'Love, Loss, And What I Wore' Returns to Redlands Theatre Festival

Nora and Delia Ephron's award-winning play about women's relationships and their wardrobes is back by popular demand at this summer's Redlands Theatre Festival in Prospect Park. The play, which is being staged for four performances opened Aug. 5 and runs through Aug. 21 in the outdoor Avice Meeker Sewall Theatre, is in repertory with five other plays and musicals during the 42nd anniversary of the festival. Organized as a series of monologues and a cast of six principal women, the play uses clothing and accessories, and the memories they trigger, to tell funny and poignant stories that all women – and even men - can relate to. The play, based on the best-selling book by Ilene Beckerman, uses the female wardrobe as a time capsule of a woman’s life, including past identities, previous body shapes and hopes taken or abandoned. "'Love, Loss and What I Wore' is a kind of scrapbook with a rich subject matter that is far-reaching," said director Galuszka. "The issues of mother/daughter relationships, high heels, bras, love, marriage, divorce and even rape are never explored at a very deep level, but will hopefully inspire more in-depth thought and conversation on the way home from the theatre." Director Galuszka also takes on a role in the reader's theatre production. And like her sister, Candice Cabanilla (who is directing the show "Romance Romance" this summer), grew up with the Redlands Theatre Festival because her father, Cliff, is its founder and now producing director. Her mother, Karen, has acted in festival productions for many years and appears in the summer show "Love, Loss and What I Wore," which Galuszka is directing and appears in as well. In addition, Galuszka has taken on more of the managerial aspects of the Redlands Theatre Festival from her father. "Love, Loss, and What I Wore" made its way Off-Broadway in 2009, where it ran as the second-longest show in the Westside Theatre’s history. It won the 2010 Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience and the 2010 Broadway Audience Award for Favorite New Off-Broadway Play. In addition to director Galuszka, others in the cast are Karen Cabanilla, Sandra Rice and Carol Damgen, Redlands; and Cathy DeBrule, Running Springs. Galuszka, who like her sister Candice Cabanilla (who is directing the show "Romance Romance" this summer), grew up with the Redlands Theatre Festival because her father, Cliff, is its founder and now producing director. Her mother, Karen, has acted in festival productions for many years and appears in the summer show "Love, Loss and What I Wore," which Galuszka is directing and appearing in the show as well. In addition, Galuszka has taken on more of the managerial aspects of the Redlands Theatre Festival from her father. In addition, there's a one-night only concert, Down on the Corner, on Aug. 17 featuring the RTF band and singers. All performances are at 8:30 p.m. in Avice Meeker Sewall Theater, Prospect Park, Cajon Street and Highland Avenue, Redlands. Single tickets are available in advance or at the door (space permitting) for $20. Student (with ID) and child tickets are $16. All tickets are $15 on Tuesdays. Tickets are available at the Redlands Theatre Box Office at Prospect Park or by calling (909) 792-0562.