Reading Greener Pastures, by Lori Fischer, on Monday for Ed Stern, Artistic Director of Cincinnati Playhouse. Lori and I met when Adrienne Thompson at NYU introduced us, and asked me to direct Lori's thesis project, which turned out to be Greener Pastures, at the Public Theater in '08.
We were fortunate to have a marvelous cast: Lois Smith, Roberta Maxwell, Lynn Cohen, Mia Barron, Peter Francis James, Maureen Silliman and Kilty Reidy. Lori's comedy garnered a terrific audience response, and Ed Stern was there to experience it. He and Lori and I have worked through his notes, cutting several characters, improving the dramatic arc, and now we'll be reading the results next week. The play is very commercial, my fondest hope is that we put it up at Cincinatti Playhouse next season, and move it to Broadway immediately following.
Here's a brief synopsis of the story:
Dorothy, a quirky jingle writer, loses her job, and turns the tables on tradition when she moves into the Greener Pastures Retirement Community at the ripe old age of 38; causing much consternation among the geriatric residents and her curmudgeonly trumpet-wielding roommate, Maxine.
Our Cast
Thrilled to be working this time with Alma Cuervo (whom I last enjoyed as the Psychiatrist in Beyond Therapy in our production at the Old Globe,) Katherine McGrath (associate artist of the OGT, incredible leading lady there for 25 years,) Pippa Pearthree (whom I worked with on Escape From Happiness at Yale Repertory,) and repeats Peter Francis James (what a heart-throb,) Maureen Silliman, Susan Blair Ross, and Kilty Reidy. Should be a laugh-riot!
I'll keep you posted :D
