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The production of my play "Who Lives?", which was performed in Los Angeles at the Pico Playhouse during the month of March, has earned five Ovation Award nominations. The Ovations are Los Angeles' top theatre awards. A play can earn nominations if enough L.A. Stage Alliance members see the production and then vote for the play.

I'm stunned the production has earned so many nominations because this production is up against some big theatres and great shows over the past year. "Who Lives?" was well-funded, thanks to producer Lori Hartwell of the Renal Support Network. All elements of the production worked smoothly together thanks to co-producer Brett Fisher and director Joe Ochman. The play was well publicized and well-attended, thanks to Lee Wochner and his company CounterIntuity.

Thank you, too, to all the others in the production, including those nominated: Catherine Glover (Best Costume Design), Jeremy Pivnick (Best Lighting Design), Will Pellegrini (Best Scenic Design), Jeffrey Porter (Best Sound Design), and for best lead actor, Matt Gottlieb, who played the difficult role of lawyer Gabriel Hornstein.

This play--about the anonymous committee of ordinary citizens who had to choose among victims of kidney disease to be the first human beings to test kidney dialysis on a long-term basis--had a sensitive production thanks to its leadership and its actors.

Kudos go to the whole cast: leads Monica Himmel and Matt Gottlieb, violinist Richard Adkins, and to those who played the committee members: Matt Crabtree, Dale Wade Davis, Alice Ensor, Rachel Kimsey, R. Martin Klein, Tracey Rooney, and John Timmons.

The play is published, and perhaps there will now be future productions. To learn about the true events and medical history  behind his play, go to http://www.wholivesplay.com/downloads/BEHIND_WHO_LIVES.pdf.