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Faith, love, hope— and letting go
Here's an opportunity to support an excellent cause - and meet one of the headliners at the 2014 Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop.
For the past 18 months Mary Lou Quinlan has toured the country with her moving one-woman show called "The God Box, A Daughter's Story."
Next stop: Off-Broadway's historic Cherry Lane Theater in a performance to benefit Gilda's Club.
The performance, one of five in March, is slated for 7 p.m. on Monday, March 3. To order tickets, click here. All proceeds will go directly to this free cancer support center, which was founded by Gene Wilder in honor of his wife, Gilda Radner. Tickets include the show and a wine reception.
Quinlan is a nationally known marketing expert, an inspirational speaker and the author of four books, including The God Box, which became a New York Times' bestseller in just three weeks. She co-wrote the play with Martha Wollner of the Labyrinth Theater Company.
What's behind the popularity of The God Box? It's a heartfelt story that speaks to life's deepest lessons of faith, love, hope and, ultimately, learning to let go.
When Quinlan's mother died, she discovered 10 boxes filled with her mother's worries, wishes and prayers spanning two decades.
"The more I reread what she had written, the more I realized that these notes filled with loving words were more than mementos," Quinlan writes in the book's introduction. "Fingering each slip of paper, I could reclaim her sparkle and common sense, her humor and optimism and - above all - her enduring spirit. And ever my guardian angel, Mom would continue to teach me about myself, even after death."
Quinlan donates all the proceeds from ticket and book sales to health, hospice and cancer care, as well as charities and not-for-profit organizations dedicated to women, family and educational causes. To date, she's raised more than $180,000.
"It's the perfect show for mothers, daughters, girlfriends - anyone who ever loved," she says. "You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll want to call your mother."
Here's the March touring schedule:
7 p.m., March 3, Cherry Lane Theater in New York City to benefit Gilda's Club
2 p.m., March 9, Arcadia University Spruance Theater in Glenside, Penn., to benefit Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
7:30 p.m., March 10, Saint Joseph's University Bluett Theater to benefit Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
7:30 p.m., March 11, Innovation Studio in Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia to benefit Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
5 p.m., March 22, Bickford Theater in Morristown, N.J., to benefit Cancer Support Community Central New Jersey
For a complete calendar of events, click here.