Selected for American Lives Theatre’s Short & Stout (2022)
(10-15 Min) Two Italian-American sisters remember growing up on New York's lower Eastside and find that their memories differ. But they were happy there. Maybe.
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We Were Happy
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Cheryl Bear:
7 Aug. 2020
“
Memories differ, but yes they were happy. Because with love, strength and community in venturing to create a new life they took pride in all of their accomplishments. Beautiful work! ”
Ricardo Soltero-Brown:
4 Jan. 2019
“
Jennifer O'Grady's play has a wonderful mix-up of time and fourth-wall breaking, and an astounding back and forth. The rhythm between the sisters is divine as they reveal their abilities with memory and their Americanization - names, marriage - not just for Italians, but all immigrants. There's sass and flight and disillusionment, an investigative time-capsule for the streets of a long-gone Americana. ”
Character Information
JENNY and LENA can be played by female actors of any age, race or ethnicity, because what we see on stage is what they'd like us to see.
Jenny
A first-gen Italian-American woman and Lena's sister.
Can be played by:
Age:
Any adult age
Race/Ethnicity:
Any race/ethnicity
Gender:
Female
Lena
A first-gen Italian-American woman and Jennie's sister.