Ms. McCarty writes with a unique comic voice, exploring the pitfalls and triumphs of human nature through laughter and wisdom. Her characters illustrate the eccentricities of every day life.
Bay Area Critics Circle member Charles Jarrett said: "…(McCarty) creates characters so believable and familiar that the audience becomes involved and wants to see the heartfelt solutions work…' In addition, Jarrett called Straight Laced a ".... spellbinding play, one that everyone should see." Kathryn G. McCarty
"Someday I'll be that little
old lady in the corner,
beating my cane on the table --
screaming 'Shit! Shit! Shit!"
WHEN WE DANCED
"Since he was cremated, Uncle Henry and I have never spent so much time together"
HENRY EVER AFTER
"That man is not a transvestite! He's a nun!" HENRY EVER AFTER
"Are you sure your pregnant and not just bi-polar?" WHEN WE DANCED
"We'll make you straight! Call 1-800-UR-Healed!"
STRAIGHT LACED
"Drive myself crazy? I'm already there!"
WHEN WE DANCED
"Good Christians cry for your mother. Good Christians don't hate anybody"
STRAIGHT LACED
“I got no time for bullshit.
There’s drinking to be done”
BESSIE SMITH: A LIFE
D E F I N I N G F O R M (1997)
Middle-aged siblings struggle over the care of their aging mother, in the early stages of Alzheimer's. Humor & Pathos combine in this exploration of changing family roles. (3 F/3 M).
T H E F I T T I N G R O O M (1998)
A peek inside a ladies dressing room in a voyeuristic perspective on the search for meaning, truth and the perfect pair of jeans. (4M/8F) 54 roles
"Top 10 of Bay Area Theatre, 1998," Pat Craig, Contra Costa Times
C R I C K E T O N T H E H E A R T H (1998)
Musical adaptation by 5 Bay Area Playwrights of Charles Dickens' Holiday Novella (4F/4M)
B R E A D B A K I N G T I M E* (1998)
One Act Verse and autobiographical play which combines independent monologues written over a period of 4 decades, dealing with the loss of a parent and time which divides us. (3W)
H E N R Y E V E R A F T E R (1999)
A comic examination of California Suburbia, when long-time neighbors of the late Henry Singer gather to honor a man they never really knew. (6M/5F)
M O D E R N W O O L Y M A M M O T H S* (2002)
A young girl and her Grandpa's battle of
strength and courage as the child is
returned to her Father after her lengthy
absence. A Film Short adaptation
"Paps and Teeny" was produced in 2005
and shown in several film festivals. (2M/1F)
F A U L T Y A N G E L S* (2000)
A grieving widower meets his younger self at a turning point in both of their lives. (2M)
W H E N W E D A N C E D (2002)
Surprise 40th Birthday party brings
together a group of collegiate friends
facing the challenges of the 21s Century, including: AIDS, Child-rearing,
Marriage and Work.
(7 F/1M) Contra Costa Review
B E S S I E! (2003)
BESSIE! celebrates a year in the life of the World's Greatest Blues Singer, Bessie Smith -- who took no prisoners as she graced stages across the country forever changing the face of music as we know it.
(5 F/6 M/Ensemble)
T H E L A S T H O O R A H (2003)
The bets are on -- and the stakes are high -- when Ike Craddock
proves to his punk rock-wanna be nephew that he can gather his
3 adult children under one roof for July 4th weekend. Dysfunctional Family Comedy at it's best. (5M/2F)
S T R A I G H T L A C E D : A C A N T A T A (2004) Review
An exploration of repartative therapy in an attempt to heal a young man of his homosexuality. Rossmoor News Critic Charles Jarrett writes: "Straight-Laced" is how perilously religious dogma and society's pre-conceived and prejudiced belief systems can affect the lives of those in our social structure. A must see play."
