Photo Flash: THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL Extends Run At 3LD

"THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL" (www.diarytheplay.com) is a story about female sexuality and unabashed optimism. Told from the point of view of fifteen-year old Minnie, Diary tells the story of her growing up in the chaos of the 1970s, in the haze that is San Francisco. Minnie is incredibly bright and self-reflective. She is gut-wrenchingly honest, and curious about the world around her. And she has just begun an affair with her mother's boyfriend, Monroe. (The play contains mature themes that may not be appropriate for children.) Andy Webster in The New York Times called the play "reverently adapted by Marielle Heller, who also stars. The stage version does not - and cannot - encompass all of the details in the book, but the production at 3LD Art & Technology Center, laudably approaches its power. Ms. Heller long campaigned to secure the rights to the book, and, as directed by Sarah Cameron Sunde and Rachel Eckerling, she commands her part, conveying the exhilaration and despair of a teenager contending with a surging libido." Alexis Soloski in The Village Voice wrote: "Heller and her collaborators provide an affecting portrait of an artist as a very young woman."

Loren Novek at nytheatre.com said "the attention to detail in every element of the production-the absorption in this girl's psyche and her environment-are uncanny. I experienced (Diary) in a way that felt almost more like a happening than a traditional piece of theatre-which felt entirely the right way to experience this play" and Jason Fitzgerald in Back Stage wrote: "The great achievement of The Diary of a Teenage Girl, adapted from Phoebe Gloeckner's graphic novel, is to take the girl's point of view seriously. Neither sentimental nor judgmental, Diary presents Minnie Goetz as a smart, creative, passionate young woman, and the production's only agenda is to be true to her experience. We enter Minnie's most private spaces not to learn from her mistakes but to find poetry in the journey."

The five-member cast will remain: Marielle Heller (as Minnie), Jon Krupp (Pascal), Michael Laurence (Monroe), Mariann Mayberry (Charlotte), and Nell Mooney (Kimmie). On April 21, Arthur Aulisi will assume the role of Pascal when Mr. Krupp leaves to join the cast of New Georges' production of Emily DeVoti's Milk at HERE. The sets for Diary are designed by Lauren Helpern, the video design by C. Andrew Bauer, the costume design by Emily DeAngelis, the lighting design by Laura Mroczkowski, the prop design by Lauren Asta, and the sound design by Marcelo Añez. The general manager is Lisa Dozier and the production stage manager is Erin Maureen Koster. An exhibition of Phoebe Gloeckner's original artwork, curated by Bill Roundy, from her novel is being presented at 3LD in tandem with the production. The exhibition can be viewed in The Tube (which also serves as the lobby to the theater).

The complete schedule for "THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL" will be Wednesdays through Mondays at 8:00 PM, through May 1. Tickets will be $35.00 ($25.00 through April 12 only). The box office number for reservations is 1-866-811-4111 or diarytheplay.com.