Palisades Playwright's Love Story 'Raise Me Up' Premieres Friday

Do you believe in love at first sight? Do you believe in soul mates?

By the time the final curtain falls, you may believe. A true story about a "moonstruck" couple’s forbidden love, the hilarity and drama from their deeply passionate Italian-Greek families, and how they spent their last day on Earth together. The world premiere of Raise Me Up by Palisades Playwright Lisa Phillips Visca is a touching tribute to her parents, Louis and Daphne Padula, capturing their eternal passion.

It plays weekends through May 19, 2013 at Santa Monica Playhouse and starts tonight, Friday, May 3 at 8 p.m. It had its first reading at Theatre Palisades.

The story also shows the surreal end to her parents lives when they were struck and killed by a truck while crossing Temescal Canyon Road, ironically, on their way to Theatre Palisades.

"For as long as I can remember, writing created a world I wanted and when necessary I could escape a world that existed," Visca said. "The words flowed like ice water traveling through my veins, invigorating me to my very core. Every day, it was my constant, unwavering companion, but I could never imagine the paramount effect writing would have in my life."

Set in Staten Island, NY, in the early 1950’s, Raise Me Up reflects the post-war optimism of the younger generation of the era, and the hope in the air for better times. At the same time, it shows the older generation and parents still anchored in the traditional ethnic, nationalistic, economic and religious divisions. These divisions mirror the uncertainty of today's political and economic times where the younger generation is fighting its own battle to hold on to that same hope, to fulfill their dreams, and to share their lives with a partner of their choosing.

"I grew up believing that fate brought my parents together from different cultures and different worlds on the Staten Island Ferry," Visca said. "Their love triumphed over the forces of tradition, prejudice, and the cultural mores of the time. Defying convention and expectations, my parents found the courage to follow their heart and get married."

"More than a love letter to my parents, it’s a timeless story about finding, fighting for and following your passion – the kind of passion that brought Louis and Daphne’s love story to the stage," she added.

Visca's plays Raise Me Up (2012) and Sophia (2010) were showcased by Theatre Palisades. Another play, Turning Thirty, was selected for the Palisades Playwrights Festival in 2011. She wrote, directed, and produced the TV pilot Sophia. Feature films include the suspense thriller Climax, the romantic comedy Turning Thirty and More Than a Pretty Face, and the screwball farce Fishin’ Musicians. The film version of her play Raise Me Up is in development with MRJ Films, directed by Vince Marcello.

For more information on the Santa Monica Playhouse, visit its website.

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