Art of Leaving

In Art of Leaving, Anne Marilyn Lucas delivers a sharp, contemporary dramedy that explores what it means to walk away—from expectations, from relationships, and from the versions of ourselves we’ve outgrown. At the center is Aaron Katzman, a successful but deeply dissatisfied stockbroker who becomes entangled in the philosophy of a charismatic “male happiness” guru, while his wife Diana, an accomplished museum professional, begins to question the life she’s carefully built. As their marriage strains under the weight of reinvention, ambition, and long-buried truths, both are forced to confront what they truly want—and what they’re willing to lose to get it.

Balancing biting satire with heartfelt emotional stakes, the play examines modern identity, midlife reckoning, and the seductive promise of starting over. Lucas weaves humor through moments of vulnerability, skewering self-help culture and societal pressures while never losing sight of the human cost beneath them. Art of Leaving is a thought-provoking and darkly funny look at love, freedom, and the courage it takes not just to leave—but to choose what comes next.

Duration: 95 Min
Roles: 3F, 3M
Performance Group: Community Theatre, Professional
Setting: NYC Apartment

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