Rita Wilson and Bronson Pinchot Explore ADD in Distracted as Loomer Play Opens

By Ernio Hernandez
25 Mar 2007

Rita Wilson
Rita Wilson
photo by Aubrey Reuben

Lisa Loomer's Distracted officially opens in Los Angeles March 25 with a cast that boasts Rita Wilson, Bronson Pinchot and Johanna Day.

Leonard Foglia (On Golden Pond, Master Class) directs the work that began previews March 15 at Center Theatre Group's Mark Taper Forum. The show will run through April 29.

From the playwright of Living Out comes a new work that explores the world of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) through the story of the "disconcerting and, at times, hilariously surreal path a mother takes to find a remedy for her eight-year-old boy's 'anxious and distracted' behavior," as press materials describe. Set in today's fast paced, multi-tasking world, the question arises, "Is her son's diagnosis of ADD correct? Or is he simply reacting to the over-stimulation of TV screens, computers, cell phones, voice mail and video games?"

The complete cast for Distracted includes Stephanie Berry (Drowning Crow), Johanna Day (Proof, Satellites), Marita Geraghty (The Heidi Chronicles, "Groundhog Day"), Emma Hunton ("Happy Endings"), Bronson Pinchot (Putting It Together, "Perfect Strangers"), Ray Porter, Hudson Thames and Rita Wilson (Chicago, "Sleepless in Seattle").

The design team features Elaine McCarthy (set and projection), Robert Blackman (costume), Russell H. Champa (lighting) and Jon Gottlieb (sound). The production stage manager is David S. Franklin.

The Taper will continue after Distracted with a co-production (with New York's The Public Theater) of David Henry Hwang's Yellow Face (May 10-July 1). The 40-year-old, 745-seat circular theatre will then close for major renovations with plans to reopen in 2008.

Tickets for Distracted at the Taper, 135 North Grand Avenue in Los Angeles, CA, are available by calling (213) 628-2772. For more information visit centertheatregroup.org.