Created by Mark Morgan, the Artistic Director of New England Light Opera, and Ken Proctor, this premiere recording features 14 songs from the new musical Smooth Sailing, with two additional bonus tracks. THE STORY Act I - Stage actress Katherine Greer and her novelist ex-husband Owen Chase, lately seen together again, have been chosen 1928’s Couple Of The Year, and a rumored party at her Manhattan penthouse has all proclaiming We’re Going. Owen, fearing they’re drifting back into marriage and another painful disaster, has tickets to sail for Paris the next morning with his friend Antonio. Though he hasn’t told Katherine yet, she already knows, having discovered the lease to a Paris apartment in his sock drawer, which she confides to her friend Serena. Partiers arrive, agreeing Ain’t This The Life? Katherine and Owen recall the spectacular fights they had when married in This Is Our Dance. Katherine discovers that Phoebe, a girl hired for the party, is the daughter of an old friend from her humble past, and invites her to the party as a guest. Phoebe dreams of the sophisticated world and longs to step Inside. Katherine and Owen relive a song from when they first met, in Serena’s high-spirited Throw It All Away, and Phoebe appears, beautifully transformed. Owen embarrasses Phoebe and she flees, but in the hallway upstairs he learns she loves his writing. Owen is annoyed when Katherine tells him to stay away from Phoebe and, in Rien, imagines himself in Paris alone, crooning his sad story in a smoky cabaret. Owen finds Phoebe in the rooftop garden and learns she dreams of becoming a writer and living in Paris. Phoebe recites a favorite love Sonnet, and they almost kiss. It emerges that Antonio and Serena once had a brief, torrid affair, and now each is avoiding the other. Katherine finds Owen and, as an argument builds, partiers toast The Couple Of The Year, which ends with Katherine throwing him out. Act II - Partiers note the absence of their hosts, but carry on with Take My Heart / Live It Up. Upstairs, Katherine regrets throwing out Owen and tells Serena she is disillusioned with her success and wants a life with Owen -- even children. She reflects on all that A Woman These Days can do, then goes off in search of Owen. Late into the night, a drunken Antonio, attempting to forget Serena, revives the party as he claims I Don’t Need Love. Owen is impressed with Phoebe’s writing and invites her to come with him to Paris. In separate spaces, Owen reflects sadly on the ending of his time with Katherine, while Katherine hopes for, and Phoebe contemplates, A Life Together. Desperate to keep Owen from sailing, Katherine tries to trick him into believing she’s pregnant. The scheme backfires and a fight ensues, Late In The Game. After Owen storms out, Phoebe appears and tells Katherine she has left Owen a note telling him she has decided not to go with him to Paris. At dawn, as Katherine surveys the remains of the party, Owen returns. He has read Phoebe’s note and given up the idea of Paris. Antonio and Serena will sail that morning, to wed in Paris. Katherine has given Phoebe a ticket to sail, too. Their future uncertain but hopeful, Katherine and Owen recall the times they’ve shared, and all reflect that It’s Been Grand.