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At Happy Ending, the readers are required to TAKE ONE PUBLIC RISK. This means they must do something on stage that they have never done before. On Stage. Here are some of the risks people have taken. Dave King pulled anti-fan mail out of his underpants, then read the offending portions of his novel out loud. Nelly Reifler learned and sang Happy Birthday to me (Amanda Stern) in sign language. Merrill Feitell auctioned off half completed paint-by-numbers paintings. Douglas Trevor held a Shakespeare trivia contest (Reese's Pieces tossed at the head of the winners). Janice Erlbaum read an old spoken word poem from the 90s with her stomach revealed Felicia Sullivan demonstrated a very complicated yoga pose Marty McConnell made out, on stage, with her lover and then, her husband. Kate Braverman sang her stories while her husband played backup guitar. Rattawut Lapcharoensap taught the audience Thai cheers. Darin Strauss broke a wooden board in half with his fist. James Salterread from his journal circa 1972-1975 during the time he was writing Light Years. Jim Shepard read aloud all the pet names he has given his dog. Amy Hempel read aloud all the pet namesshe has given her dog. Julia Slavin generously matched the amount we raised for Hurricane Katrina relief and donated it to an animal shelter. Craig Clevengerread emails from an old lover. Jonathan Katz (Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist) did a power point presentation. Todd Barry and Jon Benjamin read a book they wrote in order to be able to read something at this event. Aimee Bender improvised a story telling session, by telling a fairy tale in the style of Mad Libs. She used the audience members as the part of speech participants . Rick Moody sang acapella a song he had written recently. John Lurie played harmonica for the first time on stage in 35 years. Danzy Senna took volunteers from the audience to act out scenes from L. Ron Hubbard's Scientology manual. Rene Steinke folded her laundry. The first opportunity she's had since having her baby. Dan Menaker sang Take Me Out to the Ball Game out of key and with the words in the wrong place, perfectly. Lisa Selin Davis played a ukele and sang songs she wrote when she was younger. Audrey Niffenegger Read tarot to a stranger. Michelle Herman sang a song with her old best friend. Steve Almond read aloud evaluations his students had written about him. Not too many endorsements. Emily Raboteau read her top ten list of required needs in a man. Elizabeth Crane showed off items of clothing she has worn unironically in the past. Ken Foster showed off his scars Kelly Braffettdid a handstand. Jonathan Ames chose a female volunteer to come up onstage, hug him, stroke his hair and coo, "everything will be all right." Molly Jong-Fast handed out peeps candys Anthony Schneider and John Marks interviewed each other. Marks as a German interviewer, Schneider as a take-off of Ali G. Matthew Sharpe read a fan letter he had written years ago to Wayne Koestenbaum who just happened to be the next reader. Ben Greenman read aloud his pin codes and credit card numbers Samantha Hunt read aloud a poem. Backwards Tom Bissell played Bluegrass banjo after post on stage picking-panic attack at a Believer event. Lowell Handler told Tourette jokes Anne Landsmann brought in her son's pet reptile John Rowell donned a sailor cap and sang a song from a musical Bryan Charles called his stepfather to tell him he loved him like he was his real father Therese Svoboda showed us her belly Erin Cressida Wilson read when she was about a year and a half pregnant Julian Rubinstein made a whiskey robber Rick Moody sang with his band Wendy Spero read her landlord's egregiously embarrassing newsletter Tom Perrotta read some of his college diary Marc Nesbitt redramatized a scene from Barton Fink using his hands as characters. Mike Daisey started a literary feud Neal Pollack participated in a literary feud Amy Sohn sang a song from a musical Darin Strauss told a story about pooping in his swimming suit in the pool (or was it his friend who pooped?) Tara Bray Smith demonstrated the proper way to crack open a coconut. Thaddeus Rutkowski sketched an audience member. Joanna Hershon speed french-braided her hair. David Rees did a power point presentation Derek McCormack (not straight) felt up a girl for the first time (Rachel Bussel Kramer) who also happens to be (not straight)
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