Can Memoir As Theater Entertain Us?

It seems with the explosion of books being published that there is more than a fair share that are memoirs. Everyone has a story to tell — and many will try to do just that. But memoir as theatre, is challenged to succeed at entertaining or enlightening audiences. But Boomer, an impressive one-man play at the United Solo Festival (Theatre Row) does both.



The play is described as “a baby boomer's raw, comedic cultural odyssey through a mad world of his own creation written and performed by Ken Straus.” His energized performance was deeply personal, one that is billed as “a play that explores a lifetime of rapid cultural transformation from one man's Detroit auto-plant roots through the psychedelic '60s; into the sun-drenched, dream-chasing streets of Los Angeles; the high-octane greed of Wall Street; and the ash of 9/11. Equal parts stand-up, social critique, and eulogy, the show puts a generation's idealism through a woodchipper of grievance and irony.”

 

In many ways, his story reflects the story of many who grew up in a time of optimism and change. BOOMER challenges audiences of every generation to confront their own choices, compromises, and the fragile fiction of modern civilization, asking the uncomfortable questions: When the incentives change, do you abandon your beliefs? 

 

One thing the play captures is the feeling of youth and of changed times. It is a personal story for sure, but one with authenticity that feels relatable.

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Brian Feinblum can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors like you to promote your story, sell your book, and grow your brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator! 

 

About Brian Feinblum

This award-winning blog has generated over 11 million page views. With over 5,700+ posts over the past 15 years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2026, 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.”  Copyright 2026.

 

For the past three decades, Brian Feinblum has helped thousands of authors. He formed his own book publicity firm in 2020. Prior to that, for 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and as the director of publicity at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler.

 

His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/whats-needed-to-promote-a-book-successfully) and (https://pubspot.ibpa-online.org/article/10-things-my-dog-taught-me-about-marketing-books). He was recently interviewed by the IBPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0BhO9m8jbs

 

He hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America several years ago, and has spoken at ASJA, three times at BookCAMP, Independent Book Publishers Association, Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, five times at Morgan James Publishing Red Carpet, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. He served as a judge for the 2024 IBPA Book Awards.

 

His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. His first published book was The Florida Homeowner, Condo, & Co-Op Association Handbook.  It was featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald.

 

Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog, and El Chapo, a pug rescue dog.

 

You can connect with him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/ or https://www.facebook.com/brian.feinblum