In 19 98, you debued your first character sketch work at the niorican poets cafe in your show, surface trans. That next year, in 19 98,you won a helen hays award and was nominated for a drama desk award. And is it true that it was based on characters you encountered on your q forty six bus commute to school? It's true. Who knew a hub ofcreativyes, a hot srat of angers could be such a source of inspiration?! You created miz lady, who is an older black woman who states she is not homeless, but houseless. You meet lorraine levin, who is the aforementioned grandmother.