The Good Counselor is a new drama about a chosen son's quest for truth. Vincent, a bright young lawyer in the Public Defender department has been assigned to defend a young woman accused of killing her three-week-old son. Hounded by his community and haunted by his past, Vincent struggles to defend both neglectful mothers: his client, and his own. A thought-provoking and beautifully written play, The Good Counselor literally prompts the audience to serve as the jury in determining what it means to be a good parent.

"Unsettling drama...Ms. Grant doesn't fall into the trap of oversimplifying her characters or seeing only one side of a relationship...this is a sign of Ms. Grant's ingenuity as a playwright." - The New York Times

"Playwright Kathryn Grant is a promising talent with a sharp ear for dialogue...The Good Counselor is engrossing, thoughtful and thought-provoking, and worthy of our attention." - Talkin' Broadway

"A searing new play... provides a vivid picture of life's unrelenting hardness, as these people seek small pleasures in their lives, despite their struggles." - NJ.com

The Good Counselor was originally produced at Premiere Stages at Kean University in Union, New Jersey on July 15, 2010. The performance was directed by John Wooten.

VINCENT HEFFERNON - 27-34 years old, African-American public defender practicing law in a rural county. He is the youngest in a family of five siblings and the only one in the family who has made it into the professional class. Sharp, mercurial and slick in some ways, altering his persona to suit the situation, but in other ways, he is fragile. He is not at ease with himself or reconciled to his position as the favored son in a struggling family.
RAY HEFFERNON - 29-36 years old, Vincent's older brother. African-American man in his mid-thirties. Currently working as a roofer. Has a history of drug addiction that may mask an undiagnosed mood disorder like bipolar. An incredible nose for the truth and the capacity to see humor in the absurdity of life.
RITA HEFFERNON - 60-75 years old, Ray and Vincent's mother. She is in poor health but struggles to stay out of bed and keep up appearances. Widowed at a young age, she raised her children on her own and takes pride in her autonomy. Has little truck for those who aren't able to manage life's challenges. Has pushed some dark episodes in her life into a corner.
EVELYN LAVERTY - 20-30 years old. A white single mother currently a suspect in the death of her infant. She is scared, truculent and a knee-jerk racist. Loves her daughter. Had mixed feelings about her son and has deep insecurities about her competence as a mother. Drinks to take the edge off of all the chaos piling up in her world.
MAYA ARUNA - 45-70 years old. The supervisor in the County public defender's office. Originally the role was written for an Indian-American, but the role can be cast as a nationalized citizen born in South or Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean, one of the countries of the former Soviet Union, a South East Asian Country or any other country (not Africa) with large segments of the population living in poverty (change name as needed.) She has lived a good portion of her life in close proximity to the poor and she doesn't romanticize their lives. Her immigrant status gives her an outsider's perspective. She isn't mired in American views of motherhood and the management of families. Notwithstanding these differences, she is deeply patriotic and fervent about the possibilities of American jurisprudence. Both pragmatic and hopelessly liberal, she is what is known as a "public defense lifer" passionate about defending the poor, whether they are guilty of a crime or not.