Within Arm’s Reach

An original play adapted from the novel by Ann Napolitano

When unmarried, 29-year-old Gracie discovers she is pregnant, her decision to keep the baby has repurcussions on all of the women in her family - her younger sister, her mother, and, particularly, her grandmother.

Three generations of women in an Irish American family, find themselves at pivotal times in their lives where every decision is fraught with consequence. Within Arm’s Reach relates the events of six months in the life of The McLaughlin family. When unmarried, 29-year-old Gracie discovers that she is pregnant, her decision to keep the baby affects her entire family, particularly her younger sister, Lila, and their Grandmother, Catharine. Lila, reeling from her sister’s decision finds herself struggling to find direction and meaning in her own life and Catharine, sensing her time may be coming to an end, is desperate for this new baby to bring the family together in a way that nothing else can; and Gracie just hopes she can hold fast to her decision for another ten minutes, the remainder of the day, for the rest of her life. Can a flawed family, who have trouble connecting with each other, be a source of solace to these women?

WITHIN ARM’S REACH featured (in alphabetical order), Mary Anisi, Kassianni Austin, Erin Evers, Michael Bryan Hill, John L. Payne, Lucinda Rogers, Alyssa Simon, Sheila Stasack, Luke Wise.

Production Photos from Within Arm’s Reach

Within Arm’s Reach ran for 12 performances at the Secret Theatre in LIC, NY in March, 2014. The production was nominated for two 2014 NY Innovative Theater Awards – Best Lighting Design: Alexandra Mannix and Best Supporting Actress: Alyssa Simon.