WHY WE HAVE A BODY Opens 2/17 at Edgemar Center

Lili's a private eye. Her specialty is divorce cases, investigating adulterous husbands. But Lili herself is having an affair with a married woman, Renee, who is (or was, up until this point) a heterosexual.

Lili has a sister, Mary, a career criminal who compulsively robs convenience stores at gunpoint. But Mary is trying to make an effort at having a non-criminal life. For this, she will have Lili's assistance.

More than anything, Lili and Mary want to be family. But their mother, Eleanor, is forever exploring cultures in some other country or on some other continent, while Mary and Lili long for their Mom.

Claire Chafee's elegant, richly humorous comedy is all about love: romantic love, family love, sibling love, lesbian love, sexual love (see the title), and the sometimes strange but wonderful things that we do to satisfy our deepest desires and longings. Funny, sexy and occasionally poignant, "Why We Have A Body" will make you, like Lily and Renee, want to keep coming back for more.

"Why We Have A Body" is Claire Chafee's best-known play. It premiered in San Francisco in 1993, when it enjoyed a very long run, and was successfully revived there last year. It also played off-Broadway. Ms. Chafee's other plays include "5 Women on a Hill in Spain," "Darwin's Finches," and "Even Among These Rocks."

Set and lighting designs: Joel Daavid. Sound design/Original music: Edward Auslender.  Stage Manager: John McCormick. Assistant stage manager: Ben Chamberlain.

Three-time Emmy ® winner Barbara Bain ("Mission: Impossible," "Space: 1999," "Richard Diamond, Private Detective") plays Eleanor. She has won awards for her stage roles in "The Chairs," "Wings," and Samuel Beckett's "Happy Days."

Christie Lynn Smith plays Lili. She appeared in the recent film remake of "The Crazies" with Timothy Olyphant and Radha Mitchell and has frequently appeared on television ("General Hospital," "Undressed").

Julie Davis portrays Renee. She appeared at Edgemar in "Just 45 Minutes From Broadway" and will appear in its upcoming film version. She is perhaps best-known as a critically acclaimed director and writer of independent films, including "Amy's org*sm," "I Love You, Don't Touch Me!," and "Finding Bliss."

Tanna Frederick makes her directorial debut with "Why We Have A Body" and portrays Mary. A critically praised audience favorite, Ms. Frederick recently concluded a record-breaking long run starring at Edgemar Center in the title role of A.R. Gurney's "Sylvia" and, a year earlier, in Henry Jaglom's "Just 45 Minutes From Broadway." Her Edgemar debut, a year before that, was in Jaglom's "Always….But Not Forever." She previously appeared in Robey Theatre Company's "For The Love Of Freedom: Toussaint" and, at the Skylight Theatre, in "A Safe Place." Her extraordinary film career includes starring roles in "Hollywood Dreams," "Irene in Time," "Queen of the Lot" and the upcoming "Just 45 Minutes From Broadway," opposite Judd Nelson, due for theatrical release this summer. She has just completed filming principal photography on "The M Word," co-starring with Michael Imperioli and Corey Feldman. She is also the founder of Project Save Our Surf, as well as the prestigious Iowa Independent Film Festival.

WHAT: "Why We Have A Body." A comedy.

WHO: Written by Claire Chafee. Directed by Tanna Frederick. Produced by Alexandra Guarnieri. Presented by The Rainbow Theatre Company and Edgemar Center for the Arts.

WHERE: Edgemar Center for the Arts, on the Main Stage, 2437 Main St., Santa Monica, CA 90405.

WHEN: Previews February 10, 11, 12, 16. Opens Friday, February 17, 2012, runs through April 8. Regular show times: Thurs.- Sat. at 7:30 p.m., Sun. at 5:00 p.m.

ADMISSION: $34.99. A limited number of tickets will be available for each performance at the discounted price of $25.00.

RESERVATIONS: (310) 392-7327.

ONLINE TICKETING: www.edgemarcenter.org