(8 M/6 W/Ensemble) the L A D I E S Q U I N T E T
(August 2005/2006) A series of five one act monologues for mature women. Contra Costa Times Critic Pat Craig writes: "McCarty has taken a remarkable change in direction with her latest work, "The Ladies Quartet," a quintet of short, solo works that are as achingly introspective as they are engaging......"Quartet" is ... a gentle, heartfelt show that examines the unguarded and quite revealing thoughts of five different women at different stages of their lives..... They range from touchingly funny ....to the bittersweet poignancy.....There is considerable laughter in all of the pieces, but it comes in bursts, between bouts of sadness and bitterness and the other emotional condiments that season a well-lived life....."
Actors in Photographs and Posters:
Dorothea Rastegar, Don Tamblyn, Catherine Roloff, Dave Kelleher, Nicki Passeggi, Chris Chapman, Rachel Pergamit, Alison Owens, Will Southard, Sonja Christopher, Laura Morgan, Shawn Creighton, Julie Holland, Sean Keehan, Ryan Makris, Bobby Jennings,
Helen Means, Adam Harrison,
Renae Klein, Mark Hinds, John
Andrew Stillions, Mary Ann Hayes, Katrina Krasser, Alice Kwong, Bridget Frederick, Sandy Patel, Carolyn Kraetsch, Sheilah Morrison, Janice Anderson & Patricia Quinn.
"There are no homosexuals -- just heterosexuals who deviate from the norm.."
STRAIGHT LACED
"Too bad they don’t make Republicans like Abraham Lincoln or Teddy Roosevelt anymore. The ones that even the Democrats vote for." THE LADIES QUINTET
"The most beautiful flowers grow in the most foul smelling soil on earth."
THE LADIES QUINTET
"Mama was a hippie before the word was invented."
THE LADIES QUINTET
Ms. McCarty's plays have been produced throughout the San Francisco Bay Area at Galatean Players Ensemble Theatre, Onstage Theatre, New Conservatory Theatre, Contra Costa College and The Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts, in Los Angeles at the Hudson Backstage Theatre and in Chicago at Cafe Voltaire and the Raven Theatre Complex.
Contra Costa Times theatre critic, and Bay Area Critic's Circle Member Pat Craig named her comedy The Fitting Room "One Of The 10 Best Of the Year In The Bay Area.""It's in my living will. Do not rescusitate - but damnit, keep my chin hair plucked!" THE LADIES QUINTET
R I V E T S
LIBRETTO/LYRICS BY KATHRYN G. MCCARTY, MUSIC BY MITCHELL COVINGTON (2008/2009) A Musical celebration of Rosie the Riveter and the Homefront Soldiers of WW2. Set in the Kaiser Richmond Shipyards, RIVETS explores the lives of the families left behind in WW2. Reviews include: “A Sweeping Story, beautifully staged” Pat Craig Contra Costa Times. “Wow! What a Show!” Charles Jarrett, Rossmoor News “Fascinating piece of history!” Sally Hogarty, Walnut Creek Journal (9 F/9M Expandable Chorus) Full RIVETS REVIEWS
M A I D S & M A T R O N S
The groom is hours late, the bride allergic to the
flowers, the Wedding Planner has designed
bridesmaid's dresses from hell, a severe storm
causes power outages and the deceased
town matriarch has taken up residence in the
bride's dressing room. A screwball comedy, written
in response to California's Prop 8, examining
the effects that gay marriage has on a family.
(11F/6 m)T H E P L A Y S
V I R G I N S A C R I F I C E S* (2002)
The lovely Bachelorette at table #1 is Shadow and she's lucky enought to have been dating for 25 years! These men that taunt her are just.... her imagination playing tricks on her ....as she awaits her blind date.(1F/3M)
(1F/3M)All across America,
the lights have dimmed
It's not defeat, we're building strength
That we need to win.
When you think you can't get through it,
You're ready to throw in the towel,
Wait a damn minute and say to yourself
Yes We Can Yes We Can Yes We Can!
RIVETS"Since I graduated I've been part time at Wilson's Funeral Parlor. It's a real quiet place. Nobody talks much." MAIDS & MATRONS
Proud member of The Dramatists Guild of America, Inc.
