Voyeurism comes to Old Town Theater May 25. And, some of the audience could be part of the show. Anonymously, of course.
Local comic Naomi Johnson will showcase Frank Warren and his "PostSecret" postcards revealing the "deepest, darkest secrets" of ordinary people. This will be coupled with Davy and Peter Rothbart's "Found," or what they've scavenged from household trash across the nation.
Warren has collected over 25,000 postcards after inviting people to anonymously reveal to him their most personal secrets written on a postcard -- confessions of ordinary people. Many will be on display that night.
Alexandria Old Town Theater is just one stop for the Rothbart's on a 33-city tour promoting their newest treatise "Found II." Davy reads about their most startling new "finds" while Peter characterizes their acquisitions in song. They tell stories of how they found items in people's trash, according to Johnson.
"It's actually a dual art exhibit combined with the format of a talk show," said Johnson, who hosts her own talk show the second Saturday of every month at Old Town Theater, 815 and a half King Street.
"I usually interview local celebrities, comics and musicians. For this show I'm combining the normal format with a book signing and art exhibit of the postcards," she explained.
Fashioned after the late-night television talk shows, Johnson started at Old Town Theater last August. Her next show is May 13 beginning at 10 p.m. when she will interview two District of Columbia comics.
Hailing from Connecticut, Johnson has lived in Old Town for the last eight years. Although she is a former federal employee, her first love has always been comedy.
"When I was four years old I used to perform for friends. I grew up learning routines from old radio show. Right now the DC area is a hot place for comedy," she said.
At 37 years of age, Johnson holds a Master's degree in Social Work. She recently left a private consulting firm to "travel and do comedy" on a regular basis. She practiced that art in Philadelphia from 1991 to 1995.
For her May 25 show, doors will open at 6 p.m. for postcard viewing. Showtimes are 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tickets are $15. They can be purchased at the theater or online at www.oldtowntheater.com.
The 6:30 p.m. show is a fundraiser for the Kristin Brooks Hope Center, program manager of the National Hopeline Network and 1-800-SUICIDE. Nine dollars of ever sale will be donated to that cause. For additional information on the show contact Naomi Johnson at 571-235-2408 or aka.gnome@hotmail.com.