"LUSH!" is the story of the first woman in AA, written and directed by Valerie-Jean (VJ) Hume.

 "LUSH!" is the title of VJ's play about Marty Mann, the first woman to join Alcoholics Anonymous.  Everyone knows about the two men who started it, Bill W. and Dr. Bob....but who was the "first lady"?  Born to wealth and privilege in Chicago, she wound up a homeless drunk on a park bench, due to her battle with the bottle.  AA had begun a few years before, but it was "men only", and nobody then believed women could be alcoholics!  Marty had to fight for her place in The Program.  She went on to found the "National Council on Alcoholism" or "NCA", in 1944.  Now called "NCADD", it still exists today.  Headquartered in New York, its 100 affiliates nationwide work to educate America about alcohol and drugs.

 "LUSH!" has been performed at such Recovery Centers as the world-famous "Betty Ford Center", The ABC Club, and "Michael's House" in Palm Springs...as well as "The Indio Performing Arts Center", "The Tolerance Education Center", and the "High Desert Cultural Center".  The cast contains three actors and one musician. 

The play is performed as "Reading Theatre", and audiences love the quick-changes of characters into different roles, with hats, wigs, accessories, and props. 

 "LUSH!" won multiple awards from the Desert Theatre League's "Desert Stars Awards". Ron Young, who plays “Dr. Bob”, and Dean Apple as “Bill W.” celebrated their Best Actor awards, and VJ was named Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, and was given the “Bill Groves Award for Best Original Writing”.  The original version of the play won “Best Overall Production of a Staged Reading”.  It later helped VJ win the "Sydney Harmon Award" for excellence.

 But it’s the message of “LUSH!” that moves audiences to tears and laughter.  It is a profound experience for people at any stage of their sobriety, and educates those who live with or love alcoholics. 

To see the trailer:  http://vimeo.com/72693137 

To book “LUSH!” please call VJ at (760) 861-9877.