'Fat Chance,' Night Of Story, Conversation With Lisa Lampanelli

SAG HARBOR, NY — Lisa Lampanelli, who spent more than 30 years on the comedy scene, rose to the heights of success as the former "Queen of Mean", known for her biting, spot-on humor.

But now, Lampanelli seems more the "Queen of Heart."

She's taken a new path in life, going from "insulter to inspirer," and dedicating herself to showing those who struggle with food and weight loss issues that they are not alone.

She brings her life-changing show, "Fat Chance: An Evening of Conversation & Story with Lisa Lampanelli," to the Bay Street Theater on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 8 p.m.

"'Fat Chance' showcases the former insult comic at her new best," a release from the Bay Street Theater said. "From her humorous storytelling to her lively Q & A with audience members, the no-holds-barred entertainer is truthful, vulnerable and, most importantly, as hilarious as ever. From her food obsession to her physical transformation with the help of bariatric surgery more than six years ago, to her compulsion to date the 'junk food of men,' Lisa — with the help of Frank Liotti — will tell all in a way you've never seen before."

According to her bio, Lampanelli's star-studded career included tours, Grammy nominations, and national TV guest appearances and specials. She was well-known for her appearances on Comedy Central Roasts, the Howard Stern Show, and the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno"; she also stood before thrilled audiences during sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall.

She then made headlines when she raised $130,000 for the Gay Men’s Health Crisis during Season 5 of NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice.”

But after bariatric surgery and losing more than 100 lbs., she announced on the Howard Stern radio show in 2012 that she was retiring from stand-up comedy.

Since that pivotal moment, she's become a life coach, dedicating her time to offering transformational food and body-image workshops, performing in issue-oriented storytelling shows, and completing a life-coaching certification program.

She is a "storyteller, workshop leader and inspiration" to scores of women who've struggled with both starving and stuffing themselves, struggling with food and body issues — and all too often, feeling isolated by feelings of shame and despair.

After shooting her fifth stand-up special "Back to the Drawing Board" in 2015, Lampanelli's dramatically different look, and the insightful stories of her weight loss journey, resonated with fans.

She then wrote the play "STUFFED," which ran Off-Broadway in 2016 and 2017. It was the fans, Lampanelli has said, who inspired her to shed her former insult comic persona and focus on helping others through the gift of her straight-to-the-heart storytelling. She's passionate about telling the stories that can break down barriers and open hearts to healing.

Speaking with Patch about her show at the Bay Street Theater, Lampanelli said she and Liotti will open up honestly about food, body image and weight — all issues that have been so important in her own life.

"In the end, while it's still a funny show, it's way more revealing, way more heartfelt," she said. The goal, she said, is for those who attend to realize that they are not alone in their sometimes crippling feelings of low self-esteem or self-worth.

Those who struggle with any addiction, including eating disorders, gambling, substance abuse or compulsive shopping can all find hope through the sharing of stories and experiences, Lampanelli said. "Anorexia and compulsive overeating, for example, are two sides of the same coin. You're acting out, trying to push away feelings by self-medicating."

The show heals, she said. "What I personally like is that it takes some of the sadness out of these issues. It puts out true stories that are recognizable. I'm not going to do anything that doesn't have some humor."

For those who were fans of Lampanelli's former act, her hope is that they might see her transformation and leave uplifted. "Maybe they'll come in saying, 'I was thinking it would be the same old Lisa. It's not, but I'm glad.'"

The show is deeply personal for Lampanelli. "It's the best thing I've ever done."

And she's thrilled to be bringing what she believes is her life's most important work to the Bay Street Theater. Audiences at Bay Street, she said, imbue the theater with warmth. "They lean in to the production," Lampanelli said.

When asked what she mosts wants people to leave with, at the end of the show, Lampanelli doesn't hesitate. "I'd like them to feel less alone. To have the feeling that they are not the only ones — that I, and my other storytellers, tell the truth about our struggles — and that they can be brave and feel what they are feeling, without thinking that they are some kind of freak."

Feeling alone or as though you don't fit in is something so many share, Lampanelli said. "Who hasn't struggled with that? No kidding. It's a hard issue," she said.

In areas including the tony Hamptons or Fairfield, CT, where she lives, wearing the right clothes or expensive jewelry often carries too much weight for some women, Lampanelli said.

"These poor women. The more put together you are, the more I worry about you. I hope some of these people come out and go home feeling like, 'I'm okay. I don't have to try so hard.'"

All the individuals who wrote stories for "Fat Chance" bare their personal truths, including Liotta, who discusses being "overweight and gay in the 1970s," Lampanelli said. As she interviewed people about their eating issues, Lampanelli learned about the "fat acceptance movement," which aims to eradicate anti-fat bias by raising awareness about the issues overweight individuals face in society. The interviews, she said, gave her hope that the time may be right for critical change.

For those who may want to come to the show but are hesitant about sharing their emotions, Lampanelli said they should feel welcomed. "What's great about this show is they can just sit back and listen. I don't do insult comedy anymore. If you have a question, you can stand up and ask. If you want to come alone, I think coming to this show alone is very brave, and a very good idea."

The show allows audiences to share their truths and hopefully, end up laughing and feeling a sense of togetherness.

Lampanelli told a story about a woman who once said, in AA meeting, that she'd gotten so desperate she drank her bottle of Chanel No. 5. The story, she said, got "recognition laughs. That we’ve all done something like that. That we've all eaten cake out of the garbage. Now we can feel we’re not freaks."

While Lampanelli has seen A-lister success and a string of accomplishments, she feels this show is her most shining achievement, something she's doing not for a paycheck or fame, but "just for the love of it."

The greatest reward, Lampanelli said, is to have her audiences feeling a little better about their lives . . . and laughing. "I want the audience to leave thinking, 'It's not just me. I am not alone. I have a community. We all struggle.'"

"Fat Chance: An Evening of Conversation & Story with Lisa Lampanelli," takes place Saturday, Oct. 19 at 8 p.m. at the Bay Street Theater, located at 1 Bay Street, Sag Harbor, NY 11963. For tickets and additional information, click here or call the box office at 631-725-9500.