One Love Story, Three Possibilities

The Last Wide Open Debuts at Theatre NOVA

ANN ARBOR, MI -- What if love isn’t about destiny—but timing? Theatre NOVA, Ann

Arbor’s resident nonprofit professional theatre specializing in new plays, presents the Michigan

premiere of The Last Wide Open by Audrey Cefaly, a tender, time-bending romance unfolding

across parallel possibilities. The production runs May 22 – June 14, 2026.

Across three brief acts, the lives of weary waitress Lina and immigrant dishwasher Mikołaj

intersect in three different versions of the same connection—each shaped by choice, chance,

and circumstance. Blending humor, heart, and a touch of theatrical magic, The Last Wide Open

explores how even the smallest moments can alter the course of a life.

Performed with live music by the actors themselves, the production weaves song into the

storytelling, creating an immediate and intimate theatrical experience.

The production stars real-life partners Josie Herman as Lina and Michael Alan Herman as

Mikołaj, bringing an added layer of authenticity and connection to this deeply felt story. Natalie

Rose Sevick appears as Stagehand, supporting the show’s live music.

Actor Josie Herman says: “The Last Wide Open is a rollicking good time. It explores choices

driven by fear and by love—and how those choices shape our lives. The show plays with the

relationship between actors and audience in a way that reminds you theatre is alive in the

room.”

Actor Michael Alan Herman says: “The Last Wide Open digs into love with this earnest,

profound truth. It doesn't shy away from grief, hope, fear, joy, and all the other feelings that

come together to make love - giving the audience a nuanced look into the lives of two people

with an authentic sincerity that many rom-coms don't dare to explore.”

Directed by Diane Hill, one of Theatre NOVA’s Producing Artistic Directors, the production team

includes Briana O’Neal (stage manager), Craig Hane (set designer/builder), Jade Guerriero

(lighting designer), Toni Davison (costume designer), Kat Walsh (intimacy director), and

Avalon McNew (assistant to the lighting designer).

Diane Hill says: “It’s a love story, but not a conventional one—it’s about possibility, connection,

and the many versions of ourselves we might have been. We’ve all wondered about the ‘what

ifs.’ This play brings those questions to life in a way that’s both theatrical and deeply human.”

Blending humor, heart, and music, The Last Wide Open offers a fresh take on the love

story—one that celebrates not just finding the right person, but finding the right moment.

The Last Wide Open runs May 22 – June 14, 2026 at Theatre NOVA (410 W Huron St, Ann

Arbor). Performances are Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 3pm and 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm.

General admission tickets are $30, $25 for 65 and over, and $15 for students with student IDs at

the door. Tickets are available at TheatreNOVA.org or at the theatre box office one hour before

each performance. Seating begins 30 minutes before each performance. There is ample free

parking and convenient access to downtown Ann Arbor’s restaurants, bars, bakeries, and coffee

shops.

Theatre NOVA’s mission is to raise awareness of the value and excitement of new plays and

playwrights and to provide resources for playwrights to develop their craft by importing,

exporting, and developing new work. This activity is supported by the Shubert Foundation, the

Michigan Arts & Culture Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.