The Emmy Award-winning Gless created the role in the January 2010 San Francisco world premiere of the play. The work, directed by Prowse, has been revised since then, Gless said.
A Round-Heeled Woman is based on Jane Juska's memoir about a former high school English teacher, sexually unfulfilled for 30 years, who places an ad in the personals in the New York Review of Books: "Before I turn 67 — next March — I would like to have a lot of sex with a man I like. If you want to talk first, Trollope works for me."
The presentation by GableStage at the Biltmore, in association with Brian Eastman, reflects a freshened version since its California run. The play was commissioned by Gless, who is known for TV's "Cagney & Lacey" and "Queer as Folk."
Gless told Playbil.com on Dec. 27, "The production in San Francisco was a try-out to see how much of the book we could put in front of an audience and in what way. We were happy to discover that the backbone of the story — and the choice of encounters with men who answered the ad — worked, as did the core story of Jane's relationship with her estranged son, Andy. But we realized that we had included too many other characters and that the play needed to focus even more on Jane — and to be presented in a simpler way.
"This new version streamlines the story, delves deeper into Jane's character and has a few extra laughs to undercut and enhance the emotion and drama of the piece. Also, the set is more welcoming and can be used in a much more fluid way — elements that really help the story come to life in a more sympathetic and engaging way." Read Playbill.com's late 2009 Q & A interview with Sharon Gless on the topic of A Round-Heeled Woman. Opening night in Florida is Jan. 7. The run continues to Jan. 30.
The cast includes Antonio Amadeo, Stephen G. Anthony, Howard Elfman, Kim Ostrenko and Laura Turnbull.
The creative team includes set designer Lyle Baskin, lighting designer Jeff Quinn, sound designer Matt Corey, costume designer Ellis Tillman, choreographer Dave Campbell and stage manager Kristen Pieski.
Gless is a multiple Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actress. She most recently completed production on two independent features, "Once Fallen," with Ed Harris and Amy Madigan, and "Hannah Free," in which Gless stars in the title role. Gless is currently featured as Madeline Westen on "Burn Notice" (USA Network). Gless starred as Debbie Novotny in the groundbreaking Showtime series "Queer as Folk," from 2000-2005. The following year she starred as U.S. Secretary of Defense Lynne Warner in the BBC/BBC America miniseries "The State Within."
GableStage is located in the eastern section of the Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables, FL. For reservations or information, call (305) 445-1119 or visit www.GableStage.org.
