Hit Stage Play Sacrificing Simone Addresses Child Abandonment

Los Angeles, CA, May 12, 2015 (Newswire.com) - Abandoned Baby Found Outside Pasadena Medical Center, Woman in Custody After Leaving Baby on Subway Platform, Mother is Charged With Abandoning Infant, Newborn Girl Found Abandoned Near Southern California. These headlines are indicative of a serious issue that profoundly impacts the lives of children—abandonment. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, in spite of safe places around the country, where babies can be dropped without question, children ranging from newborns to toddlers, are still being abandoned in dumpsters, garbage cans, and sadly, public bathroom toilets.

What would possess a parent to throw away their child like unwanted garbage? According to family services, the prime reasons are poor parenting skills, a lack of housing, substance abuse and a lack of financial resources. In Sacrificing Simone, all but four—substance abuse— can be attributed to Link and Natalie Turner abandoning their daughter, Simone.

"Writing the play served two purposes. It helped me to come to terms with the idea that I would never have biological children, and it provided me with a forum wherein I could show audiences how child abandonment has a harrowing effect not only on the abandoned child, but on everyone the parent encounters going forward."

Alretha Thomas, Writer and Director

In Sacrificing Simone, Lincoln and Natalie Turner have it all—a mini-mansion, a burgeoning law practice, and three healthy beautiful children. Their accomplishments are a combination of education, hard work, and to their shame and embarrassment, the sacrifice of their daughter, Simone. As struggling, young students, Lincoln and Natalie's plans are derailed when Natalie discovers she's with child. Unable to care for a child and desperate to pursue their dreams unencumbered, the couple does the unthinkable. Fast forward two plus decades and the emotional and spiritual ramifications of their decision continue to haunt them. In a twist of fate, their secret is revealed resulting in the unraveling of a web of deceit and denial.

Award-winning author, Alretha Thomas, the writer and director of the play, says her own fertility issues inspired her to pen the play that the Los Angeles Times calls an inspirational crowd pleaser. Thomas says she was stunned by the number of children who are abandoned each year and found it a tragic irony that want-to-be mothers like herself at the time, were doing everything humanly possible to conceive while other mothers were doing everything humanly possible to get rid of their children.

“Writing the play served two purposes. It helped me to come to terms with the idea that I would never have biological children, and it provided me with a forum wherein I could show audiences how child abandonment has a harrowing effect not only on the abandoned child, but on everyone the parent encounters going forward,” Thomas said.

Thomas, also a published author, has written numerous plays, including the hit play, “One Woman, Two Lives,” that starred Kellita Smith of the Bernie Mac Show.

"Sacrificing Simone will capture the minds and hearts of all ages," said Executive Producer,  Vivian Baker. The play, which features a cast of colorful characters will make you laugh, cry, and shout out loud as the story creatively unfolds," Baker added.

Performances are at Porticos Art Space June 12-27. Friday’s @ 8pm and Saturdays @ 2pm @ 8pm. Porticos Art Space is located at 2033 E. Washington Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91104. General admission tickets are $25.00. Seniors 65 and up and youth 5-18, tickets are $18.00. And $30.00 at the door. For reservations, group rates and more information regarding Sacrificing Simone, please call 310-429-4981. Get tickets now @ http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1466041.