Leading Lady Audiobook By Charles Busch cover art

Leading Lady

A Memoir of a Most Unusual Boy

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Leading Lady

By: Charles Busch
Narrated by: Charles Busch
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About this listen

The Tony Award-nominated writer of The Tale of the Allergist's Wife and the long-running hit Off-Broadway play Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, and a Sundance Festival award winner Charles Busch has created a unique place in the entertainment world as a playwright, LGBT icon, drag actor, director, and cabaret performer, with his extraordinary gift for both connecting with and channeling the leading ladies of show business.

Charles writes how ever since his mother's death when he was seven, he has sought out surrogate mothers in his life. In his teens, Charles moved to Manhattan to live with his Auntie Mame-like Aunt Lil, who encouraged Charles's talents and dreams, and eventually he discovered his gifts for writing plays and performing as a male actress.

Busch also shares his colorful and sometimes outlandish interactions with film and theatrical luminaries, including Joan Rivers, Angela Lansbury, Rosie O'Donnell, Claudette Colbert, Valerie Harper, Kim Novak, and many others.

Full of both humor and heart, Leading Lady is for fans of entertainment books as well as anyone who enjoys real-life stories of artists who break the mold, ditch the boundaries, and find their own unique way to sparkle.

©2023 Charles Busch (P)2023 Tantor
Actors Biographies & Memoirs Entertainment & Celebrities Entertainment & Performing Arts Theater Celebrity Heartfelt Witty Memoir
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Critic reviews

"This joyful, upbeat, and witty memoir will likely capture the hearts of theater and movie buffs." —Kevin Howell, Library Journal
Entertaining Stories • Theatrical Insights • Colorful Tales • Historical Perspective • Witty Storytelling
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It was great to hear this story. It is always good to find out a performer I have enjoyed is a nice person too.

Great story, well preformed

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A well written memoir from a very talented performer. Filled with honesty,warmth and humour, which is exactly what one expects from Charles Busch! 👍🥂🌞

A life filled with performances on and off the stage!

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The rich theatrical stories made better by the incomparable Mr Busch’s flawless delivery. I envy anyone who is about to start this amazing book.

I waited until I saw Mr Busch had completed the audio version

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A wonderful book beautifully read by the author, with deep insights into his creativity and a trip through historically important theatrical eras in our recent history. Listening to his colorfully illustrated tales and reflecting on the complicated relationships documented within only furthered my appreciation for the nuance and brilliance in the work of Charles Busch. A high recommend.

A transporting memoir of a great talent.

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If you’re a fan of Charles Busch, this memoir, read beautifully by Busch himself, does not disappoint.

A delight from start to finish

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Extremely fascinating and well told memoir of a truly original writer and performer. Highly recommended.

A True Original

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Truly a theatrical delight! Don’t miss your chance to find out more of the remarkable life of Charles Busch.

Remarkable!

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My plan to only read (listen) to one or two chapters a day to stretch out the pleasure of Leading Lady: A Memoir of a Most Unusual Boy, didn't last. The book is so delicious that I found that I couldn't put it down (so to speak) and I have now finished it. What was particularly enjoyable for me is that so many questions that I had about you, your life, Margaret, Aunt Lil, your friends in the theatre, some of whom I had met and worked with over the years myself as it related to travel, or from meeting at your Christmas parties, (Joan Rivers for one,) were all put into context and my questions were answered.

Thank you Charles, and thank you for putting the book on Audible.com. Not only did I get to "read" the book, but I experienced it as a performance by Charles Busch and that added to it immeasurably. Bravo, Bravo

Leading Lady was indeed, a memoir of a most unusual boy

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with real laughs..and a narration that brings this to life.. his story twists and turns .. but always stays true

what a story

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A wonderful walk through the life of Charles Busch. He is an amusing and witty companion, with a talent for telling stories that entertain. I highly recommend it!

Delightful!

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