Joanna Rush had written a collection of monologues and shared them with Tony nominee, Lynne Taylor-Corbett. They shaped them into a piece for two actors. It was Tony nominee, Walter Willison (who contributed lyrics and music to the play) who suggested, after hearing Ms. Rush read the two character version, that it was much more effective with her playing the multiple characters herself, as a solo piece. The challenge in finding the balance between the serious subject matter and the humor in the play required the feedback of an audience. Ms. Rush and Ms. Taylor-Corbett were invited to try it out at the Hallmark Residence for Assisted Living; New York Society for Ethical Culture; and at The Kirk on Theatre Row as guests of Eduardo Machado and Intar in 2006. As a result of the performance at the Kirk, they were given a generous grant which helped to present 3 performances at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre in July.
Janet Barlow, Director of The Stocker Arts Center on the campus of Lorain County Community College in Elyria, Ohio, attended the performance at the Peter Jay Sharp and she invited Ms. Rush and Ms. Taylor-Corbett to bring "Asking For It" to Stocker for one week. They rehearsed during the day and experimented with new changes at night. A lot was learned during post performance talk-backs. Many audience members returned several times, started to quote lines, and college students began mimicking their favorite character in the play.
From these experiences, Hallmark, Ethical Culture, The Kirk and Stocker, it became clear that the play resonated with a broad audience including anyone who likes dancers, New York, Irish Catholic craziness, who has ever felt shame, or whose life is not turning out as planned. People from ages 12 to 98, male, female, gay, straight, all different colors, red state, blue state, different religions, no religion, many different ethnicities say the same thing, "This is my story."
The play won rave reviews and four stars from "Time Out" in the 2007 New York International Fringe Festival at the Cherry Lane Theatre.
Sections of the piece were chosen by the United Nations Council for the Empowerment of Women and The Hunger Project to be performed at the International Women's Day (NYC) in March '08. After recent successful engagements in Massachusetts to consistent standing ovations, the play is now ready for prime time.
Because of the broad appeal of "Asking For It," the show will likely enjoy quick success in an Off-Broadway house, on its way to the playwright's dream of a home at the Helen Hayes Theatre. It's perfect for a movie, HBO special, tours, colleges, regional and community theatre. This one-actor play is a great vehicle for mature actresses who are funny, can dance, act up a storm, are under-employed and who might be looking for a tour de force … just in case there are any of those around.