Dawn Wells, Dee Hoty and More Set for SJ Rep's LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE, Beg. Tonight

San Jose Rep presents its sassy and sentimental summer hit Love, Loss, and What I Wore. The cast features Dawn Wells (Mary Ann from Gilligan's Island), Zuzanna Szadkowski ("Gossip Girl"), Tony-nominated Dee Hoty (Mamma Mia and TV's "Smash"), Sandra Tsing Loh (off-Broadway Aliens in America and NPR's "The Loh Down on Science") and Ashley Austin Morris ("Ugly Betty" and "The Electric Company"). The off-Broadway hit makes its Bay Area premiere tonight, July 19 - July 28, 2013. Press opening night is tonight, July 19, 8:00 p.m.

Written by the late Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron and directed by Karen Carpenter, this collection of stories is based on the best-selling book by Ilene Beckerman, as well as recollections of the Ephrons' friends. Vanity Fair says this show is "Witty and wise" and Forbes Magazine calls it "An act of brilliance! A must see!" Honored with a 2010 Drama Desk Award and a Broadway.com Audiences Award, Love, Loss, and What I Wore uses clothing and accessories and the memories they trigger to tell funny and often poignant stories that all women can relate to.

"I'm thrilled to bring these talented stars to the Rep's stage to recant these very moving, funny and satirical stories by the talented Ephron sisters," said Rick Lombardo, San Jose Rep's Artistic Director. "Our audiences are very fortunate to be treated to four of the five actresses who starred in this show in New York City, and we're also delighted to welcome back Sandra Tsing Loh to the Rep's stage."

Dawn Wells returns to Love, Loss, and What I Wore after runs in New York City and Chicago. Wells is best known for her role as Mary Ann on "Gilligan's Island." She's also a producer, author, spokesperson, journalist, motivational speaker, teacher and Chairwoman of the Terry Lee Wells Foundation in Nevada. Wells has starred in 150 television shows and seven motion pictures, recently completing "Hotel Arthritis." She's also starred in more than 60 theatrical performances including Chapter Two, They're Playing Our Song, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, Fatal Attraction (w/ Ken Howard), Love Letters (w/ Peter Marshall & Adam West), The Vagina Monologues and Ouiser in Steel Magnolias. Upcoming projects include two reality shows and a book, "Why We Love Mary Ann," to be released late 2013.

Zuzanna Szadkowski recently joined the New York cast of Love, Loss, and What I Wore. She's best known for her role as Dorota in the CW's hit drama "Gossip Girl" and was voted #7 in Rolling Stone's "50 Reasons to Watch TV." Other television credits include "Guiding Light," "The Sopranos," "Law and Order," and "Law and Order: Criminal Intent." Theatre credits include Polybe + Seats and Object Collection, Olly's Prison at A.R.T., directed by RoBert Woodruff, The Transfiguration of Benno Blimpie at A.R.T. and Spring Awakening in Moscow.

Dee Hoty appeared in the second anniversary New York cast of Love, Loss, and What I Wore in 2011. Hoty has earned three Tony nominations for starring roles in Footloose, The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public and The Will Rogers Follies. She starred on Broadway and in eight major U. S. cities as Donna in Mamma Mia! Other Broadway credits include: Bye, Bye Birdie (Roundabout), City of Angels (Outer Critics Circle Nomination), Me and My Girl, Big River, The Five O'Clock Girl, and Shakespeare's Cabaret. She just completed Rich Girl, a new play at the George Street and Cleveland Play House where she was inducted into the Cleveland Play House Hall of Fame. Her film and television credits include "Smash," "Elementary" and "Law and Order."

Sandra Tsing Loh's two solo off-Broadway hits include Aliens in America and Bad Sex with Bud Kemp. Loh's other solo shows (Geffen Playhouse, Seattle Rep, San Jose Rep) include Sugar Plum Fairy and Mother on Fire, which inspired her New York Times notable book. Her Best American Essay 2012 on menopause will be published as a book, "The Madwoman in the Volvo," in May 2014 by W.W. Norton. A well-known commentator for Ira Glass' "This American Life" and NPR's "Morning Edition," she is currently the host of the popular syndicated daily radio science minute, "The Loh Down on Science."

