Things are a little stressful in Veronica’s afterlife. Depressed about the state of the world and her place in it, she kills herself, only to find that death is not much more relaxing. Sent back to earth to be reborn and try again, she tries resisting, but her afterlife guides aren’t having any of it—the universe has a job for her, she has a lesson to learn, and she’s going to do it, like it or not. In a funny, silly, and thought provoking journey, Veronica—or Miss Witherspoon, as her guide nicknames her—discovers there’s more to this life thing than she may have realized.

Playwright Christopher Durang is known for his remorseless skewering of contemporary American culture. A no-holds-barred comic genius, beneath his darkly funny surface burns a reformer’s zeal. With Miss Witherspoon Durang confronts the complications of the 21 st century, and forces us to consider our role in it. This world premier is the culmination of a process begun two years ago when McCarter first commissioned him to write a play, and will be directed by Artistic Director Emily Mann.

This guide includes information about the play and how it was written, as well as interviews with the artists who helped to create the production. We hope it will help make your trip to the theater a rich and engaging experience.