Tea For Three: Lady Bird, Pat & Betty

Runs May 12May 23, 2021
Written By:Eric H. Weinberger and Elaine Bromka
Approximate Running Time:75 minutes (no intermission)
Age Recommendation:12 and up. Contains adult language
Outdoor In-person tickets:$40
Virtual Access tickets:$20
Virtual On-demand Dates:May 19-23, 2021
Single Tickets Sales Begin:May 3, 2021
Subscriber-only Priority Booking Period:April 22-May 2, 2021

What is it like for a woman when her husband becomes the president of the United States—and she is suddenly thrust into the spotlight? This witty, sly and deeply moving play explores the hopes, fears and loves of Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon and Betty Ford. In three scenes taking place on the grounds of the White House just prior to the end of living there as the wife of a president, each of the women confides alone to the audience. Secrets are spilled about their early years, their husbands’ rise to power, their romances with the men, their unique paths as wives in the White House, and their feelings about imminent retirement. Each of the three portraits becomes intimate, by degrees, as the women wrestle with what Pat Nixon called “the hardest unpaid job in the world.”

Outdoor in-person

Tea for Three: Lady Bird, Pat & Betty will be staged outdoors in the Lucie Stern Community Center’s Patio to a live in-person audience, in accordance with the State of California guidelines. Audience members must follow all local and state health and safety requirements, including mandatory mask-wearing and social distancing. Seating is extremely limited to allow for social distancing. Current season subscribers have priority access beginning April 22 through May 2. Single ticket sales open online Monday, May 3 at 9:00 am PDT.

You must agree to COVID safety measures and warnings before purchasing tickets. See important details below. 

Virtual on-demand

The live performance will be filmed and available for online viewing on-demand May 19 at 9:00 am through May 23 at 11:59pm. Video access E-tickets will include a link to a password-protected webpage where the video will be screened. Virtual access tickets are non-transferrable and cannot be shared.

Select outdoor seats or virtual access from the show calendar. Please note that both in-person and virtual access ticket delivery for this show is via Email only. There are no in-person sales, and no Will-Call. All times are in Pacific Daylight Time.

Cast

  • Lady Bird Johnson: Gwendolyne Wagner
  • Pat Nixon: Gabriella Goldstein
  • Betty Ford: Patricia Tyler

Production Team

  • Director: Patrick Klein
  • Stage Manager/Technical Director/Production Manager/Lighting: Scott Ludwig
  • Costume Design: R. Dutch Fritz
  • Hair and Makeup Designer: Gwyneth Price Panos
  • Sound Supervisor: Jeff Grafton
  • Videographer: Grant Huberty

Teaser Trailer

Please read before purchasing tickets

Palo Alto Players will follow all health and safety protocols in the State of California’s COVID-19 Industry Guidance for Outdoor Seated Live Events and Performances.

• The group of seats purchased contains no more than ONE household.
• All members of the party must reside in the state of California.
• All members of the party must wear a well-fitting face mask over the nose and mouth at all times in the performance venue, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.
• All must maintain a minimum of six feet of physical distance from anyone not in their household during the entire visit.
• Any member of the party who has experienced—or has been in contact with a person experiencing—common symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 10 days is prohibited from attending the performance. Symptoms include fever (100.4 F and above) or chills; sore throat; new cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; diarrhea or vomiting; muscle or body aches; new loss of taste or smell.


COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place regardless of precautions that may be taken. Attending a performance at Palo Alto Players includes possible exposure to COVID-19 and other contagions, and any resulting illness or injury from it. By attending a performance at Palo Alto Players you, and your accompanying party, voluntarily agree to (1) assume all risks associated with COVID-19 and other communicable diseases, and (2) comply with all related health & safety policies and protocols of Palo Alto Players and the City of Palo Alto.

• Tickets can only be purchased in advance by visiting our website or calling the box office during normal business hours.
• There are no walk-up sales or Will Call ticket pickups. To reduce physical interaction, e-tickets (delivered via email) are the only option.
• To prevent physical contact at the venue, we will have touchless scanners at the door, with box office staff nearby to assist you. Present ticket on your phone (or bring a printed e-ticket). If you don’t have a smart phone, please contact the box office during regular business hours for alternate arrangements.
• We will email you two days prior to your show date with updates, parking information, instructions and reminders, plus a link to the online show program. This will ensure that you are informed of any updates to local or State of California guidelines for outdoor gatherings at the time of performance.
• Guests who are not feeling well or who have symptoms of illness should not attend events and will be allowed to exchange their tickets, receive a voucher for the streaming version of this show, or receive a voucher for the value of the ticket.

• Performances will be staged in the outdoor Lucie Stern Community Center’s Patio. The stage is twelve feet from the first row of seats.
• The open-air enclosed grassy patio will be assigned seating limited to no more than 25% capacity and arranged with chairs in 6-foot socially distanced groups of one and two.
• Seat pairs may only be occupied by members of one household. You must select all seats within a pair bubble to proceed with a purchase.
• Handicap accessible and companion seating is available, positioned on a level brick area.
• The Stern Patio will open for seating 30 minutes before show time.
• Restrooms will be available at the Lucie Stern Community Center, and occupancy will be limited to allow for safe social distancing. Restrooms will be sanitized before and after the performance.
• Seats, ticket scanners and the box office station will be cleaned and sanitized before each performance.
• No concessions will be sold at these performances, and no outside food or drink will be permitted inside the venue.
• Listening Devices will not be available. Unfortunately, our in-theater Assistive Listening Device system does not extend to the patio.

• The patio is entirely outdoors! Please check the Palo Alto weather forecast; wear layers and bring blankets, a hat, and gloves if evening temperatures may be outside your comfort range. There are no outdoor heaters at the venue.
• During matinees, any seat could be in direct sunlight during a performance; hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen are recommended.
• We will make every attempt to present each performance even if rain is in the forecast. In the event that we must cancel a performance due to imminent rain, we will make every effort to contact ticket-holders by email.

• Actors will perform unmasked from a raised open-air stage.
• Per State requirements, unmasked actors will maintain a minimum of 6 feet of physical distance from other actors unless they are fully vaccinated or tested for COVID-19 twice weekly.
• Palo Alto Players staff will be masked at all times and will maintain 6 feet of distance from each other and from theater patrons. Staff will submit daily health screening information, including temperature checks. Staff have the option to participate in a weekly COVID testing program.
• Anyone reporting COVID-19 symptoms or not feeling well will not be permitted to be at work at the theater.

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