Octopus's Garden March 17, 2012

March 17, 24, 31 & April 7, 8pm

PianoFight is proud to announce the world premiere of the first full-length play by Scott Herman, Octopus's Garden, the slice-of-life story of a modern family made up of two moms and an 8-year-old daughter named Anna, living the American dream of domestic normalcy. This is threatened by the arrival of Anna's absentee biological father, which forces them -- and us -- to examine the necessary yet difficult decisions made when starting a family on your own terms.

Lilly and Claire's family is unconventional -- they are a lesbian couple with an eight year old daughter Anna, living in Boulder, Colorado -- but their lives are very conventional. They take their daughter to school, they argue over money, they tickle fight and they support and love each other. This version of domestic tranquility is put in jeopardy with the unexpected arrival of Grant, a gay music teacher from New York who is Anna's biological father. The story unfolds backwards revealing that Grant has never met his daughter, and that he is the former best friend of Lilly, Anna's biological mother. Act I chronicles the evening of Grant's arrival, and Act 2, jumps to nine years earlier and the events that lead to Anna's conception.

Making her first appearance in a full-length dramatic play, recently-turned 12-year-old Nandi Drayton plays Anna. Nandi, who was just nominated for Best Female Lead in a Musical by the SF Bay Area Critics Circle, took the role of Anna because, "I read the script and loved the progressive story and was super excited to work with PianoFight." Nandi is joined on stage by PianoFight company members Gabrielle Patacsil, who plays Anna's biological mother Lilly, and Andy Strong, as Anna's father Grant. Leah Shesky as Anna's other mom, Claire, rounds out the cast.

Official Website: http://pianofight.com/2012/02/23/octopuss-garden-by-scott-herman-confronts-same-sex-parenting-the-modern-family-in-pf-world-premiere/