When I graduated from South Kingstown High School in 1976 I had no idea I was going to become a professional comedian.  The only thing I thought was: I want to go play basketball at URI.  Diane Falk and the Drama dept did give me a Theatre scholarship: 90 dollars worth of dance lessons. (Not inspired sorry)

So, after playing for URI and the WRAMS for two years I realized there were no professional teams, so I had to choose another profession.  Theatre that was what I was good at.  Well, one thing led to another and soon I was on track to becoming a comedian.  I went to NY, Texas, Chicago and finally LA.  I came out as a lesbian in 2000 on stage at the Hollywood Improve, and was immediately given a show in Las Vegas!  So coming out did not hurt my chances at becoming famous.  I have been on a few specials, one on LOGO and one on SHOWTIME. (That one is currently running now!)

Los Angeles is great but many times when sitting at my desk, writing and booking gigs, I thought, I could be doing this just as easily from Rhode Island.  So, when my father made his earthly exit in January of 2010 and left me a little place, in the woods, in South County, with my brother I started to think it might be possible.  And that summer I met the woman of my dreams and she lives in NY. Now, all the signs are pointing to the East.   So I did it, I moved home!  At 53 years old.  And so far I am loving it. I am busy.  I am in love. I love working on the little house, and I am near my family and old friends.

Now the down side:  I can’t really go out and write late at night and by late I mean past 9:30. The only thing that is open and quiet is the Cumberland Farms in Charlestown.  Another negative for me are the bugs. Wow, we did not have so many bugs in LA. The smog must kill them all.  Rhode needs some smog.  Damn – what are they? I was very Zen Buddhist when I first got here.  I thought all living things deserve to live – but now, after 5 months, they’re all going down. BAM! Kill them all!  If it has more than four legs I am killing it.  Now spiders are walking past me up on two legs –“Just the two Poppy, see?” WHAM!  And the worst was when the hair stylist found a tick in my hair-“Auughhh!” How embarrassing.  In LA I used to go out and put on Angel perfume, now when I go out I have to put on Frontline.”

Oh we’re Rhode Island born and Rhode Island bred and when we die we’ll be Rhode Island dead so, go go Rhode Island go go Rhode Island Island go Rhode Island U R I.

Poppy Champlin is headlining at The Comedy Connection in East Providence

On August 26^th and 27^th

39 Warren Ave

East Providence, RI. 02914

401-438-8383

www.ricomedyconnection.com

www.poppychamplin.com

The hotel rooms were very spacious and nice cool tile floors that make me think I am on vacation. Okay, so I was working, but I always try to pretend I am on vacation.  The internet worked well enough so it wasn’t hard to stay in touch, if you really needed to, which I did, cause I was in the middle of producing the Queer Queens of Qomedy in Santa Cruz and San Francisco.  So I was coordinating radio interviews and getting the right press to the right papers at the right time.  My show went very well there. I was on the second night – the first night there wasn’t really any entertainment just a cocktail reception that Vickie Shaw hosted and all the guests were introduced to the Olivia staff and the entertainers.  So I went on on Sunday night.  I usually like to get some local flavor in the jokes and got a couple in there like why so many pillows in the room – there were 30 pillows in my room counting the ones on the couch and on my bed. I said I really was disappointed and really needed a few more pillows to feel comfy. I just wasn’t quite comfy enough, and there was a language barrier there – I mean the help tried to speak English but it didn’t come easy. For instance I asked my room attendant if the bottles of water next to the coffee maker were complimentary and she said NO, They are Free.”

Oh great.  So all in all Punta Cana is the place to be.  Highly recommend it.  Snorkeling right off the beach – botchie ball – pool games – beautiful beaches, just a great place to relax…

Favorite Things To Do In Ptown:

I love riding my bike to the beach to flyer the folks down there. I love looking at the moors the dunes and the sparkling water as I ride down the bike path with the sweet warm wind blowing on my face. I love walking down the streets and seeing so many lesbians at once. Usually you have to pick them out of the crowd but women’s week and girl splash week and memorial week wow it is lesbian city. I like that. It gives my heart a rest. I can relax and say oh great I don’t have to represent this week – you can all carry that for me now. I love going to the Pied and dancing with all the women and when I dance I do dance with ALL the women on the dance floor – I cruise the dance floor stopping to dance with couples – they usually like it but there will be some who don’t recognize me and give me the ole butt out bitch look – fine your loss. Anyway I love going to eat at the different eateries around town there is usually a new one every year to try there new wares. And I do like taking my bike every day out onto the pier and just smelling the air and looking at the boats and birds and clouds and thanking the great spirit or God for another beautiful day alive in one of the most beautiful spots on earth…Ptown!

AIR DATES – JUNE 2, 18, 29 at 9:00 PM

Click here to watch the Showtime trailer!