Playing with Myself

De: Randy Rainbow

Narrado por: Randy Rainbow

This program is read by the author with a special appearance from his mom.

An intimate and light-hearted memoir by viral sensation and three-time Emmy-nominated musical comedian Randy Rainbow that takes listeners through his life—the highs, the lows, the lipstick, the pink glasses, and the show tunes

Randy Rainbow, the man who conquered the internet with a stylish pair of pink glasses, an inexhaustible knowledge of Broadway musicals, and the most gimlet-eyed view of American politics this side of Mark Twain finally tells all in Playing with Myself, a memoir sure to cause more than a few listeners to begin singing one of his greatest hits like “A Spoonful of Clorox” or “Cover Your Freakin’ Face”.

As Randy has said, “There’s so much fake news out there about me. I can’t wait to set the record straight and finally give people a peek behind the green screen.” And set the record straight he does. Playing with Myself is a firsthand account of the journey that led Randy Rainbow from his childhood as the over-imaginative, often misunderstood little boy who carried a purse in the second grade to his first job on Broadway as the host at Hooters and on to the creation of his trademark comedy character. In chapters titled “Pajama Bottoms” (a look back at the days when he wore pajama bottoms on his head to pretend he was Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz), “Yes, It’s My Real Name, Shut Up!” (no explanation necessary...) and “Pink Glasses” (a rose-colored homage to his favorite accessory), Playing with Myself is a memoir that answers the question “Can an introverted musical theatre nerd with a MacBook and a dream save the world, one show tune at a time?”

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press.

©2022 Randy Rainbow (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

I LOVED this book!

Randy Rainbow is amazing: he is truly as self-made man, carving out his own style of entertainment,
and simply melting hearts and forging relationship thru every video and appearance. His backstory
isn't unique among entertainers: it's often the kids who are 'different,' who succeed. And Randy is truly
a success. He narrates his book, and his voice made me laugh out loud, and sob too. I listened
constantly...when a book captures you from the 'get go' you know it's a winner.
Here's hoping to more Randy in the future.

Just the BEST!!!

I loved this book. I chose Audible rather than a hard copy once I realized RR himself would be narrating. He was all I hoped for - funny, poignant, interesting and heartbreaking. I can’t recommend this highly enough. He is a musical genius and, also, a great writer.

I never realized …

… how much of me is in you, Randala! I’m from Long
Island, now in Florida. I love coffee ice cream. As for summer — there are four seasons: Autumn, Winter, Prima Vera, and HELL! Oh, I also read It.

But Randy’s story is as Horatio Alger rags-to-riches as it gets! Not since The Ragman’s Son, Kirk Douglas’s memoir, have I seen an honest-to-goodness story of starting out without very much, only to achieve the heights of success. Furthermore, Randy did Kirk (né Issur Danielovitch Demsky) one or two better: (1) Randy Rainbow is his real name, and (2) rather than slog through the traditional musical theater audition route he carved out his own niche, combining musical theater, political parody/satire, social commentary, and internet media into a powerhouse performance genre heretofore unplumbed.

Jewishness does not deter him, neither does gayness. His remarkable mother, Gwen, and his maternal grandmother, Irene Frankel, provided the stimulus for his performance art and eased his way in what otherwise would have been a fairly unloving, unaccepting society. (Oh, and his dad gave him those faaabulous cheekbones.)

Randy was NYC’s first-ever XY Hooters host, can you imagine?! He broke a lot of barriers, and he did it quietly. He didn’t rage against the machine, he didn’t clog the machinery with his footwear, he didn’t Occupy anything. No, he played by the Rules of the Game … until he created his own game. Randy Rainbow is his own person, in a country and in a world where individuality is regarded suspiciously and with hostility.

I love everything about the story of Randy’s life (so far, he’s only 40). I especially love that he tells it himself, with an adorable guest appearance by Gwen — she is my age, and I too worked as a medical transcriptionist — in a later chapter. It’s obvious where he got his sensayuma, just as I got mine from my dad, Sydney Lawrence. (Oh, the stories I could tell!) What is it about Jews and comedy?

Sorry for the tl;dr. Randy inspired me. One more thing: I cried like a baby over Mushy. Mine was Maggie.

Listen to this audiobook. Rags to riches never sounded so good.

L💕VED IT!

Great book and even better being resd to usby Randy himself!!
A must read/hear!!

Totally Wonderful

given the state of the world a few hours delightful joy. greatly appreciated..Thank you

WONDERFUL!!!

As with everything else he has done so far...Randy Rainbow has written (and read) a wonderful memoir letting us in on a little more about his life and some of what's behind the pink glasses! Keep it up Randy! Your heart and humour keep a smile this old lady's face...and yes, I hear everything in show tunes too!! Drove my kids crazy growing up!!!😉😉❤❤

this was a wonderful book! I laughed and I cried

Thank you Randy rainbow for writing this book! laughing and crying in a book or a movie or my two favorite emotions. also thank you for getting me through the whole Trump administration. As a transgender man I felt very threatened by the policies of the GQP and also the policies of the Donald Jessica Trump administration. You are a true treasure and an advocate for all things having to do with equality and equity and love. Keep being you boo and I will keep being me and together we will get through this craziness called life.

What an amazing and interesting listen

I always look forward to listening to books that are read by the Author because you get the full experience of the writing that was intended. Listening to this book I felt like Randy was telling me his story personally. It's interesting, hilarious at times and sometimes a little sad but such an incredible experience. I've been a Randy Rainbow Fan since I watched his first video, that was recommended to me by several good Friends. I can't fully express the experience of following along on his adventure from childhood. It was so well written and performed and I learned so much about his experiences growing up and finding his place in the world. One of my favorite parts is toward the end when he interviews his mom. She stole the show with hilarity in that chapter. I can't remember when I enjoyed a book so much.

Handsomely witty, funny and loving.

Randy paves the way for anyone wanting to believe in themselves and take the path less known. Create, find joy with yourself, become your own best friend and do what you love. Be weird and show your sparkle. Loved it. Thank you for giving me permission to be.

Loved it!

Mainly listened in because I’m a huge fan of all the videos but this was so much more. Randy’s insightful and brave story were a huge inspiration and delivered with some seriously funny moments. And read in his own voice is perfection. In a crazy world I’m so grateful that people like Randy and his story make it more tolerable.