Hi everyone,
(Ilga, David, Carol, Sandy, Dave)
Last night we attended the world premier production of Sandy Fenichel Asher’s compelling play, DEATH VALLEY, A LOVE STORY, at Springfield Contemporary Theatre, beautifully performed by Andie Bottrell, Rachel Jamieson, and special friend Sarah J. Wiggin. The play was inspired by the true story of Carol Emerson and the loss of her partner, David Nutter.
(cast, director Alan Souza, Sandy, Carol
At dinner prior to the play we sat with Sandy, hubby Harvey Asher, Ilga Vise, Carol and partner Dave Bender. Sandy pointed out that this was a gathering of three of her “muses.” She wrote her play, WALKING TOWARD AMERICA based on the experiences of Ilga, DEATH VALLEY, A LOVE STORY based on Carol Emerson’s story, and SOMEMBODY CATCH MY HOMEWORK based on my poetry.
(Cory, David)
After the play there was a reception to meet and greet and one of the actors, Cory Kilburn, who appeared in SOMEBODY CATCH MY HOMEWORK (2002) reintroduced himself to me. What an extra treat that was!
(cast, director Alan Souza, Sandy, Carol
At dinner prior to the play we sat with Sandy, hubby Harvey Asher, Ilga Vise, Carol and partner Dave Bender. Sandy pointed out that this was a gathering of three of her “muses.” She wrote her play, WALKING TOWARD AMERICA based on the experiences of Ilga, DEATH VALLEY, A LOVE STORY based on Carol Emerson’s story, and SOMEMBODY CATCH MY HOMEWORK based on my poetry.
(Cory, David)
After the play there was a reception to meet and greet and one of the actors, Cory Kilburn, who appeared in SOMEBODY CATCH MY HOMEWORK (2002) reintroduced himself to me. What an extra treat that was!
I’ve seen it performed more than once and love it each time. It opened with its world premier here in Springfield at the Vandevort Theatre in 2004. I don’t know how many times it has been performed. Maybe Sandy will remember. I believe it was also performed in Europe on one occasion. If I’m wrong about that, it makes a good story.
I’m pleased to report that the award-winning play Sandy Asher wrote based on our script, JESSE AND GRACE, is being performed today, tomorrow, and Saturday at Carpenter Middle School in Plano, Texas. 
The book version is being read by a couple of editors so we hope to see it published as a book one of these days. In the meantime our pair of fourth graders are doing just fine on school stages and we’re proud of them.