When Ilene Beckerman was 60 years old, she wrote a memoir about her life before she had children. (She has five.) Titled “Love, Loss, and What I Wore,” the book, her first, was not only a best seller, it was adapted for the stage by Nora and Delia Ephron. Four more books have followed.
Ms. Beckerman, who is about to turn 90, first worked with Michael Disher, the creative director of Center Stage at the Southampton Arts Center, on a production of “Love, Loss, and What I Wore,” which Mr. Disher directed in 2012 at the Southampton Cultural Center. By all accounts, it was “the beginning of a beautiful friendship” as well as a fruitful collaboration.
“Sex: What She’s Really Thinking,” written and conceived by Ms. Beckerman with Mr. Disher, premiered in 2014 at the cultural center. That play engaged with the unspoken thoughts women and men have when sexual subjects arise.
Their second collaboration was “Mom, It’s My Wedding,” which takes a look at the happy and stressful aspects of planning a daughter’s wedding. That was produced at the cultural center in 2015.
Their third project, “Gingy’s Diaries,” will premiere, in workshop form, Friday through Sunday at the Southampton Arts Center. Gingy, who can be characterized as Ms. Beckerman’s alter ego, first appeared in “Love, Loss, and What I Wore,” and is the narrator of “Gingy’s Diaries.”
“This new gem of a show shines a light on the highlights of Gingy’s life, what she’s seen, what she’s lived and what she’s learned — a glorious kaleidoscope of memories, wit, and observations,” said Mr. Disher. “The show traverses a landscape rarely explored — a woman facing 90 who’s lived a lifetime but still faces each day with audacious energy and sass, chatting about sex, lipstick, and the moments that have defined us all, as we look back on decades well lived.”
Each woman in the cast represents a portion of the pages in Gingy’s diaries. Collectively, they embody the words, feelings, and ideas of Ms. Beckerman. The cast members include Myers Bartlett, Patty Greene Brockman, Susan Cincotta, Vay David, Dorit Margalit, Deborah Marshall, Dolores Reilly, and — this is not a typo — Tom Gregory, who portrays Gingy’s godfather, a curmudgeon whose own insights are both entertaining and true.
Taken from the actual pages of Ms. Beckerman’s diaries, the show includes musings, reflections on the world and women, and insights gained from a long life that has yet to slow down.
Performances will take place Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7, and Sunday at 2. Tickets are $20, $15 for members.
Open Auditions
Mr. Disher will hold open auditions for non-union actors for “Dracula, a Radio Play,” an adaptation by Philip Grecian of Bram Stoker’s 1897 Gothic horror novel, on Sunday at 5 p.m., following the final performance of “Gingy’s Diaries.” Auditions will begin promptly; latecomers will be seen at the discretion of the director. There will be readings from the text, and sides will be provided.
The cast includes seven men and three women; among them, of course, the Count. Accents will be required of all characters. Rehearsals will happen in September and October, and performances will take place between Oct. 17 and Oct. 26.
It has been suggested that auditioners wear clothing and shoes suitable for an audition and have a flexible schedule. More information is available from [email protected].
