After They’ve Gone

Book & Lyrics by Lauren Kahane

Music by Paul Libman

When Andy and Deena’s youngest son, Ryan, leaves for college, Deena collapses into a pile of dirty laundry. But when Andy’s business fails, Deena pulls herself together and together Andy and Deena open Frenchify, a place where women go to learn to pretend to be French. The business takes off, but, distracted by worry over Ryan, who has a long history of depression, Deena fails to pull her weight. It is only when Deena is compelled to run Frenchify on her own, and Andy is consequently forced to respond to the emotional demands of their children, that they come to appreciate the burden the other has carried, allowing both the business and their marriage to blossom.