Long Beach ‘44

Long Beach ‘44 was first produced by Washington Women in Theatre (WWIT) at The Warehouse Theatre in Washington, DC, in July 2007 as part of the Capital Fringe Festival.

WWIT presented a benefit reading of the play at the 1409 Playbill Café in Washington, DC, in 2008. Again directed by Karen Berman, actors included Matt Dunphy, Susan Lynskey, Steve Rosenthal, Mallory Goodman, and Catherine Baggs.

The event was part of an international celebration of women artists called SWAN (Support Women Artists Now) Day. "Women artists are inspiring. They can touch our deepest emotions or take us on a journey to a distant place or time," said Martha Richards, SWAN Day co-founder. "This day of celebration will help people imagine what the world would be like if women’s art and perspectives were fully integrated into all of our lives. The long-term goal of SWAN Day is to inspire communities to recognize and support women artists as a basic element of civic planning."

A memory play set in the beach town of Long Beach, NY, in the summer of 1944, Long Beach ’44 follows the adventures of two young Jewish cousins, modeled on Rausch and her dear cousin Carol, who discover a dangerous secret at the beach. Aided by their wounded G.I. uncle, back from the invasion of Normandy, they try to unravel the mystery while their uncle struggles to accept his new identity.