DEKALB, ILL, May 19, 2023 – Fashionista or sloven, thrifter or magnificent-miler, humans all have one thing in common – clothing. What people wear serves as a reflection of who they are, and the innate desire for our outer presentation to reflect at least part of our inner selves, both our hits and misses, is the foundation upon which Love, Loss, and What I Wore is based.
Opening on Thurs., June 1, 2023, at Stage Coach Players in DeKalb, Love, Loss, and What I Wore, written by Nora and Delia Ephron, is a funny and powerful collection of stories of mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, friends, and lovers. Director Maria L. P. Boynton’s vision is a like no other staging of the show to date. Normally presented as a five-woman monologue on a limited set, Boynton’s production keeps the story intact to-the-letter but has a cast of 16 actors come to life in a boutique that becomes home to a brief but beautiful community rooted in shared memories and empathy. The shoppers share the stories of their lives with memories triggered by the clothing they encounter. Boynton last directed Deathtrap for SCP in 2019.
“Our audiences will experience both moments of hilarity and poignancy,” said Boynton. “As a writer, I am naturally drawn to storytelling. As a woman, I have been a part of these moments of surprise communities when an almost inexplicable mutual trust is suddenly recognized amongst strangers, and people sense they are safe and begin to share experiences and stories. These moments are magical. Although that his not the framework in which this show is normally presented, I recognized that it could be done – that it could capture one of those magical moments.”
“This collection of stories is so universally appealing, and sharing them with this eclectic, talented, vibrant family of women is such a treat, truly,” said Meg McGarry, last seen at Stage Coach Players in Jekyll & Hyde in 2018. “The varied, bonding experiences of cast, piecing together the memories, good and otherwise, through the fashions that triggered them is unforgettable. I’m honored to bear witness to these beautiful moments together. I think a lot of people will very much relate to the tales we tell.”
The show features a cast of 16 including Katy Beyren, Denny Boynton, Gloria Dennison, Allison Duffin, Karla Gulke, Mindy Kaplan, Lori Lay, Camryn Mason, Roberta Maxfield, Meg McGarry, Valarie Milbrath, Amanda Newcomb, Angela Schiola-Niemeyer, Mandi Sester, and Amy Whelan.
Newcomb, who is making her debut with SCP, explained why she auditioned for the play. “When I saw the audition notice and read the description of Love, Loss, and What I Wore, it felt like this kind of play would have to involve a cast of compassionate and kind actors.” It was something she was looking for and in the end, “there is a lot of love going in to this, and I couldn’t be more proud to be involved.”
“It would be a major misperception that this is a show that will only appeal to women,” said Denny Boynton, who in addition to being in the cast is also the assistant director. “Let me make this clear: I have watched these incredibly talented actors perform this show multiple times and every time I am made to think, to laugh, and on some occasions to shed a tear. The stories are for everyone, and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of making sure that they are heard.”
The source material of the play is based in large part from the book of the same title by Ilene Beckerman, while some come from recollections of friends of the Ephrons. In the introduction to Beckerman’s book, Nora Ephron wrote that the book, “is not about fashion; it is about what clothes really are to us, those moments when we are constantly trying to find our identity through them.”
Donna O’Hagan, most recently featured in A Murder is Announced in 2022, said that “just like the author, I believe our clothes from past to present tell stories. I have enjoyed hearing the stories my fellow cast mates have shared and have found myself reflecting on my memories of the clothes I used to wear too.”
In addition to the Boynton team, the production crew consists of Mandy Wescott (stage manager), Susan Johnson (costumer), Gloria Dennison (lighting designer), Mandy Burrus (properties), Bill O’Hagan (lighting board operator), Tim Ball (marketing liaison), and Marykim Hubbard and Summer McFalls (special projects).
Love, Loss, and What I Wore has been produced on six continents and has starred actors such as Tyne Daly, Rosie O’Donnell, (both nominated for 2010 Drama League Awards) Jane Lynch, Kristin Chenowith, Carol Kane, Meredith Baxter, Loretta Swift, Tovah Feldshuh, Tracee Ellis Ross and Natasha Lyonne.
SCP’s production of Love, Loss, and What I Wore is sponsored by Luxevo Vacations along with Jerry and Annette Johns.
Ms. Boynton said he hopes that audiences, as well as the cast and crew, walk away from the show both entertained and with a changed perspective. “I would love for Love, Loss, and What I Wore tear a hole, however tiny, in the fabric of what is currently keeping us divided and tribal by providing us with a greater sense of empathy. I know big change is a lot to ask of a single production – a single experience – but little by little, a little becomes a lot.”
Performances for Love, Loss, and What I Wore are Thurs., Fri., and Sat., June 1 – 3, 2023, at 7:30 p.m.; Sun., June 4, 2023, at 2 p.m.; June 9 and 10, 2023, at 7:30 p.m., and a final show on Sun., June 11, 2023, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 each or $13 for seniors and children aged 13 and under. Tickets are currently on sale through the box office phone at 815-758-1940. To purchase tickets, visit our online website at www.stagecoachplayers.com. You can also call the SCP box office at 815-758-1940. The box office will open Sunday, May 28, 2023, at noon.
