The New York premiere of the drama directed by Jo Bonney (Burn This) began previews Sept. 9 and opened Sept. 30 to positive reviews. The New York Times reported that producers Fran and Barry Weissler are interested in transferring the work to Broadway, but no details have been confirmed as of yet.
Living Out is set in modern-day Los Angeles where a Salvadoran woman grapples with finding a job as a nanny, tending to her husband's needs, becoming a citizen, bringing one son from her homeland and caring for another boy at home. When she lands a job with a back-to-work mother and her husband, a lie that gets her the job comes back to haunt her.
Meisle, who was nominated for her turn in last season's revival of Tartuffe, starred as the L.A. mother. Mendoza reprised her L.A. Ovation Award-nominated role as the nanny, which she created in the Mark Taper Forum world premiere production in January.
Liza Colon-Zayas (Our Lady of 121st Street) also appeared in the cast that includes Judith Hawking, Kelly Coffield Park, Gary Perez, Joseph Urla and Maria Elena Ramirez.
The design team for Living Out featured Neil Patel (set), Emilio Sosa (costume), David Weiner (lighting) and John Gromata (sound). Playwright Loomer is the author of The Waiting Room and the screenplay "Girl, Interrupted." Other plays include Birds, Expecting Isabel, Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria!, Accelerando, Looking for Angels, Chain of Life and Bocón!
Director Bonney's credits include the recent Off-Broadway revival of Lanford Wilson’s Fifth of July as well as Adoration of the Old Woman, References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot, Humpty Dumpty, subUrbia, Good Thing, Slanguage, Stop Kiss and Look Back in Anger. She received a 1998 Obie Award for Sustained Excellence of Direction.
Second Stages' 25th anniversary season will also feature the world premiere of Jonathan Reynolds' Dinner with Demons directed by Peter Askin (begins Nov. 24, opens Dec. 16); the New York City premiere of Charles L. Mee's Wintertime directed by David Schweizer starring Marsha Mason and Michael Cerveris (begins Feb. 10, 2004); and the long-postponed staging of Craig Lucas' Reckless directed by Mark Brokaw starring Mary-Louise Parker (early April, 2004).
Living Out played at Second Stage, 307 West 43rd Street (off 8th Avenue). For more information, visit www.secondstagetheatre.com.
