Silver Spring Stage to Present EXPECTING ISABEL, 1/11-2/2

Silver Spring Stage presents Expecting Isabel by Lisa Loomer, directed by Lennie Magida and produced by Ted Culler, a comedy with heart about a New York couple and the adventures they experience trying to have a baby. Expecting Isabel will perform weekends January 11 to February 2.

Silver Spring Stage is located in the Woodmoor Shopping Center, lower level (next to the CVS) at Colesville Road and University Boulevard. Ticket prices are $20 for adults and $18 for seniors and students. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8:00 PM and Sundays January 20 and 27 at 2:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased at www.ssstage.org. Information is also available by calling (301) 593-6036.

Expecting Isabel is a comedy about infertility, a subject that tends not to lend itself to humor. Yet, Lisa Loomer writes about real people in real life situations, such as The Waiting Room about women who have undergone cosmetic procedures or Distracted about a mother of a child with ADD. Often her work starts with her own experience. She wrote Expecting Isabel in 1998 (winner of the American Theatre Critics Association Steinberg New Play Award), the year she had her son with her composer husband. Similar to Loomer, the Expecting Isabel principal characters Miranda is a writer of greeting cards and Nick is an artist. Expectation is a theme of the play - expectations to have a child, fulfill family obligations, be successful, et al. When obstacles derail their plans, they set new expectations to meet: fertility treatments, adoption, support groups and expectant mothers of potential adoptive babies. Loomer puts the couple to their paces with ups and downs like a roller coaster ride. Yet, it is the humor that carries them through absurd situations and heart-aching despair. Expecting Isabel delivers in the end the satisfaction of a play to be enjoyed.

Miranda (Sara Joy Lebowitz) is the narrator of Expecting Isabel. She starts with an introduction of herself and her Episcopalian background and her husband Nick (Jay Lineberry) from an average middle class Italian family from the Bronx. They have been married for ten years. One day, Nick suggests they have a baby. She is skeptical and he is convinced that the time is now as the clock is ticking. Thus begins their journey to parenthood, but the road is not smooth. They have trouble getting pregnant and start fertility treatments unsuccessfully, which drive them to a temporary separation to their families. Miranda's mother Lila (Katie Johnston) loves her cocktails. Nick's boisterous family is run by his classic Italian mother Yolanda (Evelyn Cannon) with entertaining father Sal (Jerry Shuchman), brother Dominic (Mike Fisher) and sister Pat (Maile Zox). The cast play more than 20 different roles of lawyers, adoption counselors, doctors, cab drivers, including a memorable young pregnant woman Tina (Emily Adler). Expecting Isabel conceives a funny and unforgettable odyssey.

The production team includes Mike Fisher (Assistant Director), Sarah Boyd (Stage Manager), Bob Thompson (Set Design), Jamie Coupar (Sound Design), Bob Scott (Light Design), HArlene Leahy (Costume Design), and Sonya Okin (Props/Set Dressing).

Silver Spring Stage continues its 2012-2013 season with The Real Thing by Tom Stoppard (Feb 22-Mar 6), Frost/Nixon by Peter Morgan (Apr 5-Apr 27), The Little Dog Laughed by Douglas Carter Beane (May 17-Jun 8), and Red Herring by Michael Hollinger (Jun 28-Jul 27).

Silver Spring Stage has provided quality, affordable theatre for over 40 years. We are an all-volunteer, non- profit organization and appreciate any contribution to enable us to offer excellent and entertaining productions. Thank you for your interest and support of Silver Spring Stage. All programs at Silver Spring Stage are made possible in part by grants from the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County and the Maryland State Arts Council.

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