Gualala Arts invites audiences to experience the wit, warmth, and wisdom of Women of a Certain Age, a new two-act comedy written by longtime theatre director Steve Duprey. The production runs February 6–15 at Gualala Arts Center and promises a spirited exploration of friendship, family, and the unexpected turns life can take.

Directed by Cathy Cassetta—the play follows four lifelong friends as they navigate love, aging, and the future with humor and heart. As their lives shift and collide, the women face choices that challenge their bonds and redefine what it means to grow older with grace and grit.

“This is a story about reinvention,” says Cassetta, who is making her directorial debut at Gualala Arts. “It’s funny, it’s poignant, and it celebrates the enduring power of friendship.”

The cast features Katherine Conrad, Dayle Farina, Judi Johnson, and Lisa Phillips—four seasoned performers who bring depth and charm to their roles.

Family-friendly and appropriate for ages 10 and up, Women of a Certain Age is more than a comedy—it’s a celebration of resilience, reinvention, and the laughter that carries us through.

With Women of a Certain Age, Cathy Cassetta brings over five decades of experience in theatre and television. Her career includes producing over150 productions, directing 100+, choreographing, performing, and writing, as well as teaching theatre and dance at all grade levels. She is excited to direct her first production at Gualala Arts. In the 1990s, she created/produced/co-hosted the weekly Bay Area TV series Theater This Week and, in 2001, founded The Tabard Theatre Company in San Jose, for which she served as artistic director and/or executive director for 20 years. Her early career in the television industry included working at Paramount Pictures, Paramount Television, NBC Entertainment, and Merv Griffin Productions. Gualala Arts audiences may recall her performance in Tabard’s production of Love Letters that she brought to Gualala Arts in February 2019. Many in the Gualala/Sea Ranch area know Cathy through her work as a sound healer and yoga teacher, specializing in Yoga for Healthy Aging

Steve Duprey has been directing theatre for over 45 years. Seeking richer, more substantial roles for older women, he began writing plays—and thus, Women of a Certain Age was born, marking the start of his playwriting career. Today, his catalog includes 13 full-length plays and numerous short works. Notable titles include Men of a Certain Age, Hummingbird in the House, Dear Uncle Harpo, and Second Sock Syndrome. Steve holds a BA in Theatre Arts from Nazareth College of Rochester and an MFA in Directing from Syracuse University. He taught Acting and Communications at Hobart and William Smith Colleges as well as Finger Lakes Community College. Now happily retired, he spends his days writing, painting landscapes, and enjoying life with his wife of nearly 45 years, Cindy.

Meet the Cast

Katherine Conrad

Katherine caught the acting bug when she was 8 and appeared as a blind girl in The Miracle Worker. Throughout school, she acted every chance she got, often playing leads until she realized that character actors had more fun. In the Bay Area, she was cast as Helen in “The Seven Year Itch” and as a witch in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Moving to the Sea Ranch in 2020 made all Katherine’s theatrical dreams come true and she has taken full advantage, appearing in The Sea Ranch Thespians’ Looking, Ladies Foursome, and Close Encounters. At Gualala Arts Center, she appeared in Radio Gals and last winter’s Fiddler on the Roof when she played Yente the Matchmaker. She is thrilled to be cast in Women of a Certain Age and hopes everyone will enjoy this sweet story.

Dayle Farina

Last seen on the stage at Gualala Arts Theater (GAT) in the 2024 musical revue, The Greatest Show, Dayle is happy to be back as part of this cast of amazing women.  Dayle has appeared in GAT’s productions of Radio Gals and Jekyll & Hyde the Musical, was co-director of La Cage aux Folles, and stage managed Guys and Dolls. Growing up in community theatre, Dayle has participated in plays and musicals in theatres around the Bay Area, in Kauai, and here in Mendonoma.  Dayle, who is retired from The Sea Ranch Association (TSRA), lives on the coast with her husband Bill and proudly performs locally, singing with CoastSing and The Coastalettes, and tap dancing with The Taptations. 

Judi Johnson

Judi is delighted to return to the Gualala Arts Center as part of the Women of a Certain Age ensemble. Previous Gualala Arts Theater roles included Golde in the beloved Fiddler on the Roof,  the Burt Bacharach revue What the World Needs Now, The Greatest Show revue and Rennabelle in Radio Gals. Last spring she played Miss Riverton in The Sea Ranch Thespians’ production of The Way of All Fish. This was her third show in the White Barn, previously appearing as Myra in Deathtrap, and swinging a golf club with her castmates as Margot in The Ladies Foursome.

Lisa Phillips