LA Theatre Works' The Play's The Thing series of live radio theatre opens this year with Wendy Wasserstein's An American Daughter at 8 PM, Oct. 6. Performances continue through Oct. 11.
The play concerns a doctor nominated for U.S. Surgeon General, but when a minor infraction involving jury duty snowballs into a media circus, her political life is shattered. The situation somewhat resembles the story of real-life Attorney General nominee Zoe Baird. Daughter ran for a short time on Broadway in 1997 with a cast that featured Kate Nelligan, Hal Holbrook, Peter Riegert and Lynne Thigpen.
Beth Milles directs a cast including Mary McDonnell (Summer And Smoke, Academy Award-nominated for the films "Dances With Wolves" and "Passion Fish") and Arye Gross ("Ellen"). The voices of Susan Stamberg (NPR) and Michael Kinsley (Slate) will be featured as radio and TV commentators.
Tickets are $32-$28 and available by calling (310) 827-0889. The Skirball Cultural Center is located at 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. All performances are taped for future broadcast on KCRW 89.9 FM. -- By Christine Ehren and Robert Viagas