More Than All The Sky
Lenna Harris was raised in a family of privilege, and is now living on the street trapped in the stranglehold of addiction. She returns to her hometown, perhaps subconsciously because she is nearing rock bottom.
Things have changed since she left; her mother is now riddled with dementia, and her adopted brother has assumed responsibility for their mom.
When Lenna finally acquiesces to getting help, she begins to uncover and dismantle her childhood trauma, giving way to the hope that she can get well.
Through an atmospheric, indie-rock score, More Than All The Sky shows how families can be ravaged by drugs and alcohol, and although recovery is a brutal and grueling process, we hope to shed light on the fact that it is possible.
Not only do people living with substance use disorder not have to die or be miserable, but they can live lives beyond their wildest dreams.
book and lyrics by
Lori Ada Jaroslow
music by
Morgan Hollingsworth
additional lyrics by
Morgan Hollingsworth
The Baby Project
The Baby Project is a semi – autobiographical story about a woman named Dana Jacobson, a 41- year old single, queer, Jewish, New Yorker, who after being sober for three years recognizes that what she wants most in her life is to have her own family.
In order to individuate, she leaves her colorful family of origin in New York and goes as far across the country as she can to Los Angeles where there is sunshine, palm trees and a really good sperm bank.
As she careens through the world of medically assisted fertility she is forced to ponder the question - what exactly constitutes a family? While maneuvering her way through the foster care system, the LA public schools, HMO’s and LA traffic, Dana falls in love with her black, bass playing/poet, next door neighbor, Jackie.
Ultimately, Jackie breaks up with Dana because she feels that Dana is unaware of her own white privilege. Heartbroken, she moves forward with her dream of motherhood, which does come true, but in a way she hadn’t envisioned. In the end she adopts a pregnant 14 year -old Latina teen and Dana becomes a mom and a grandma simultaneously.
Ultimately The Baby Project gives voice to the ever – evolving face of the American family.
book by
Lori Ada Jaroslow
lyrics by
Lori Ada Jaroslow and Fonda Feingold
additional lyrics by
Angela Parrish
music by
Fonda Feingold, Noriko Olling and Angela Parrish
“Funny,”sad,”universal,”specific,”metaphoric..”
Why now?
The Baby Project has an all - female creative team and an all - female identifying cast of five with three of the actresses playing multiple roles.
The piece explores adoption, bi - racial relationships, foster care and socio – economic disparity.
History
Solo reading at The Art House in Provincetown.
The Road Theatre received an NEA grant to produce a workshop with 12 culminating public performances
Developmental workshop/reading at NYMF, NY
Developmental workshop/reading in the Living Room Series at The Blank Theatre, LA
Reading at Rockwell Table and Stage/ Foundation fo New American Musicals, LA
Developmental workshop/reading in The Music Stand Reading Series at The Whitefire Theatre 2022, LA