An Interview with the creator of Sex and the City, Candace Bushnell
On a rainy, not-so-cold day in Manhattan last week, I had the esteemed pleasure of interviewing one of New York City’s most iconic writers, Candace Bushnell.
Bushnell became famous for detailing the realities of the treacherous dating scene in the city and now. Wanting to shield her Connecticut-residing parents from details of her sexcapades, she created an alter ego, Carrie Bradshaw. Bushnell still remains one of the most talked about characters in modern times. This Thursday, December 5th, Bushnell is leaving the city and returning to her home of Connecticut for one night only with her one-woman show "True Tales Of Sex, Success, and Sex and the City” at Fairfield Theatre Company (FTC) at 8 p.m.
The show combines glamour, wit, and the no-holds-barred storytelling Bushnell is famous for. Detailing her life in New York City, from her early days spent at Studio 54 to creating Sex and the City and beyond, you can expect to hear about Bushnell’s wild nights out in Manhattan as well as her personal struggles and triumphs.
Chatting with Bushnell over Zoom felt like I was talking to a much cooler older sister freely dispensing wise advice.
“Be your own Mr. Big,” is her message to young women. “Make the money. That's really the most important thing. We've been telling women forever that they're going to get their happiness from a relationship and having children, and that's not really true. I think that one gets one's happiness from being self-actualized and having some control over your own life.”
When I asked a follow-up question about Mr. Big, she was quick to clear up any misconceptions. “There are a lot of parallels between my life and Carrie's life up to a certain point, but, no, I didn't end up with a shoe closet like Carrie Bradshaw's and I didn't marry my Mr. Big”.
She may not have Carrie’s shoe closet, but Bushnell doesn’t share CB’s culinary ineptness “I can cook. I’ve made a whole Thanksgiving dinner. Long way come from sardines and crackers,” she said, as she was won to eat this girl dinner meal, especially during her early column days. “Although,” thinking for a moment. “I eat those all the time too.”
Dedicated readers may be aware of her tinned fish dinners, but even a casual fan is aware that Bushnell knows fashion, and it is still a prominent part of her life. “There are lots more designers around now. It feels like than there were 25 years ago. So fashion is huge. Fashion's really exploded. I love Sylvia Tcherassi, and I wear PatBo on stage.”
When I mentioned that I started rewatching Sex and the City before I knew I was going to interview her, and couldn’t stop watching, we had a laugh about how addictive it is for her as well. “[I tell myself] I cannot spend four hours watching Sex and the City. [It’s] a daily battle for me too.”
The show first premiered (unsurprisingly) in the City at a Broadway theater. Bushnell also performed the show at the Carlyle in London before taking it back stateside this month with shows in New Jersey and Connecticut. How does Bushnell feel about returning to her home state? “Oh, it's great,” she said. “I had a house in Connecticut for a long time, which was fantastic. I love Connecticut. I still miss it. Wonder if I should go back.”
What else can you expect from the show? “We do play a little game: real or not real?” Bushnell said. “There is some audience participation. Because there are a lot of things that happened in my real life that happened on the show, but they're better or worse. It's a great girls' night out, and people have a great time. And they find the show very inspirational, So I'm really looking forward to performing it in Fairfield.”
So, in the words of the OG CB herself, “Grab your Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte, and join the original Carrie Bradshaw for a Girls' Night Out you won’t forget.”
Tickets are available fairfieldtheatre.org as well as limited VIP packages which include a meet-and-greet and photo opportunity with Candace Bushnell.
About Candace Bushnell
Candace Bushnell is an internationally acclaimed, best-selling author best known for creating Sex and the City, the groundbreaking series that redefined women's relationships with love, friendship, and sexuality. Her work has resonated with millions, inspiring both the bestselling novel and the hit HBO series, as well as The Lipstick Jungle and a host of other books, plays, and television projects.
Bushnell’s unique voice and sharp insights have made her one of the most influential and recognizable writers of our time. In this exclusive one-woman show, she brings her story to life in a way only she can—mixing laughter, nostalgia, and wisdom in equal measure.