• STARTING SMALL: After graduating college at Penn State, Mary Lou still “looked 14 years old” -- so she went to New York where she immediately got roles playing children on stage and in films.
• Domestic Life – learning about “perfection, refinement and improvement” with Steve Martin and Martin Mull.
• Teaching “Anne Shirley” (Megan Follows, Anne of Green Gables) how to drive on the back lot at Universal Studios!
• How Jack Riley – Mr. Carlin from The Bob Newhart Show – lit the fire that led to Mary Lou becoming a director.
• Getting her start as a director at Betty Garrett’s Theater West in Los Angeles.
• Being mentored by Debbie Allen, Nancy Malone, Lee Shallat-Chemel, Linda Day, Joan Darling.
• MARY LOU IN CHARGE: Directing Ellen Travolta and Scott Baio on Charles in Charge.
• How identifying women as minorities opened up the playing field – and how affirmative action overwhelmingly helps open up career pathways.
• How being “the only woman in the room” leads to a lack of opportunity – but with MORE women in the room, generosity of opportunity follows.
• Running into CCH Pounder at Trader Joe’s!

So join Susan and Sharon – and Mary Lou – as they talk road trips, Estelle Getty, Sydney Pollack, Emmy nominations, “Don’t Touch My Hair”, the joy of Scott Bakula – and the wisdom of passing out Xerox copies of your good reviews!