Ashley Austin Morris's career began off Broadway, performing in the hit Die Mommie Die! opposite Charles Busch and in various shows including Love Loss, and What I Wore, which featured legendary comedians Rosie O'Donnell, Sherri Sheppard and Judy Gold. Morris has made numerous appearances in television shows including "The Good Wife," "Desperate Housewives," "Ugly Betty," "I Just Want My Pants Back" and "The Big Bang Theory." Feature film roles include "Art Machine," "Generation Umm" with Keanu Reeves, and the soon-to-be released "Premium Rush" with Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Morris is also a stand-up comedian who performs in clubs across the country, including in her sold-out run of her show So Close...In a Parallel Universe in New York's DR 2 theatre. She was recently named New York's 2013 Best New Comic. Morris is currently playing Francine Caruthers on the seven-time Emmy Award-winning PBS series, "The Electric Company" and can be heard as the voice of Francine on the cartoon "Prankster Planet."

Nora Ephron (Playwright) was a journalist, novelist, playwright, screenwriter and director. Her screenwriting credits include "Julie & Julia," starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams; the Oscar-nominated "When Harry Met Sally," "Sleepless in Seattle" and "Silkwood. Her books include "I Feel Bad About My Neck" and "I Remember Nothing."

Delia Ephron (Playwright) is an author, playwright and screenwriter whose credits include "The Lion is In" and the best-selling book "How to Eat Like a Child," which was adapted into television and children's musicals. She's written fiction and non-fiction, humor (for adults, teens and children), including the novels "Hanging Up" and "Big City Eyes." Her screenwriting credits include "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," "You've Got Mail" and "Michael."

Ilene Beckerman (Original Book and Drawings) was nearly 60 when she began her writing career. Her articles have appeared in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Ladies Home Journal, and many other places. Her books have been translated into German, Japanese, French and Portuguese. She has done spot drawings for the New Yorker and her art has been included in exhibitions at the Museum of the City of New York.

Karen Carpenter (Director) directed Steel Magnolias at Paper Mill Playhouse and was the Associate Artistic Director for seven award-winning seasons at The Old Globe. She's directed many critically acclaimed productions including: Splendour; Two Sisters and a Piano; Smash; Betrayal; As You Like It - producing all, including Nora Ephron's Imaginary Friends. She received the Director's Choice Award at the NYMF for Top of the Heap. She directed and conceived and curated Inge: Complex at the William Inge Theatre Festival. She's also directed at Arena Stage, CenterStage, Huntington, Seattle Rep, Williamstown and Martha Graham. Concerts include Hear Art/See Music Live! and Riot of Spring (conceived/scripted)at Indianapolis Symphony. She was the Creative Producer of UN/WHO global campaign: Deliver Now for Women and Children, inaugural Clinton Global Initiative and was on the faculty at Yale University Drama Department from1991-1996.

Tickets are on sale now and range from $23 to $69. Full-time students receive 50% off each ticket. Group discount is offered for 10 or more. Special offer for subscribers is good through July 1. To purchase tickets, go to www.SJRep.com or call 408-367-7255. Season packages are on-sale for the 2013-2014 Season of Innovation.

San Jose Rep is the flagship theatre of San Jose and the only fully professional, non-profit theatre company in the South Bay, presenting seven main-stage productions each year. Now in its 32nd year as a major contributor to the South Bay's cultural community, San Jose Rep's mission is to engage, entertain, and inspire people. San Jose Rep produces innovative theatrical performances that offer fresh perspectives into the human condition, educational programs that promote lifelong learning, and outreach initiatives that benefit our diverse community.

Pictured: Dee Hoty

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