North Coast Repertory Theatre will present writer-performer Palmer Davis’ “Suburban Showgirl” at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 15-17.
This dramatic musical comedy takes you into the heart and soul of a modern day dancer/wife/mother. While locked in the bathroom five minutes before curtain, former Rockette-turned-magician’s assistant Wendy Walker looks into her past to understand how her perfectly choreographed life has spun wildly out of control. Davis plays more than 20 characters whose struggles and triumphs will make you laugh and cry. “Suburban Showgirl” is a semi-autobiographical show where Davis has combined her suburban San Diego upbringing with the artistic and unpredictable world of dance. Growing up as Wendy Palmer, daughter of Paul and Marge Palmer, she attended Torrey Pines Elementary, The Bishop’s School, and graduated from La Jolla High School in 1986. At La Jolla High, however, dance took a back seat as Palmer started for the CIF winning varsity volleyball team and became the MVP for track by running hurdles and setting the high jump record, which still holds today. She attributes her athletic success to her early dance training, and visa versa. Although Palmer was an avid athlete her passion was always with theatre and dance. Palmer was member of the National Charity League, La Jolla Debutant, Member of Mariners (honorary girl’s service club) where she choreographed the fashion shows, Key Club, and foreign exchange student to Brazil in her junior year. Palmer kept a busy schedule but as she says in her show, “At least it keeps the kids off the beach smoking dope.”
At UCLA, Palmer had to decide between sports and theatre. She chose her first passion, majored in dance and specialized in Spanish. While at UCLA, she earned a scholarship to study at the esteemed Dupree Dance Academy where she was prepared for the commercial world of dance. It was an interesting blend of academia and show business. “I definitely see the value of both educations!” Palmer’s first professional gig was at The Starlight Bowl in “South Pacific” and was directed by Jack O’Brien. “My show is a tribute to the parents, teachers and mentors who give so much of themselves to have a positive impact on children by offering opportunities to grow and succeed.” After graduation, Palmer freelanced as a dancer eventually getting a part in the first national tour of “The Will Rogers Follies” starring Keith Carradine and went on to be a Radio City Rockette touring in Chicago and Myrtle Beach, S.C. After that, she returned to LA and continued her career in commercials, dancing in the “Academy Awards,” musicals and television. Of course along the way Palmer married and started a family. Palmer’s acting career took off after she had her first child. In fact the first three episodes of her 10 seasons appearing as attorney Margaret Finn on “CSI Las Vegas,” Palmer was pregnant. Most recently she starred in the dance film “Stepping High” playing Iranian American dancer Sima Sadri, and just released “Trew Calling.” Other credits include “Castle,” “90210,” “Secret Life” and more.
To this day, Palmer combines her work as an artist with motherhood. “Suburban Showgirl” was originally written on the sidelines of her kid’s gymnastics classes and in the baseball stands. “I wrote whenever I could fit it in. I didn’t really know how to begin but with the guidance of Richard Klein, Larry from 1980s sitcom ‘Three’s Company,’ I figured it out…one draft at a time.” Palmer’s parents have been a fixture of the San Diego community for more than 44 years. The job of general manager of KFMB/B-100 radio brought Paul Palmer to San Diego back in 1972 where he lead the radio community for more than 24 years. After that Paul was president/CEO of Big Brothers and today raises awareness for NCRC National Conflict Resolution Center. Marge Palmer charted her own course as president for several organizations including PTA, National Charity League, and chaired the 1991 Jewel Ball with Las Patronas and was involved with many other charities. Today, she is a Feldenkrais practitioner at the La Jolla JCC and is an award-winning photographer. Self-taught, her daughter brags. Suburban Showgirl Performances run 7:30 p.m. Aug. 15-17 at at North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach. Tickets $30. To buy tickets, call 858-481-1055 or northcoastrep.org.