“Rizzo’s writing is so good I want to read it out loud and pretend it’s me who is so cunning, sublime, and full of light."
—MARC PARENT, author of Turning Stones: My Days and Nights with Children at Risk
Mutual Philanthropy, a full-length play
“Class warfare manifests itself in a food fight...as two couples negotiate opposing financial, social and amorous agendas over dinner in the witty “Mutual Philanthropy” at Ensemble Studio Theatre. Though stressful for the characters, their confrontation plays out much to the benefit of L.A. playwright Karen Rizzo’s sharply observed new comedy of bad manners...In recent productions, Ensemble Studio Theatre/LA successfully lampooned class warfare with razor-sharp comic timing in “Mutual Philanthropy,”" -- The Los Angeles Times
“Rizzo has captured the sickness of this über-financialized moment in history with the Brechtian net of her sexually-infused dialogue. It’s amazing how much sociological as well as psychological intelligence she conveys...” -- People’s World
“It’s a shame that people don’t attend more plays than they do movies or sporting events because Karen Rizzo’s new play Mutual Philanthropy is a work that everyone should experience..."
-- RYAN M. LUÉVANO
"TOP TEN" - Stage Raw - “Smartly written, undeniably provocative”
"...a multi-layered masterpiece" -- Discover Hollywood Magazine
"...With humor and drama, Mutual Philanthropy conveys thought-provoking messages about class, background, and wealth..." -- Broadway World
"...The playwright lends a new perspective to the whole notion of "philanthropy," and deftly delineates the difference between the concepts of "hunger" and "appetite"...on her way to conjuring a parlor game that's light on rigorous rules, heavy with psychological baggage and fueled to an alarming extent by pricey potables..." -- Asbury Park Press, of USA TODAY
Famous Baby, a novel (Prospect Park Books)
Los Angeles Times Summer Books pick
Los Angeles Magazine "Best of L.A." pick
W MAGAZINE likes Famous Baby
The Zoe Report picks it as a summer 'Best Beach Read'
“...a satirical exploration of the modern American family. . . . Rizzo’s wicked takedown of ‘mom bloggers’ concludes on an unexpectedly but convincingly sweet note...a very pleasing debut.” —Publishers Weekly
“Famous Baby wisely (and funnily) explores motherhood, identity, and the hazards of parental over-sharing in the social media age.” —HelloGiggles
“A recommended read for all daughters out there.” —Chickens in the Road
“...Rizzo deftly unpacks the fraught world of mothers and daughters, skewers the vast narcissism of the blogosphere, and reveals the emotional wages of unbridled ambition. An enjoyable and surprising ride to some places I didn’t expect to go.” —SETH GREENLAND, author of The Angry Buddhist
“...inventive, hysterical, and touching...Rizzo wraps a timeless drama about the love between mothers and daughters in a fresh, snappy package for the social media age.” —CHRISTINA SCHWARZ, author of The Edge of the Earth and Drowning Ruth, an Oprah’s Book Club Selection
Things To Bring, S#!t to do... (STC/Abrams)
From Literary Mama's, founding editor: "1) Go to Amazon and purchase Karen Rizzo's memoir"
A BookSense/Indie Bound Highlight for ‘Fascinating Lives’ and "Best Books of October"
"What a great read! This memoir told in lists is something I can totally relate to. In real life, our days aren't filled with prose -- they are fits and starts shared with reflection and angst. Rizzo portrays this and tells her story beautifully. A perfect gift book!" --Margie Scott Tucker, Books, Inc., San Francisco, CA
"...Rizzo coaxes the simplest fragments of her own lists into a hilarious and moving narrative of astonishing resonance..." --Marc Parent, Believing it All, Turning Stones
"Rizzo has found a spare and elegant way to tell a story. A hilarious story. A poignant story...a F#!king amazing book." --Tracy Poust, Executive Producer, Will & Grace, Ugly Betty
Karen Rizzo
Some Writing Links:
New York Times, "It's O.K. To Feel Fear"
Fresh Yarn, "When This is Over..."
Publishers Weekly, "Why Book Tours Make for Terrible Vacations"
Runners World, "The Re-Awakening"
Salon.com, "Annals of an L.A. Gig"
Los Angeles Times, "A Place To Call One's Own"
Fit Pregnancy, "The Lady With the Kid"
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