June 13, 2009 Richmond Theatre, Surrey, UK "Before I turn 67 - next March - I would like to have a lot of sex with a man I like.  If you want to talk first, Trollope works for me". Jane Juska.  A Round-Heeled Woman:  My Late-Life Adventures in Sex and Romance Richmond Theatre Productions, an independent theater production company formed in association with Richmond Theatre and backed by Ambassador Theatre Group, has been involved in the commissioning of a number of new plays. One of these, commissioned by the company and Brian Eastman, is A Round-Heeled Woman based on Jane Juska's book A Round-Heeled Woman: My Late-Life Adventures in Sex and Romance. Juska, who lives in Berkeley, California, taught English for more than forty years in high school, college and prison. Her book relates her real-life experiences when she posted this ad in The New York Review of Books: "Before I turn 67 - next March - I would like to have a lot of sex with a man I like. If you want to talk first, Trollope works for me". She received 63 replies, from men aged between 32 and 84.  See a video conversation from Monday, May 28, 2003 with Juska. Sharon Gless optioned the rights to the book, and asked British playwright, Jane Prowse, to adapt the novel as a play which resulted in the brilliant stage adaptation.    A rehearsed reading of A Round-Heeled Woman was held at the Richmond Theatre on June 13, 2009 and Sharon flew to the UK between filming episodes of Burn Notice to read the role of Jane Juska.                                                                                                                   L -  Sharon on stage at the play reading on 13 June 2009    |     R - Book author Jane Juska photo copyright (c) Jon Freeman  Playwright Jane Prowse at the reading Sharon, with five other actors playing the roles of Juska's suitors and friends, read from a seated position to a small audience.  The stage directions were read by the actors, to help the audience visualize what the action would be in a staged performance.  The play runs for approximately 90 minutes, without an intermission.  The actors take a bow After the reading, there was a question and answer session with the playwright and actors and the audience were asked to give feedback.  This included observations that the play dealt with far-reaching topics of universal appeal about attitudes to aging and living life, and that it delivered the empowering message that you can make your dreams come true. Jane Prowse (left) honors the actors after the reading The reading was directed by Chris Smith and the roles as follows were read by: Sharon Gless (Jane Juska) Jane Bertish (Celia, Jane's Mother, Dr V, Library Reader) Jessica Martin (Nathalie, Miss Margaret Mackenzie, Houskeeper, Cabbie, Stripper - Tempest Storm, Library Reader) Peter Marinker (Lone Party Man, Waiter, Jonah, Sidney, Mr Rubb, Tom, Library Reader, Second Library Official) Jay Benedict (Old Party Lady, Danny, Jane's Father, Robert, Mr Maguire, Sour Faced Librarian, John) Alec Newman (Old Party Lady, Second Waiter, Dance Teacher, Andy, John Ball, Graham) Question and answer session with the audience, and (L to R):  Brian Eastman, Jane Prowse, Jane Bertish, Jessica Martin, Sharon Gless, Chris Smith, Alec Newman, Jay Benedict, Peter Marinker Read a personal account of the event from a fan's perspective Read Jane Prowse's article about how A Round-Heeled Woman became a play. READ MORE  on the A Round-Heeled Woman : the play  official website..   Photo of Jane Juska copyright (c) Jon Freeman Photos of reading copyright (c) JAD 2009 - Please do not reproduce without permission from the copyright holder - Note Prowse's first novel Hattori Hachi: The Revenge of Praying Mantis was published in June 2009 and is about a 15 year old girl living in Camden, London in the UK, who finds she's the last in line of a family of important ninjutsu warriors.  It's for age 10 up - but some adults will get something out of it too with its Zen philosophy and kick-ass action heroine!  You can order it at your local library or buy or review it on Amazon US or Amazon  UK. Her second novel, Hattori Hachi: Stalking the Enemy, will be published in spring 2010. Learn more at www.hattorihachi.com