The world premiere of Morgan Gould’s Jennifer Who Is Leaving opened, April 11, 2023, at Round House Theatre. Also directed by Gould, this production is a hilarious and deeply relatable dark comedy about the expectations placed on women, presented as part of the second annual National Capital New Play Festival. (For additional festival information, including details on the developmental readings, visit RoundHouseTheatre.org/Festival.)

Jennifer Who Is Leaving

Nan is working the night shift, fielding periodic calls from her retired husband with questions about reheating dinner and where his car keys are. Jennifer is trying to tune out Joey, her elderly patient who is relishing getting on her last nerve. And Lili is stressing out about her upcoming SATs. Set in a Dunkin Donuts on the side of a Massachusetts highway, Jennifer, Who Is Leaving is a familiar and hilarious exploration of the expectations placed on women; the physical, mental, and emotional labor of being a caregiver; and what happens when we reach our breaking point.

“Our comedy is a madcap celebration and rumination on invisible labor, swearing, donuts, Massachusetts, female friendship, and why men can’t find a DAMN thing in the fridge, cupboard, or anywhere in the house,” says playwright and director Morgan Gould. “I wrote it when I was sick of being the only one in my relationship who knew how to sort the laundry or how to change the vacuum bag, and I’m SO darn lucky to have Nancy Robinette, Floyd King, Kimberly Gilbert, Annie Fang, and the rest of the amazing Round House team to support this process. I can’t wait!”

The cast includes Annie Fang (Your Own Personal Genesis at LCT3/Lincoln Center Theater; and SHHHH at Atlantic Theater Company),Kim Gilbert (Oslo at Round House Theatre; and Trip to Bountiful at Ford’s Theatre), Floyd King (Amadeus at Round House Theatre; and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Shakespeare Theatre Company), and Nancy Robinette (Uncle Vanya at Round House Theatre; and Trip to Bountiful at Ford’s Theatre). Understudies for this production include Mary Myers, Mara Rosenberg, Vince Rossano, and Sumié Yotsukura.

The cast is joined by a brilliant creative team, some of whom are also designers for On the Far End: Scenic Designer Paige Hathaway, Costume Designer Ivania Stack, Lighting Designer Emma Deane, Sound Designer Justin Schmitz, Properties Coordinator Andrea “Dre” Moore, Dramaturg Lauren Halvorsen, Casting Director Sarah Cooney, Assistant Director Shana Laski, and Production Stage Manager Rachael Albert.