Palisadian Roberta Randall has been entertaining audiences with her ‘one-woman theater’ for 20 years. The solo dramatist currently performs in four different shows she created based on the lives and accomplishments of famous women, such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Katharine Hepburn, and Marlene Dietrich. Next week, Randall will present ‘A Woman of Independent Means’ by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey at the Woman’s Club on Tuesday, May 11, and ‘Beverly Sills’ at the Assistance League of Santa Monica on Wednesday, May 12. A Chicago native, Randall has dramatic experience that spans theater, television, radio and film, though she says, ‘I like a live audience.’ She especially enjoys playing famous women and developed the idea for her one-woman shows because ‘women are interested in accomplished women.’ Randall’s audiences range from women in their 20s to age 100, and she usually performs for women’s organizations, as well as retirement homes and temples. ‘I can perform for a small group in someone’s living room or in a huge theater,’ says Randall, who works with simple costumes and minimal props. Her first one-woman creation was ‘Beverly Sills,’ about the internationally acclaimed soprano who captured America’s heart with her glorious artistry, engaging personality and salty intelligence. ‘I read her book, ‘Bubbles,’ [an autobiography] and her life seemed fascinating,’ Randall says. ‘There was a lot in her life that was very emotional.’ Because Randall crafts her shows as interpretations of the women and their lives, she researches by reading books and watching videos in order to get to know her subjects. A graduate of Northwestern University, School of Speech, in Evanston, Illinois, Randall studied acting under Uta Hagen in New York before going to France and Italy to act in films such as ‘Reflections in a Golden Eye’ (John Huston), ‘Doctor Faustus’ (Richard Burton) and ‘Woman Times Seven’ (Vittorio De Sica) in the 1960s. When she moved to Los Angeles 30 years ago, her starring role in ‘Electra’ at the Cellar Theatre earned her an agent. A Palisades resident for 18 years, Randall also studied with Jack Garfein in Beverly Hills and taught acting, voice and diction at the Actors and Directors Lab for two years, and as a private coach. She and her husband, Irwin, currently travel every year to such places as China, Russia and England. In the free program of ‘A Woman of Independent Means,’ based on Elizabeth Hailey’s novel, at the Woman’s Club on May 11 at 11:45 a.m., Randall will portray the life of Bess Steed Garner from 1899 to 1977. To reserve a place for lunch ($10) after the program, call Evelyn Morrow at 459-2507 by 12 noon on May 8. The Clubhouse is located at 901 Haverford. The Night Lights Auxiliary of the Assistance League of Santa Monica will host the May 12 performance of ‘Beverly Sills’ as an evening of drama and dessert from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Assistance League Chapter House, 1439 15th St. Dessert and wine will be served following the program; a minimum donation of $10 will be accepted at the door. All proceeds go to providing scholarships for kids to attend camp and outfitting local children for summer camp.
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