as the performance progresses. The show is often praised or considered controversial for its feminist material, most notably the compressed history of the feminist movement offered in Act 2. For her stage performance, Tomlin won a Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics' Circle awards.[2]

A film version was directed by John Bailey and edited by Sally Menke, and stays true to the original stage performance. The film earned the Golden Space Needle Award at the Seattle International Film Festival. For her efforts on the film, Tomlin received a Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture American Comedy Awards, amongst other notable accolades. A restored version of the film, compiled from different prints, will be shown at the 2024 RescueFest at the Laemmle Monica Film Center in Santa Monica, California in December 2024.[3]

Revival

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In the fall of 2021, The Shed announced plans for a revival starring Saturday Night Live cast member Cecily Strong and directed by Tony nominee Leigh Silverman.[4] It would run from January to February 2022.[5] This production with Cecily Strong played at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles from September 21 to October 23, 2022.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Canby, Vincent (September 27, 1991). "Lily Tomlin, Translated From Stage To Screen". The New York Times. New York City.
  2. ^ Gentile, John (1989). Cast of One: One-Person Shows from the Chautauqua Platform to the Broadway Stage. Illinois UP. pp. 169–172.
  3. ^ Blauvelt, Christian (November 25, 2024). "RescueFest, Premier Festival for Restoring Lost Indies, to Open 2024 Edition with 'The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe'". IndieWire. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  4. ^ Bahr, Sarah (12 October 2021). "Cecily Strong to Make New York Theater Debut at the Shed". The New York Times.
  5. ^ "Cecily Strong Stars In One-Woman Show | All Of It". WNYC. January 13, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  6. ^ Darel Jevens (October 1, 2022). "Fear not, Cecily Strong fans: She hasn't left 'SNL'". Chicago Sun-Times.
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