MAB: Wow, that would be fun, I love that!
ER: I started to wonder how having an uncommon name can shape your experiences--what is it like being the only Meryl in the village, so to speak. I didn't think about it until I started talking to all these Meryls, but my name was not common when I was a kid and that was helpful to have a similar point of reference to their stories and experiences.
One thing I did learn is about the Jewish tradition of naming your child based on the first letter of the name of the person in your family who most recently passed. A bunch of the Meryls I spoke to received their name that way.
Some stories that were great but were cut for time:
- The Meryl who was a featured extra on the set of "It's Complicated"
- The Meryl who was often mistaken for another similar-looking Meryl on campus who was more sexually adventurous
- The Meryl who was an assistant editor on Don't Look Up and was able to watch raw footage of Meryl Streep improvising in character.
- The Meryl who moved out of the US to Mexico the day that Donald Trump was elected to the Presidency.
MAB: Wow, those sound like great stories! So, when is this amazing Merylthon event, and where, and how do people sign up?
ER: The inaugural Merylthon is this weekend! Friday, September 29 to Sunday, October 1 at the Four Star Theater in the Richmond District of San Francisco.
You can find our program and buy tickets on the Merylthon website.
You can choose which punny Double Feature you want to come to (like Doubt Becomes Her, or She-Devil Wears Prada) and during intermission there will be a drag performance based on both movies.
If you can't make it to the event in person but still want to support it, we'll be auctioning off artwork as well as making a bunch of merch (or as we call it, "Merylchandise") - and this not only helps out the nonprofit, Queer Life Space, but makes future events more viable. You can find merch online at their store.
MAB: What fun, I wish I lived closer to San Francisco, I would totally be there!
ER: I wish you could - there are at least three Meryls from the video who bought tickets and are attending! If your name is Meryl, you get in for free at the Merylthon.
MAB: That's fun! Is there anything else you'd like to mention before we wrap this up?
ER: I'm bonkers so I've made a customized Guess Who? game called Meryl Who? that features her memorable and lesser known characters. We'll also have a cardboard cut-out of Meryl Streep on a red carpet.
I bought some huge scissors and red ribbon that we will cut at the start of the event.
And we may have a costume contest, "Night of 1000 Meryls" on Saturday if enough Meryls show up!
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