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Birthday Club - Play Synopsis
FIVE WOMEN get together for their birthdays, each with their own story, to drink, celebrate, commiserate, and support each other as they negotiate through marriage, work, divorce, birth, kids, and solve the problems of the world.

Cheryl, Kathy, Emily and Abbie started Birthday Club five years ago when their friend, Jennifer, was diagnosed with cancer, as a support group to help her get through it. When Jennifer recently passed away, they had an opening for a new member. However, it’s not easy to join Birthday Club. Birthday Club is very exclusive, and there’s a three year waiting list. They bring in Sarah as a potential member, but first Sarah must make it through the “interview” and agree to abide by the eight rules of Birthday Club, to be considered an official member.

One by one we learn of their personal, work and family issues, and when it’s revealed that one of them went out with another’s husband, the Vodka hits the fan. The question is, will Birthday Club survive, or will Rule #5 end it forever.

Awards
Birthday Club was a FINALIST in seven playwriting competitions, including the Austin Film Festival Stage Play Competition, the Writer’s Digest Stage Play Competition, the ScreenCraft Stage Play Competition, the Mixing It Up Productions Playwright’s Contest, The Robert J. Pickering Award for Playwriting Excellence, the Santa Barbara Playfest and a WINNER in the TRU Play Reading Festival. The play had 26 Zoom readings in theatres around the U.S. and Canada from March, 2020 to August, 2021.

Reviews
“Any chance to see a group of women on stage together and I’ll take it!  The highly prolific writer Phil Olson’s latest play, ‘Birthday Club’ at The Group Rep, is hilarious, poignant and heartwarming…the women all have their own stories to tell, and they intersect, overlap and crash head on into each other with delightful abandon…It’s so wonderful to sit in a theatre and watch something this funny, especially after so many long months of live theatre nothingness…’Birthday Club’ is a perfect respite from our crazy world right now. Women being welcoming, warm, honest, fragile, warrior strong, totally authentic and absolutely hilarious!” 
- Samantha Simmonds-Ronceros, NOHOArtsdistrict.com

 “‘Birthday Club’ is more than a play, it’s a party and everyone is invited to join the fun. Because when the material is this hilarious and the cast this exceptional, I guarantee you will have a great time at ‘Birthday Club.’ Cheers!”  - Sarah Hovis, Rochester Media

 “The audience at a recent matinee performance included what looked like many groups of women, seated together and all having a great time. If you’re looking for laughs and raunchy fun, join the ‘Birthday Club’ and bring some friends!” -  Suzanne Angeo, Rochester Patch

 "It is a delight to work with such a wonderful cast! We have been laughing since auditions!… Laugh therapy is just what is needed for our community right now!”- Sue Hennessy, Artistic Director, Grand Marais Playhouse

 “Even though ‘Birthday Club’ is a primarily comedy-driven piece, the script allowed time for all the actresses to have an emotional beat…The absurdity of the situations kept the laughs regular, with a handful of adult jokes thrown about…it’s good to know that laughter is still alive and well on the stage.” - Guy Chapman, Navarro County Gazette

 "As a member of the Birthday Club that playwright, Phil Olson, based this play after, I have to say that Phil captured the hilarious essence, with some creative license to protect the innocent, of our real life birthday club. As our “designated driver,” Phil witnessed our shenanigans first hand. Having seen multiple productions of the play, the audience loves it, it’s hilarious and it’s a must see. But please don’t judge me. After all, it’s Birthday Club, and anything goes!” - Nancy Howland, Birthday Club member

 “I'm so happy, thrilled and honored to be part of a real-life story with my closest birthday club friends, sharing what women's lives are all about. This play is hilarious, heartwarming, and based on true events. Thank you, Phil Olson, for sharing what women endure in real life!!” - Cheryl Coullahan Birthday Club member

Town Players Production Audience Comments:

"Town Players production of Birthday Club was AMAZING!!!  I laughed so hard and there was even a part I got misty eyed. So many talented people up on the stage.  Thank you Town Players for a night of fun!" - Jen V.

"I wish we weren’t heading back to Wisconsin tomorrow so we could come back and watch it again!  It was so much fun and I was laughing so much!" - Frieda

"Birthday Club at the Town Players was awesome!! Naomi directed a great cast!!  Kayla would have been so proud!!  She was definitely smiling down on the whole production!!  Bravo!!" - Shahara R.

"We haven’t had this much fun in a long time!  We laughed so much!" - Alice

"Birthday Club was a riot to watch. Great performances ladies!" - Brenda

"Birthday Club was amazing!" - Debbie

"Such an awesome performance! Great job to each of you!!" - Tina

"Great show!" - Kristi

Playwright Bio
 Phil Olson grew up in Edina, Minnesota, was All-Ivy in football and track at Dartmouth College where he majored in mathematics, tried out for the Chicago Bears, went on to get an MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and pursued a business career while writing stage plays.

Phil has written 19 published plays that have had 600 productions in eight countries. Thirteen of his plays are published by Samuel French/Concord Theatricals, including: “A Nice Family Gathering,” "A Nice Family Christmas," “Mom’s Gift,” “Don’t Hug Me,” “A Don’t Hug Me Christmas Carol,” A Don’t Hug Me County Fair,” “Don’t Hug Me, I’m Pregnant,” “Don’t Hug Me, We’re Married,” "Don't Hug Me, We're Family," "A Twisted Christmas Carol," "Birthday Club," Love...or Best Offer" and “Polyester The Musical.”

His plays have won over 50 playwriting and theatre awards. Two of his plays have been adapted and optioned to made into feature films. Movie actor, Burt Reynolds, saw his play, “A Nice Family Gathering," and had it optioned. After his death, the director renewed the option. Cindy Williams (Laverne & Shirley, Happy Days) starred in a production of Phil's play, “Mom's Gift,” at the Meadow Brook Theatre in Rochester, MI, and is also under option. Phil has also sold two screenplays and script doctored three screenplays that were produced. For more info, visit PhilOlson.com