 
 ABOUT THE PLAY
The first play to come out of InterAct’s new 20/20 New Play Commissioning program, LITTLE LAMB tells the story of Denny and Jose, a gay couple who want to be parents, so they decide to adopt. They ask their adoption counselor, Cathy, to help them adopt. Trusting her inital instincts that they would make great parents, Cathy finds Denny and Jose an African-American baby girl and the happy family begins its new life together. But when Cathy receives an unexpected visit from the birth mother, who has strong opinions about the placement of her daughter, Denny and Jose must face the unthinkable and Cathy is forced to choose between her progressive values, her African-American heritage, and her devout Christian beliefs.
PRODUCTION PHOTOS
Ames Adamson (as Denny) and Frank X (as José)
Frank X (as José), Kaci M. Fannin (as Cathy) and Ames Adamson (as Denny)
Kaci M. Fannin (as Cathy) and Ames Adamson (as Denny)
Frank X (as José) and Ames Adamson (as Denny)
Playwright Michael Whistler, Frank X (playing José) and Ames Adamson (playing Denny)
IN THE PRESS
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
"IMBUING ART WITH FACT
When playwright Michael Whistler arrived for a session with Wyndmoor family therapist Abby Ruder earlier this year, it was hardly your typical hour - more like four. And Whistler didn't even have personal issues that needed a going-over.
What he had was the script for Little Lamb, now in previews and opening Wednesday in its InterAct Theatre Company world premiere.
These are among the root issues that define the professional life of Ruder, a noted specialist who for a quarter-century has guided clients in the ways of adoption, advanced reproductive technology, and parenting. Her key interests involve open and transracial adoptions for both traditional and alternative families.
... Ruder gave Whistler a grounding not just in the laws, but in the emotional dynamics at play - just as she does for her clients. Whistler, in turn, presented Ruder with a play that struck her personally; it was a new experience for her, she says, to encounter a piece that was "putting a lot of my life's work into an art form."
... Whistler is a gay man ... who was deeply affected by the role the Christian right played in reelecting President Bush in 2004, which led to his decision to write Little Lamb.
... "I was stunned at the power of a fundamentalist base" that focused on the issue of gay marriage to campaign for Bush. "It intrigued me and hurt me, to be honest with you. I felt so betrayed."
So he put his reaction into artistic action:
... From this, he says, ..."
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PHILADELPHIA TRIBUNE
"LITTLE LAMB TOUCHES ON ETHICS OF GAY ADOPTION
... Framed by Peter Whinnery’s striking set, by Barrymore Award winner Frank X, and the capable Kaci Fannin. ... Ames Adamson is lighthearted and sensitive ... Cathy Simpson played the child’s self-righteous grandmother to the hilt, and I feel quite comfortable in saying that everyone in the audience wanted to smack her in the mouth. ... Overall, "
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PHILADELPHIA GAY NEWS
"GAY ADOPTION IN THE SPOTLIGHT OF NEW PLAY
“It is territory that has not been covered as far as I know in theater, and certainly not motion pictures or television,” said actor Ames Adamson. “It’s just too touchy.” It’s also very timely. At a time when individual states are resurging as cultural and political battlegrounds over gay marriage and adoption,
... The conflicts in ... [Playwright Michael] Whistler said. “I wanted to take a look at a progressive Christian, someone who is trying to straddle the fence of finding a way to live in a world where they have progressive values in the face of a changing Christian church. ... It doesn’t always fit.”
... Whistler added that even though the characters are at odds with each other, it doesn’t necessarily make one side more of the “bad guy” than the other. “I would consider all the characters sympathetic characters,” he said. “That is important to me. One of the things that I really want to look at in this play is I can’t do that without having people of faith on stage and whose voices I support. ...”
Whistler also said it was important for him to capture an authentic relationship between Denny and José. “As a playwright, that’s very much my mission statement,” he said. “ ...”
Adamson said that Denny and José definitely live up to Whistler’s vision for realistic gay characters. “With any relationship, there’s not going to be a united front all the time,” he said of Denny and José’s relationship. “We come together, we separate and we have our doubts. There is conflict and that’s a really good thing. It shows a gay couple in a wonderful real light....”
