Baby Steps
EXTENDED! Now through Nov. 1 at The Lion Theater

The Terranova Theatre Collective has announced the extension of the World Premiere of Baby Steps, a new play by James Carter directed by David Travis. Originally scheduled to close on October 25, the production has been extended an additional week -- through November 1 -- at Theatre Row’s The Lion Theater.

Baby Steps centers around Baby Degginhart, a plus-sized young woman living in rural Illinois. For the past seven years, Baby has been forced to care for her rebellious younger brother after they were deserted by their alcoholic mother. Things are going well until a popular boy from high school returns from law school and proclaims his love for Baby. Feeling fat and self-conscious, Baby questions his sincerity. Just as the romance is blossoming, Baby’s estranged mother returns seeking redemption, further throwing Baby’s life into turmoil.

According to playwright James Carter, the play was inspired by a conversation with actress Jennifer Darling who was finding it difficult to get work as an overweight actress. "I told her I would write a play for her," explains Carter. "So three months later, I plopped the first draft of Baby Steps down in front of her and said, ‘Here it is!’"

The production features Ori Behr, Jennifer Darling, Andrea Leigh, Vincent Piazza, Karen Stanion, Chris Thorn, and Aaron Roman Weiner with scenic design by Adrian W. Jones, sound design by Eric DeArmon (Our Lady of 121st Street), costume design by Jennifer Mannis, and lighting design by Kevin Hardy.

James Carter is a playwright and spoken word artist who frequently performs slam poetry at venues such as Nuyorican Poets’ Café, Bar 13, The Lobby and Bowery Poetry Club. He has three completed screenplays: Double Shift, Exiled, and Prana. Baby Steps is his first full-length play.

David Travis is co-founder and associate director of Synapse Productions where his recent directing credits include The Phoenician Women at the Ohio Theatre, The Elephant Man and Bloody Poetry at The Connelly Theatre. Other credits include Bloody Poetry and Richard Nelson’s Bal at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, No Exit at Jean Cocteau Rep, O’Neill’s Beyond the Horizon at Chain Lightning Theatre, the Scottish premiere of Lanford Wilson’s The Rimers of Eldritch at the 50th Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the touring company of Trevor Nunn’s Arcadia, and the U.K. premiere of August Wilson’s Two Trains Running.

The Terranova Theatre Collective is a non-profit theatre company dedicated to new works by emerging artists. By creating a platform for artists to express their individual ideas, whether they be actors, directors, or playwrights, they are allowing a new voice to be heard.

Baby Steps runs through November 1, Sunday & Monday at 7:00pm, Wednesday - Saturday at 8:00pm. Tickets are $16.25. The Lion Theater is located at 410 West 42nd Street (between 9th & 10th Aves). For reservations call 212-714-2442 or visit theatrerow.org.