Susan Gross premieres solo show RUBY Oct. 22 & 23

Susan Gross is an actor and writer whose solo show RUBY premieres tonight, Sunday 10/22 @ 8 PM and will be performed on Monday 10/23 @ 8 PM as part of Tongue in Cheek's Plus 1 Festival. Tickets are $18 at www.tictheater.com and call 1-800-838-3006 (note that each night of the festival features 2 shows for the price of 1 ticket). We asked Susan to tell us more about her piece and process.

What's RUBY about?
It's a very bare-it-all piece, part comedy and part drama, about a woman's struggles with anxiety, body issues, and coming to terms with whether or not she wants to have a baby.

What inspired you to write it?
It's a very personal story that I needed to tell for myself, and hopefully, others will relate to it. I have always performed in the theater. I recently took a stand up class, and liked the idea of being on stage by myself, storytelling, but without the anxiety of constantly hoping a joke would land.

Funny story about your piece?
I filmed a teaser trailer for RUBY with my husband, sort of guerrilla-style. I wanted to convey the loneliness I feel when I want a child and it seems like everyone around you has one. So we walked down to the park in our neighborhood and I saw a stroller next to the water. I told my husband to film me next to it.  A few moments later, someone came over and snatched it away. I had to laugh. It was the perfect metaphor for what I'm going through, so we kept that moment in the trailer.

How did you come to collaborate with TIC?
I had auditioned for TIC before and then ran into producing artistic director Jake while standing in line for a casting. We hit it off and wanted to collaborate. I feel very lucky to be supported by this company and have Jake direct RUBY as well.