Wise Women - A Poignant Comedy in Two Acts.

It's almost Christmas, 1944. In Knoxville, Tennessee, a frustrated mother with a secret and a teenage daughter with a dream take in two young roomers who work at a nearby bomb-making plant. Both girls are asserting their independence, one in the company of servicemen, the other as a contestant in a Miss Bombshell U.S.A. competition, an action that puts her at odds with her father, a preacher in a small Virginia town. Along the way, the teenage daughter, who worries more about rumors of an asteroid said to be streaking toward nearby Chattanooga than a vicious war raging around the world, bamboozles her mother into allowing her to attend a Frank Sinatra concert at the local USO. When she brings home a young war-bound Marine as naive as herself, this colorful collection of characters is pulled apart, then mended with humor, romance, twists, turns and revelations. As these women struggle, grow and ultimately succeed, at least for one fragile moment in time-they remind us that we're all "family" and, in each other's company, we may find ourselves.

"Wise Women offers holiday warmth, laughs ... moving and funny." - The Bristol Herald-Courier

"A charming, bittersweet comedy... a strong work for the holiday season." - Washington County News

"Lively and believable characters in a delightful spicy-sweet story." - Johnson City Press

Wise Women won the 2003 Southern Playwrights Competition and was produced by Carlton Ward at Jacksonville State University, in Jacksonville, Alabama on May 20, 2004. It was directed by Susan McCain. The play received its professional premiere at Barter Theatre, in Abingdon, Virginia on November 23, 2004, under producing artistic director Richard Rose. It was directed by Evalyn Baron. The play received its West Coast premiere at City Lights Theater Company, in San Jose, California under managing artistic director Lisa Mallette.

FLORENCE — mid-40s; Rose’s protective, loving, frustrated mother, whose losses and fears impact her life (as well as that of her daughter), especially at Christmas
ROSE — 17; a bubbly teenager, lacking much common sense and bent on exploration; capable of manipulation
SARAH RUTH — 20; a roomer in Florence’s home; a lovely young lady who is deeply conflicted, thus shy and naive to the point of appearing sweetly foolish at times
JIGGS — early 20s; a second roomer; a good person who doesn’t recognize her own goodness or value, and thus hides behind a mask of brashness
DONNIE — 20 or so; Jiggs’ friend; an Army private, who appears brash, cocky, and just a bit crude
HOWARD — 18; Rose’s friend; a shy enlisted Marine who, unlike Donnie, is respectful of women