Margaret Edson

“A deserving winner of the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Margaret Edson’s W;t is a work of delicately calibrated opposites. It pits detached clinical observation on one side against raw human emotion on the other, while somehow making dry humor and wrenching pathos travel hand in hand.” —Hollywood Reporter

Director Kelly Fidopiastis and the amazing cast and crew of the Little Theatre’s production of WIT have been working very hard for the past several weeks in order to bring this brilliant script to life on our stage. Margaret Edson’s award-winning play about life and death, head and heart, callousness and kindness, and so much more, will touch your hearts and your minds with an ultimately uplifting message of hope.

Megan C.C. Walker

The story revolves around the character of Vivian Bearing, a renowned professor of English, who has spent years studying and teaching the brilliant and difficult metaphysical sonnets of John Donne. Vivian, played in our  production by Megan C.C. Walker, has been diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer. Over the course of the play, she reflects on her life through the intricacies of the English language, especially the use of “wit” in the metaphysical poetry of John Donne. She recites portions of Donne’s Holy Sonnet X, “Death Be Not Proud,” while reflecting upon her condition. As her illness progresses, Vivian begins to reassess her life and her work with a profundity and humor that are transformative both for the characters onstage and for the audience.

“Now is a time for, dare I say it, kindness. I thought being extremely smart would take care of it. But I see I have been found out.” — Vivian Bearing in W;t

Margaret Edson won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for W;t in 1999 and the play has enjoyed enormous success in multiple productions over the years. Ms. Edson has not written any other plays since W;t, nor does she plan on doing so.  Much of W;t was based on her experience as a unit clerk on a cancer floor in a Washington research hospital during the late 1980’s. “There was just something I wanted to say, and the play seemed like the best way to say it.” The author now teaches 6th grade social studies in a middle school in Atlanta and, according to a story in the New York Times: “Ms. Edson is the kind of teacher who makes you wish you could go back and repeat middle school.” (Read the entire NY Times story HERE.)

The Little Theatre is partnering with French Hospital’s Hearst Cancer Resource Center and Wilshire Hospice to present this powerful story. Staff members from both organizations have been a critical part of our rehearsal process to ensure an accurate and realistic portrayal of this disease and its treatment.  There will also be three post-show “talk-backs” with the cast, director and representatives from Wilshire Hospice and/or the Hearst Cancer Resource Center after the following matinee performances: Sunday, May 1, Saturday, May 7 and Saturday May 14. All matinee performances begin at 2 pm and talk-backs will take place immediately following, at approximately 3:45 pm. You can purchase your tickets HERE. Don’t miss this powerful production.

**Please note that, Wit contains limited strong language and brief nudity. More details about the show and its content are available on our website.

AUDITIONS! AUDITIONS!

The Jungle Book KIDS will roar into action as part of our Academy of Creative Theatre program for young performers this summer. The family-friendly musical opens on July 15th. Auditions are open to actors ages 8-18 on May 3rd.

The fabulous, award-winning “musical within a comedy — ” The Drowsy Chaperone — will kick-off our exciting 70th Anniversary Season on August 19th! Auditions are open to all on May 21st. Join us to bring this hilarious musical comedy to life on our stage this summer!

Audition information for both of these fabulous musicals can be found HERE.

Keep watching our website for more information as we continue to plan our landmark 70th Anniversary Season!  Our season brochure should land in your mailbox in late May or early June and tickets go on sale June 3rd!