The play tells the true story of Nannie Doss, a woman later dubbed the “Giggling Granny,” whose search for love masked a series of murders. Framed as a character-driven solo performance, the work examines how charm and ordinariness coexisted with violence, presenting a portrait of a serial killer whose demeanor confounded public expectations.

The production stars Marilyn Chris, a Drama Desk and Obie Award winner, portraying Doss in a role written specifically for her by Marsha Lee Sheiness, known for PBS’s Theater in America. The play is directed by Jim Semmelman and returns to Theatre for the New City following a sold-out 2025 run. Marilyn Chris is also known for her long-running television role as Wanda Webb Wolek on One Life to Live.