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ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT
’s previous works for the stage include: THE F*GGOT MUSEUM (*...AN EVENING OF GAY MEN WHO TALK TOO MUCH) (Theatre Off-Jackson, Seattle; Theatre Catalyst, Philadelphia; HOT! Festival, Dixon Place, NY); PHIDIAS8 (National Showcase of New Plays, Philadelphia; Phoenix Theatre, Indianapolis); THE MAN WHO PAINTED BOSIE (Hedgerow Theatre, Media); HIDDEN RIVERS ( Montgomery County Community College) and CASSE NOISETTE: A FAIRY BALLET. Mr. Whistler is a Philadelphia resident who has performed as an actor locally and nationally, he currently teaches theatre on faculty at Montgomery County Community College, and holds an MFA from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.
Talking With... Michael Whistler
Click to read an interview the playwright of LITTLE LAMB
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
co-founded InterAct Theatre Company in 1988, and has since served as Producing Artistic Director. He has directed over 40 productions for InterAct, including Israel Horovitz's LEBENSRAUM (1999 Barrymore Awards for Outstanding Direction of a Play, Outstanding Overall Production of a Play, and Outstanding Ensemble), IT'S ALL TRUE (2001 Barrymore nominations for Outstanding Director and Outstanding Overall Production), and PERMANENT COLLECTION (2004 Barrymore nomination for Outstanding Overall Production). He has twice been named "Best Director" by the Philadelphia Inquirer for the world premiere of Thomas Gibbons' 6221 in 1993 and for LEBENSRAUM. Other notable productions with InterAct include the world premieres of Thomas Gibbons' BEE-LUTHER-HATCHEE, BLACK RUSSIAN and A HOUSE WITH NO WALLS and the Philadelphia premieres of SKIN IN FLAMES, BLUE/ORANGE, NIXON'S NIXON, AUNT DAN AND LEMON, LONELY PLANET, SEASCAPE, and GOD'S COUNTRY. Seth has also directed for the Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles, Blue Heron Theatre and the 45th Street Theatre in New York, as well as regionally with Act II Playhouse, Venture Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Philadelphia Young Playwrights Festival, and the University of Pennsylvania. As a playwright, Seth is the recipient of two fellowships from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, as well as The Smith Prize for his play BLACK GOLD. MEN OF STONE and MISSING LINK garnered Barrymore Award nominations for Outstanding New Play in 2001 and 2002, respectively. Seth has served on funding and/or award panels for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, New Jersey State Council on the Arts, Philadelphia Theatre Initiative, Philadelphia Cultural Fund, Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Theatre Communications Group, and the F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Philadelphia Theatre Artist. He has served on the Boards of the Women's Theatre Festival, Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, New Paradise Laboratories, Fresh Visions Youth Theatre, and the National New Play Network (for which he served as Chair from 2002-2006).
ABOUT THE CAST & CREW
 Cathy Simpson (as Francie) returns to InterAct after having appeared in BETWEEN MEN & CATTLE, BEE-LUTHER-HATCHEE and 6221. Cathy recently appeared in her hometown of St. Louis, MO, where she performed in critically-acclaimed productions of A SONG FOR CORETTA and THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF MY WISHES at the St. Louis Black Rep. Her most recent Philadelphia credits include PLTCo’s Barrymore award-winning, SIX CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN AUTHOR, Arden Theatre Co.’s SLEEPING BEAUTY, and the Wilma Theater’s EURIDYCE by Sara Rhule. This past year, Cathy appeared in one Indie film - Sweaty Robot Production’s Happy Birthday Harris Malden - and two PBS episodes of Maple Ave. and Outreach Production’s series “On The Street Where You Live.” Cathy is a three-time Barrymore nominee and a winner for Freedom Theatre’s THE OLD SETTLER and has twice been nominated for the Helen Hayes Awards in Washington D.C.
 Frank X (as José) marks his 11th production at InterAct Theatre Company with LITTLE LAMB, most recently as Molina in InterAct’s production of KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN. Earlier this year, he was seen in THE WINTER’S TALE at the Folger Shakespeare Theatre in Washington D.C. Orginally trained as a dancer and playwright, Frank has performed widely throughout the Philadelphia area with such institutions as the Lantern Theatre (OTHELLO, MASTER HAROLD… AND THE BOYS), Theatre Exile (RHINOCEROS) and Azuke Theatre (FOUR). Mr. X received a Barrymore Award for his performance in InterAct’s production of LONELY PLANET.
