Meet Debbie Kasper

We had the good fortune of connecting with Debbie Kasper and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Debbie, what role has risk played in your life or career?
That’s such a great and unusual question. Risk is my mantra, starting from the reckless days of my youth, I’ve always been enticed, even seduced by risk. I come from a long line of risk takers, so my socialization has always been risk-based. I have frightening memories of my father driving so far up a very windy and narrow mountain road, that he made us all get out of the car, for fear he was about to drive it off the cliff. But the views! Only there could we get those views! He used to dangle me above the alligator pit at the Philadelphia Zoo on his shoulders, pretending to lose control. He made us take roller coaster rides against our will from a very young age, to toughen us up. I grew up with almost an addiction to the thrill of physical risk and did many crazy things, in fact I was a stand-up comedian for many years. That’s just about the most frightening thing one can do! I think risk equals the possibility of great reward; it also offers physical elation—it’s an actual “high.” But I’m not sure that’s always my motive, sometimes it’s just the thrill of the chase, and the difficulty of the task, as a personal challenge. As a writer and comedian, I think my edgy (risky) choices have made me a much richer writer/storyteller. People often find my stories almost unbelievable. But if you walk around life, seeking thrills, you make choices that lead you to places that can become outrageous and hilarious and often dangerous, so ultimately, you’re left with great stories. I think that my mind has been programmed to stretch my imagination towards extremes as well, which in turn offers me a more creative output.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Right now, I believe I am at the nadir, or at least nearing it, of my creativity. The work I’m cranking out right now is my best. I am amid performing a one-woman show called, Monkeys on my Back, & Everywhere Else! It’s been running at the Santa Monica Playhouse to sold out crowds, and wonderful response. I hope to take this to NYC, but if all future fails, I am proud to have accomplished what I set out to do, and that is my best. One person’s shows are challenging and just plain old hard. It’s like throwing a wedding, but you’re the bride and the groom, and the wedding planner and the in-laws, and the dress designer and the band! I have also just written my first full length play, which is getting a lot of recognition. It came out of me pretty much in one piece, which as a writer is the best! I am proud of this piece. As an artist, you often, sadly rely on others to tell you if something works. At least I do. But the trick is…who the “others” are. You must identify and find your “others.” That’s the ballgame there. I have stopped expecting and seeking approval from people who don’t “get” me. I have stopped trying to change people’s minds. Either they like me, or they don’t. (both professionally and personally) And then gravitate to those who do. It’s like going out on a date with a guy who immediately tells you he’d like you to grow your hair longer, as opposed to the guy who just lets you be your best self, and creates the space for you to be that. Then you need hundreds of those in your audience! I have had a checkered career past, started as an actress, in NY, and quickly became a stand-up comic, because it was exploding at that time, and it was an opportunity to be on stage without waiting for someone to cast me. That lead me to writing, and more writing, and more writing. When I arrive in Los Angeles from NYC, I had a lot of products that I’d written, plus a one-woman-show I was performing, which had gotten great reviews in NY. I performed it here and immediately got agents, managers, deals, etc. Then, my literary agent sets up many meetings with head writers who are “staffing” sitcoms. I got hired on the sitcom, Roseanne. And then The Rosie O’Donnell Show, and other projects. Yes, it was all hard, and easy at the same time. My philosophy is to “take action, let go of the results.” Just begin to create and you will be surprised where it takes you. I continue to create my own projects for my first love which is live theatre. I’ve always been a maverick, always carving my own way. I have learned not to wait for somebody to “discover” me, when I’ve already discovered myself!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I have lots of visitors, and I usually take them on a tour of all of California, to the National Parks: Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Sequoia, Death Valley, and up the coast. Locally, I love showing them Malibu, we take it for granted, but I remember the first time I saw it and all the memories it brings up from all those TV shows we grew up on. I take them to Beverly Hills, and show them the mansions, and drive across Mullholland, up to the Hollywood sign. Venice beach is a must see, to people watch. Visitors get a sense of “I’m home” when you show them this town which has been made very famous by the TV and films that are shot here. I like to cruise up Laurel Canyon and Topanga Canyon, and often even take them on a studio tour. Eateries vary, depending on budgets and locations. I have a favorite burrito joint; Duardos, on Westwood Blvd. My brother from South Jersey (home of the Philly cheesesteak), came to town and I said, “we have to have a burrito,” to which he replied, “I don’t like them.” I told him I didn’t care if he did or not, he’d like these, I told him it was the “cheesesteak” of LA. He ate two huge burritos, that night, hating to admit he was wrong. The next night I had to take him back, he was already jonesing. Hence: Burritos are the cheesesteaks of L.A.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Another great question. My family deserves a shout out, for making me who I am today. Some aspects of me are despite them, some because of them, (the good & the bad). I also write about them constantly. It was a funny, but crazy place to grow up. My older brother, Reid, who is sadly gone too young, helped mold me from the start. He was an incredibly charismatic, hilarious, brilliant, and wild, but gracious and kind person who I no doubt emulate in many ways. He was the kind of person who everyone would immediately fall in line behind, as soon as they met him. I am in a huge support group, which shall remain Anonymous, but they have had a PROFOUND influence on me. I have relied very much on my girlfriends throughout the years, who offer constant support, encouragement and love. Right now, I’m in a “goal workshop” with some of the funniest and smartest people I know, who all happen to be women. We are all in showbiz; writers, authors, comedians, playwrights, producers, actors, directors and there’s only four of us. We are all amazingly prolific and have enjoyed success for many years to varying degrees. Now, in the years when Hollywood could ignore us if we let them, we come together to keep each other encouraged. Some days it’s just hard to see the future for ourselves, but we can clearly see it in and for each other. It’s been a great success, and we support each other till the death, although fortunately it hasn’t come to that (yet). I also stand on the shoulders of so many artists who created before me and thus influenced me. Nobody creates in a vacuum, ideas beget ideas.

Website: https://www.debbiekasper.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbiekasper2/