Waiting for Oprah

The cast and crew of Mary Miller's award-winning comedy WAITING FOR OPRAH invite you to attend the monthly meeting of the 1st Tuesday Book Club (that meets on Thursday!) AWARDS & NOTICES #1 Critics Choice, #1 Audience Favorite, FutureFest, Dayton, OH. "Smash Hit" The News, Brunswick, GA. "The Woman's Experience" Theatre Decatur, Decatur, GA. "Don't miss Waiting for Oprah!" The Islander, St. Simons Is. GA. "We're all waiting for Oprah." FACT Theatre, Fairfield. IA. "Mia's Monologue" - Audition Monologues for Young Women. ABOUT THE PLAY It's the last meeting of the 1st Tuesday Book Club (which meets on Thursday!) and Allison, Mia, Fran, Louise, and Janice are awaiting the arrival of their celebrity guest. Dressed to the nines, Janice is determined to make a good impression and thrilled at the idea of being on TV. Allison, however, is not at all convinced Oprah's arrival will do anything but disrupt their last meeting. While, Louise, a loving housewife and Oprah devotee, is convinced Oprah is the answer to all their problems. And Mia, rushing in late, is simply delighted that she hasn't missed anything yet. All the while, Fran is just waiting for a miracle to change the course of her entire life. As they wait the question of whether Oprah will come or not is ultimately not as important as what they learn about themselves and what they mean to each other. SETTING: Allison's living room. The set can be as simple as five folding chairs on an empty stage or as intricate and detailed as a full living room set. The play's focus should remain on the women and their stories rather than an elaborate set. CHARACTERS: ALLISON: Oldest in the group. She's married to Jack. No children. Sophisticated. She has money but it's not what defines her. She's more pragmatic and skeptical about Oprah's visit. She's friends with the other women but more closely drawn to Mia as the daughter she never had. LOUISE: Happily married to Ralph. She's a housewife and mother. A bit chubby with tight curly hair, the result of a bad perm. An Oprah devotee. Very enthusiastic...loves her husband, her children, her friends, the book club, and Oprah. Louise is the most excited to see Oprah and the most afraid that the book club is breaking up. She's desperate that this not be the last meeting. She's wonderfully comedic in her unbridled enthusiasm. JANICE: Recently divorced from Buddy. Mother of one girl. She is well aware of the value of money and appearances. She can be pushy and opinionated and yet she's well-meaning and vulnerable and even a bit naïve. She loves to talk and feels she is an expert on everything (although she's not). She often breaks the tension in the play with a comment or a story that is seemingly inappropriate, but she is totally unaware and thinks she's being helpful and sympathetic. She has a big heart and is wonderfully comedic in her outspoken way. FRAN: Married to George. No children. She is delighted to meet Oprah but a bit distracted and worried. She works to hide her concerns from her friends. Fran's revelation comes as a surprise to them all; but it's Fran's journey as she comes to terms with her husband that opens the women up to discuss their own problems. Fran is hiding the biggest secret and it's her story that becomes the linchpin in the play. MIA: Youngest in the group. She is single. A free spirit. She's had a tough childhood but is working hard to rise above it. She may have purple hair but she has a good head on her shoulders and she's determined to make her way in the world. Mia is a quiet listener. She has an understanding of the world greater than her years. She respects the women, especially Allison and looks up to them like surrogate mothers. Age range: Mid 20's to early 60's. TIME: The play begins at 11:30 a.m. and ends late that afternoon.