 Kaci M. Fannin (as Cathy) returns to InterAct after appearing last season in BLACK GOLD. Kaci was recently seen locally in Walnut Street Theatre’s CRIMINAL HEARTS. Her New York credits include productions by Cherry Lane, Henry Street Settlement, Producer’s Club and The Billie Holiday Theatre, to name a few. She’s also performed at The Kitchen Theatre (Ithaca, NY), Fulton Opera House (Lancaster, PA) and Lee Strausberg Theatre (L.A.). As a filmaker, Kaci is currently producing an original animation project and serving as Associate Producer on the feature-length documentary Drama Mamas. Kaci spent seven years in Los Angeles, where she developed a successful voice-over career and an extensive body of work as a commercial, television and film actress.
 Ames Adamson (as Denny) makes his InterAct Theatre Company and Philadelphia debut in LITTLE LAMB. At New Jersey Repertory Company, a fellow member (along with InterAct) of the National New Play Network, Ames has appeared in seven productions, most recently as G.B. Shaw in ENGAGING SHAW. Ames’ other recent regional credits include THE MOUSETRAP and ON GOLDEN POND at the Arrow Rock Lyceum, KING LEAR at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, and CIRCUMFERENCE OF A SQUIRREL at The Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach. Ames is a resident of Historic Germantown and also West Exeter, NY. For more information, visit www.amesdamson.com.
 Katrina Yvette Cooper (as Ashlee) makes her InterAct Theatre Company debut in LITTLE LAMB. A native of Harrisburg, PA, Katrina received her training from Temple University’s undergraduate theatre program. Her recent credits include OUR TOWN and THE PIANO LESSON at Arden Theatre Co., SWEETIE PIE at Azuka Theatre Co., THE BLUEST EYE at New Freedom Rep., as well as MOJO: A BLACK LOVE STORY, OUR LADY OF 121st STREET and TERRORISM at Temple University Theatre Department.
The design team for LITTLE LAMB includes Set & Lighting Design by Peter Whinnery, Costume Design by Loyce Arthur and Sound Design by Shannon Zura. The production will be Stage Managed by Joshua Lieberman, with Rebecca Wright serving as Dramaturg, Kia Feindt serving as Assistant Director, Jessica Hurley as Assistant Stage Manager and Britt Plunkett as Technical Director.
EXPLORING THE ISSUES
During LITTLE LAMB, InterAct will host several post-performance talk-backs to encourage further discussion on the issues it raises. Speaker Sundays, a series featuring invited scholars, community leaders and artists, are scheduled to follow matinee performances on:
Featuring , specializing in Adoption Information and Support Services, who consulted during the script development process of LITTLE LAMB, , and
Featuring Dr. Salman Akhtar, Professor of Psychiatry at Jefferson University
Speaker , who consulted during the script development process of LITTLE LAMB, &
, cert., has been specializing in adoption, infertility, advanced reproductive technology, and parenting for 25 years. She also works with people related to adoption pre & post placement. In addition to her private practice, Ms. Ruder trains therapists, agency workers, and clergy members about the unique emotional landscape and experience of adoption. He areas of expertise include trans-racial adoption, open adoption, and working with traditional and gay/lesbian families. Ms. Ruder recently received a NIM (Neighborhood Interfaith Movement) Award as a Bridge Builder, helping to promote racial understanding and healing during her 25 year career in Philadelphia. She has been an activist in support of the legal rights of lesbian and gay parents for over two decades and has had chapters published in several books on trans-racial adoption; gay/lesbian parenting; and Jewish rituals honoring the intersecting identities of adopted children of color. Ms. Ruder is a mother in an inter-racial family formed by birth and adoption.
Following the 2nd and 3rd Tuesday and Wednesday performances of every play, we invite patrons to grab a brownie and a cup of joe, then join us for Coffee Converstaions, informal discussions with company artists. During LITTLE LAMB, Coffee Converstaions are scheduled for Tuesday, June 9; Wednesday, June 10 ; Tuesday, June 16 and Wednesday, June 17.
Featuring Rev. Nathan Walker, Minister of First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia
LITTLE LAMB PERFORMANCE CALENDAR
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MAY
29
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30
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31
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JUNE
2
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SUBSCRIPTIONS & TICKETS
Individual Tickets:
Preview Performances - $15.00
Weekday (Tuesdays-Thursdays) Performances - $24.00
Weekend (Fridays-Sundays) Performances - $28.00
Students with proper I.D. may purchase Student Rush Tickets for $10.00
five minutes before curtain (based on availability).
Special Senior and Student (with a valid I.D.), as well as Group Rates are also available.
Purchasing Tickets or Subscriptions:
215.568.8079
InterAct's Box Office at The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St., Phila
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Michael Whistler (Playwright)
