Comprised of a series of interrelated scenes, the play traces the coming of age of Heidi Holland, a successful art historian, as she tries to find her bearings in a rapidly changing world. Gradually distancing herself from her friends, she watches them move from the idealism and political radicalism of their college years through militant feminism and, eventually, back to the materialism that they had sought to reject in the first place. Heidi's own path to maturity involves an affair with the glib, arrogant Scoop Rosenbaum, a womanizing lawyer/publisher who eventually marries for money and position; a deeper but even more troubling relationship with a charming, witty young pediatrician, Peter Patrone, who turns out to be gay; and increasingly disturbing contacts with the other women, now much changed, who were a part of her childhood and college years. Eventually Heidi comes to accept the fact that liberation can be achieved only if one is true to oneself, with goals that come out of need rather than circumstance. As the play ends she is still "alone," but having adopted an orphaned baby, it is clear that she has begun to find a sense of fulfillment and continuity that may well continue to elude the others of her anxious, self-centered generation.

Character Breakdown

HEIDI HOLLAND: 30s. We see her from her late teens to her late 30's. An art historian and writer, highly articulate, intelligent, thoughtful. We see her journey over almost 25 years from a high school student to an accomplished writer and new mother. Throughout this time, Heidi maintains her values, ideals, and loyalties while many of her friends adjust theirs to fit the social and political climate of the times. She is a serious and good person with an ironic sense of humor, who struggles to understand her place and identity in a changing world.

SCOOP ROSENBAUM: 30s. We see him from his early 20s through his late 30s. Heidi's sometime lover, a charismatic, Jewish journalist with irresistible charm and sex appeal. He's an insightful, successful, well-educated overachiever who is attractive and self-centered. Incredibly smart, with an ability to think on his feet and an uncanny understanding of the way the world works, he knows exactly how to make it work for him. Self-confident and warm, he loves Heidi deeply but knows that she's not the right match for him.

PETER PATRONE: 30s. We see him from his late teens through his late 30's. Heidi's best friend. A fiercely clever and literate pediatrician. He is by turns both sensitive and cynical. Charming and witty, he and Heidi meet at a high school dance and forge a friendship which will last for years. Thoughtful, articulate, warm, charming, with a real depth of feeling.

SUSAN JOHNSTON: 30s. We see her from her late teens through her late 30's. Heidi's oldest friend who throws herself fully into whatever she pursues in life. We see her journey from a high school student obsessed with boys, to a feminist law student, to a Supreme Court clerk, to a member of a Montana women's collective, to a Hollywood studio executive. Intelligent, bold, direct, though not terribly introspective. She seems to change identities with the changing world and current fashion but is fully committed to every identity she assumes.

FRAN (Will double as Molly, Betsy, & April) 30s. FRAN: A lesbian graduate student in a women's rap group in the early '70's. Opinionated, authoritative and warm.

MOLLY: A member of a Montana Women's Collective.

BETSY: A pregnant magazine editor; smart, sardonic, down to earth.

APRIL: Glib, well-dressed host of "Hello New York", a T.V. talk show. Leads the glamorous life of a media star. Able to talk about anything regardless of whether she knows anything about it.

JILL (Will double as Debbie & Lisa ) 30s. A sheltered, repressed, yet cheerful suburban housewife and mother whose self-awareness blossoms through her participation in a women's rap group in the early '70's.

DEBBIE: An activist protesting the lack of inclusion of women artists at a museum, she is committed and carries a bullhorn.

LISA: Scoop's wife, a children's book illustrator "from the best Jewish family in Memphis". Attractive, traditional, optimistic and good-hearted.

BECKY (Will double as Denise) Early -Mid 20s. A teenage waif at a women's rap group in the early '70's, she has stumbled upon the group because she has no one else to turn to. Utterly sincere, vulnerable and trusting.

DENISE: A young professional woman of the '80's. Bright, attractive, ambitious, educated yuppie in her 20's. Energetic, successful, doesn't question herself or her world.

CHRIS BOXER / MARK / T.V. TECHNICIAN / WAITER / RAY: 20s. One actor to play five distinctly different roles.
CHRIS BOXER is a prep school student council president at a school dance in 1964.
MARK is a nice young man who has been watching Nixon's resignation.
RAY is an anesthesiologist, kind and intelligent.

One Male and One Female understudy

** The Role of Peter Patron has been cast**

Auditions will be held July 6th from 7pm- 10pm. Callbacks will be held July 11th from 7pm - 10pm and will be Held at The Nest (Rehearsal Space of The Cuckoo's Theater Project) at 7077 N Ashland Blvd Chicago IL 60626.