Love, Loss, and What I Wore welcomes new cast

Kristin Chenoweth, Lucy DeVito, Capathia Jenkins, Rhea Perlman and Rita Wilson are the new rotating company of Love, Loss, And What I Wore from 17 Nov 2009.

The new company replace the outgoing cast: Mary Birdsong, Tyne Daly, Lisa Joyce, Jane Lynch and Mary Louise Wilson, who played their final performance on 15 Nov 2009.

The comedy, an intimate collection of stories by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron, and directed by Karen Carpenter, opened at the Westside Theatre on 1 Oct 2009, following previews from 21 Sep, for what was initially scheduled to be a twelve week engagement, but has since been extended by three months through to 28 Mar 2010.

Love, Loss, And What I Wore is a collection of vignettes and monologues based on the best-selling book by Ilene Beckerman, as well as on the recollections of the Ephrons’ friends. "‘The Vagina Monologues’ without the vaginas,” is how the Ephrons describe this theatrical event.

The show opened to mostly good reviews: "akin to a warm estrogen bath" (NY Times); "By turns funny, poignant, and occasionally rueful" (AP); "a bittersweet meditation on the joys and tribulations of women's lives"

The original cast featured Samantha Bee, Tyne Daly, Katie Finneran, Natasha Lyonne and Rosie O’Donnell.

The show, which will have a rotating cast troughout its run, will welcome three new cast members on 16 Dec 2009: Katie Finneran, Natasha Lyonne and Mary Louise Wilson.

The creative team features sets by Jo Winiarski, costumes by Jessica Jahn, lighting by Jeff Croiter and sound by Walter Trarbach.

A portion of the production’s proceeds will benefit Dress for Success, a charity that provides work clothing and job support for low-income women. Audience members will be invited to donate their gently-used purses and other accessories in the theatre lobby.