“Cock Tales: Shame on Me!,” a new 80-minute show by local award-winning solo artist and writer, Debra Ehrhardt, debuted at the Santa Monica Playhouse July 30.
The source material for the play is taken from Ehrhardt’s own sexual experiences, from being raised in a religious household in Jamaica into her young adulthood.
“Cock Tales: Shame on Me!” is very un-Jamaican because Jamaicans are extremely private and ultra conservative,” Ehrhardt told The Mirror.
“In Jamaica, where I’m from, you never, ever talk about your business. I had to muster up my courage to talk about my alcoholic father, my family life and even breaking the law in my previous shows, “Invisible Chairs,” “Mango Mango,” and “Jamaica Farewell,” she said.
“Now, In ‘Cock Tales: Shame on Me!’ I’m revealing the boldest things I’ve never told. Everything I’ve ever written has led up to this. Bold. Bolder. Boldest. ‘Cock Tales’ is a whole new level of over sharing as there is nothing more personal than your sex life. The content in ‘Cock Tales: Shame on Me!’ is so much more personal than anything I’ve ever written,” Ehrhardt explained.
Ehrhardt has been recognized by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and New York City Fringe for her contributions to the arts.
Ehrhardt performed her last play, “Jamaica Farewell,” at the Santa Monica Playhouse for more than 10 years, so she now considers it to be something of a second home.
“The patrons and the whole crew at Santa Monica Playhouse have been so supportive and have allowed me to express my creative self in ways I never could have imagined,” Ehrhardt said. “Laughing and crying throughout and applauding my shows, and even returning again and again after they’ve seen it. I feel like the people who come to the Santa Monica Playhouse are so colorful, open and accepting and I’d be less likely to make anyone uncomfortable with my very personal show.”
For tickets and more information, visit santamonicaplayhouse.com.
