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Jeffrey Aldana, Peter Green and Julie Thaxter-Gourlay are cast onstage at the Darien Arts Center, while Jac-que Robinson orchestrates lighting and Carin Zakes directs the musical by Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire.
The story examines how parents-to- be experience the emotional stresses and triumphs, as well as the desperate lows and comic highs that accompany the anticipation and arrival of a baby. Three couples work their way towards parenthood under three very different circumstances: college students, barely at the beginning of their adult lives; thirty- somethings, having trouble conceiving but determined to try; and middle aged parents, looking forward to seeing their last child graduate from college when a night of unexpected passion lands them back where they started.
Aldana, who plays Nick Sakarian, one of the thirty-somethings, was born and raised in Port Chester. Aldana discovered his ability to sing when auditioning for the local opera "Amahl and the Night Visitors," where he went on to perform the lead role of Amahl for three years. Subsequent theatre roles have included Jesus in "Godspell," Linus in "Charlie Brown," Bobby Strong in "Urinetown," and Benny Coffin in "Rent," among many others at local Westchester theatres. In addition to working as a sales executive for Baldor Specialty Foods, Aldana is also a Christian pop/rock artist.
Green plays Alan Mcnalley, the husband of the older couple. An early graduate of SUNY Purchase’s Theatre Conservatory, Green has been involved in community theatre in Westchester and Fairfield Counties since 1996 as actor, director, and teacher. He has directed in the past two seasons at DAC Stage with "Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris," and "You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown." He has been seen previously in "A Month In the Country," "Six Degrees of Separation," and "Almost Maine." Along with Carin Zakes, he is co- producer and artistic director of the Rye-based summer Shakespeare program, LawnChair Theatre.
Thaxter-Gourlay plays the doctor in the production and is also part of the ensemble. Her recent credits include "Glengarry Glen Ross," "Twelfth Night," "Other Desert," "Julius Caesar," and "Romeo and Juliet." Her film and TV credits include "Law and Order: SVU," "Whipped," "Freeze Out," and "The Four Corners of Nowhere."
Also cast in the production are Billy Shubeck, Hilary Webster, Danielle A. Valdes and Lisa Spielman. Ensemble roles also include Jonathan Hall, Regina Elliott, Alison Soderquist, Beth Brandon, Michele Salustri and Juan Londoño.
"Baby" is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International.
Performances are on April 21, 22, 28, 29 and May 5 and 6 at 8 p.m., and April 23 and 30 at 2 p.m. in the DAC Weatherstone Studio at 2 Renshaw Road, behind the Darien Town Hall.
Tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for students at darienarts.org. For more information, call the DAC at (203) 655-8683.
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