WEEK IN WOMEN: Theatrical Premier for Lisa D’Apolito’s SHARI & LAMB CHOP

Best known for Love, Gilda, the very insightful and moving tribute profile of Gilda Radner, documentary filmmaker Lisa D’Apolito has focused her lens on another beloved female performer in her most recent film. Shari and Lamb Chop is an in depth and insightful chronicle of the life and career of ventriloquist Shari Lewis, and of her best loved and most famous sock puppet companion, Lamb Chop.

Shari and Lamb Chop’s charming and inspirational banter was the very essence of children’s television programming long before the introduction of Mr. Roberts or the Muppets. Lewis and her ensemble of dummies (most of whom were actually quite smart) were beloved by children of all ages, but as is shown in the documentary, she was often given typical short shrift by the male dominated television industry because she was female.

A favorite on the festival circuit, Shari and Lamb Chop premiered at Doc NYC in 2023. It was was acquired by Kino Lorber in a deal brokered by Concord Originals, and will have its theatrical release on July 18, followed by a digital, educational and home video release.

Emmy-nominated D’Apolito’S last documentary, 2018’s Love, Gilda, was selected as the opening night film of the Tribeca Film Festival, and was distributed theatrically through Magnolia Pictures, had a broadcast premiere on CNN and was nominated for two creative Emmy Awards.

D’Apolito started as an actress in film, theater and television, including a part in the 1990 movie Goodfellas. She went on to producing and directing in advertising, making her way to senior vice president/executive vice president of production at FCB and then starting her own production company, 3 Faces Films. Continue reading on THE WEEK IN WOMEN.