The world premiere of Belinda Taylor’s Becoming Julia Morgan, a dramatic production about California’s most famous architect and the United States’ most famous woman architect, opens January 14, 2006 at the California Stage in Sacramento. From the press release:
BECOMING JULIA MORGAN is a two-act play for four actors. The role of
Julia will be portrayed by highly regarded Equity actress Janis
Stevens, who recently performed in an acclaimed run in New York City of
VIVIEN (about the life of actress Vivien Leigh). William Randolph
Hearst will be played by Equity actor James C. Anderson, who recently
returned for a tour with the Nevada Shakespeare Company. Grace Crow, a
California Stage company member will play Marion Davies and Peter
Playdon who recently starred in Carry the Tiger to the Mountain
with InterAct Theater Company will play many of the famous people known
by the reclusive architect brought to life in Ms. Taylor’s play.The
play chronicles the life and career of eminent California architect
Julia Morgan. Julia Morgan was an artist of great originality and
acknowledged integrity. She was an enigmatic woman with an elusive and
fascinating personality who pursued her career goals at a time when
architecture was exclusively a man’s profession. She worked 25 years
with William Randolph Hearst, designing and building the magnificent
Hearst Castle at San Simeon and built over 8oo public buildings and
homes throughout California. However this true
master architect battled ailments, and sexism in the early 1900s that
could have sidelined her career. See how she overcame these barriers in
this first full-length play on her life.
pictured: Julia Morgan with a baby elephant; my favorite photograph of her, and a scene not likely to be reproduced in the play.