Jessica DiGiovanni to Lead MELISSA'S CHOICE, Coming to The Lion This Spring

Casting for Melissa's Choice, a new play by award-winning playwright Steven Somkin, is now complete. The production opens May 5 for a limited run at Theatre Row's Lion Theatre, 410 West 42nd St.

Set in a remote campsite of a national forest in Oregon, Somkin's protagonist, 28-year-old Melissa Golden, a lawyer, women's rights advocate and staunch environmentalist who believes in population control, must face the consequences of an unplanned pregnancy and her own surprising reaction to it.

Somkin, a former physician, has provided a unique backdrop for this humor-laced drama, and has populated it with a rich diversity of characters. In the process he attempts to alter the way we approach the discussion about reproductive rights, which too often gets trivialized as a "pro or con" issue. The play also opens the door for deeper conversations addressing what it means to love another human being, how we choose to meet life's challenges, and how we as individuals handle complex issues and make decisions that affect others.

Melissa's Choice is a co-production of the Worcester Shakespeare Company and the Golden Squirrel Theater. Mel Cobb will direct a cast that includes Jessica DiGiovanni (Bike America) as Melissa; Ari Butler (Ethel Sings) as Tad, Melissa's lover and partner; Jed Orlemann (The Assembled Parties) as Duffle, Melissa's former lover; Stephen Bradbury (Final Analysis) as Clyde, the somewhat goatish, aging cowboy; Kim Sykes (Pariah, 2011 Sundance official selection) as Melba, the no-nonsense forest ranger and campsite manager; and Gilbert L. Bailey II (The Book of Mormons) as Billy, Melba's son, an athletic musician who happens to be gay.

Tickets for Melissa's Choice are available through Telecharge, www.telecharge.com or by calling (212) 239-6200. Performances are scheduled May 5 - 22.