Hutchins Foster: First Male to Join Cast of MOM'S THE WORD

Hutchins Foster (Naked Will at Celebration Theatre) joins the cast of MOM'S THE WORD presented by A Schenk You Very Much Productions. The West Coast premiere of the award-winning play by Linda A. Carson, Jill Daum, Alison Kelly, Robin Nichol, Barbara Pollard and Deborah Williams marks the first time a male actor will portray a ‘mom.' Jerry London (Emmy Award-winning mini-series Shogun) directs this production written by moms about motherhood, pregnancy and childbirth from the good, the bad and the yucky. Performances run through November 8, 2009 at the El Portal Forum Theatre (5269 Lankershim Boulevard) in North Hollywood.

Hutchins Foster was last scene on stage as Oscar Wilde in the one-man show, Diversions and Delights. At Celebration Theatre, he performed the roles of Oscar Wilde in Naked Will (GLAAD nomination for best play), and Bud in the world premiere of Buddies. Other favorite roles include Buzz in Love! Valour! Compassion!, Dr. Rance in What the Butler Saw, Geoffrey in Sisters Rosensweig, and Earl in Antigone. Tertiary. Sexx. (LA Weekly nomination for best comedy ensemble.) Hutch is the new parent of a bouncing baby blog called Mommy With a Penis: www.mommywithapenis.blogspot.com. He lives in Los Angeles with his legally married husband, Michael and two kick-ass children, Sebastian and Maxie Pearl.
"Hutch Foster as Daniel is the completion for a perfect ‘moms' ensemble. His humor and pathos has just the right touch to compliment the other woman in the production," said Director, Jerry London.

Producer Cathy Schenkelberg added, "We've always planned on bringing in parents who represent all backgrounds of motherhood. There are a vast number of gay and lesbian families, dealing with the same issues as all parents. Sleep deprivation, juggling time, having time, and making time. We also have single moms and married moms. The love for a child is the same. The goal is the same. Hutch represents a gay man married with two children. Right now we're trying to help Hutch work out his babysitter situation as well as scheduling all the moms in our cast around their families. It's a dynamic group of moms and the show truly represents different issues and a wide cross section of the parent spectrum." Schenkelberg continued, "Each audience member can relate to something and walk away saying ‘I was that mom' or ‘that was my mom.' Each character has a story and each story is there to communicate, ‘you're not alone' and ‘oh baby, I've been there.'"

MOM'S THE WORD is written by six playwrights, all of whom are mothers. They share their agonies and ecstasies of parenting. This funny and touching play deals in vivid details with all the important elements of childrearing from sleep deprivation to sex after children. In a chorus line of confessional anecdotes and vignettes, MOM'S THE WORD gives an intimate look at raising a child and the ironies of losing your former life.

Jerry London directs a cast of five featuring Hutchins Foster as Daniel (Oscar Wilde in Naked Will at Celebration Theatre - GLADD Nominee for Best Play), Cathy Schenkelberg as Deborah (Mom's the Word/Chicago Company), Kimleigh Smith as Robin (A Clockwork Orange at The Steppenwolf Theatre), Gina Torrecilla as Jill (Assassins), and Becky Thyre as Alison (Weeds).

Joining the creative team with London are set and costume designer Darlene Wright, lighting designer Dave Robkin and production stage manager Mimi Waddell. London is also credited for sound design and projections.

The West Coast premiere of MOM'S THE WORD is presented by Schenk You Very Much Production. The play was originally produced in Canada in 1996 and has had five sell-out seasons in Vancouver, completed four Canadian tours, and played to resounding sell-out success at the 2001 Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal. In 2003, MOM'S THE WORD played at the Albery Theatre in the West End of London. Productions have also played in Chicago, Minneapolis and Houston.

MOM'S THE WORD performs through November 8, 2009 at the El Portal Forum Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood. Performance schedule is Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3:00 p.m. All tickets are $25.00. Tickets are available by calling (818) 508-4200 or online at ElPortalTheatre.com. For information visit MomsTheWordLA.com.