Productions
* World Premiere

Mrs. California (1988)
In Mrs. California, ACT’s next production, playwright Doris Baizley has taken a ”socio-comic” look at pre-feminism in the 1950s. A long-running Los Angeles hit, Mrs. California is a brightly satiric comedy that takes place at a 1955 homemakers’ contest in a Los Angeles hotel. The winner will embody the epitome of the 1950s ideal woman: "a happy, good and beautiful homemaker." The play will be directed by Lee Shallat — a former Seattle actress who made her professional debut in ACT’s presentation of The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds in 1972. She is now a successful and prolific director of stage and screen in California. Among her television credits are the popular "Family Ties" and "Newhart."

Mrs. California deftly satirizes the plight of the 1950s housewife by placing her in the Mrs. California homemakers’ contest. And as funny as the contest scenes are, the play also seriously considers the role of women at that time.
About the Play
Written By: Doris Baizley
About the Production
Run Dates: 6/9/1988 - 7/3/1988
Program: Program (.pdf)
Venue: Queen Anne
Directed By: Lee Shallat
Cast: Linda Emond - Mrs. San Bernadino
Sheree Galpert - Mrs. Modesto
Rich Hawkins - Voice of Stage Manager
Robert Nadir - Dudley, Dot's Gas Company sponsor
Gun-Marie Nilsson - Dot, Mrs. Los Angeles
Kristina Sanborn - Mrs. San Francisco
Cheri Sorenson - Babs, neighbor
Behind the Scenes: Paulie Jenkins - Lighting Designer
Steven M. Klein - Sound Designer
Rose Pederson - Costume Designer
Phil Schermer - Producing Director
Jeff Steitzer - Interim Artistic Director
Susan Trapnell Moritz - Managing Director
Scott Weldin - Set Designer
Manuel Zarate - Stage Manager