At the top of the show, we meet Amy, a housewife and mother played by Shannon Warne. She swings into the first musical number, "In Her Shoes/This Time" and is soon joined by Julia, a career woman, played by Jennifer Leigh Warren, who sings of her job pressures. Next enters Sissy, a struggling writer, played by Lindsay Alley, who is single but not by choice, followed by Carly, played by Alet Taylor, a yoga instructor who is single by choice. Last comes Lizzie, played by Kim Huber, a married woman from a smallish town. Each woman sings her character introduction in this clever opening number and immediately we get a sense that these are five intensely different characters played by five intensely talented actresses.

Over the course of the show, the women speak and sing of their individual lives. In the second number, "Story Of My Life", Sissy sings of the deadline she’s on to write a biography of another writer. In "An Herb For Everything", Carly sings of the powers of herbs. "A Baby For Bobby And Me" is a particularly nice number sung by Lizzie about motherhood. All five women excel individually in vocalizing their lives and gradually opening up their dreams. They are all great belters, especially Julia in the title number "Having It All". The ensemble numbers are most exciting, with five part harmonies soaring in "Date Is Just A Four-Letter Word", "In Her Shoes-The Choice", and the finale, "Where I Am Today". There’s not much in the way of elaborate choreography, save for the aforementioned "Date Is Just A…", but this is not a dance show, it’s a show of lyrics, music and vocals. The instrumental backing is just a piano, probably played by Musical Director Gregory Nabours. Director Richard Israel has done a good job in staging the women so each one has their moments in the spotlights. The idea of setting the work in the waiting area of an international airport is clever on several levels. Airports symbolize change for me, and these five women are on the cusp of changing their lives. They also symbolize anticipation; these five are brimming with it.

HAVING IT ALL is a great choice if you are a musical fan who listens to the lyrics. It could benefit with a little more choreography, but that’s minor. It’s really enough for these five actresses to toe their marks and sing. The transition each character goes through as they help each other to self-discovery is marvelous. It’s a musical with a point of view and has the power to inspire us to create something better with our lives. It plays now through April 24^th, 2011, at the NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 3 PM. Tickets are a bit steep at $40, can be purchased by calling 323-960-7776 or visiting www.plays411.com/havingitall