"Fat Pig" Set to Open at Spotlighters

Spotlighters Theatre presents Neil LaBute's "most emotionally engaging and unsettling play, Fat Pig. Ben Brantley of The New York Times calls the play, "a serious step forward for a playwright who has always been most comfortable with judgmental distance."  LaBute's sharply drawn play not only critiques our slavish adherence to Hollywood ideals of beauty, but also boldly questions our own ability to change what we dislike about ourselves.  

• About the Show

"How many insults can you hear before you have to stand up and defend the woman you love?" Tom faces just that question when he falls for Helen, a bright, funny, sexy young woman who happens to be plus-sized — and then some. Forced to explain his new relationship to his shallow (although shockingly funny) friends, he finally comes to terms with his own preconceptions of the importance of conventional good looks.

• About the Playwright

Neil LaBute was born in Detroit, MI, on March 19, 1963. When LaBute was a child, his family moved to Spokane, WA, and during his high school days in the Pacific Northwest he developed a keen interest in both writing and theater. After graduating from high school, LaBute received a scholarship from Brigham Young University, in Provo, UT, which was founded and is still overseen by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known to many as the Mormons. LaBute received a degree in Theater and Film at B.Y.U., and converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while a student. LaBute went on to graduate work at the University of Kansas and New York University, and participated in a writing workshop at London's Royal Court Theatre, as well as attending the Sundance Institute's Playwright's Lab at N.Y.U.

His controversial works include the plays Bash: Latter-day Plays, The Distance from Here, The Mercy Seat, Autobahn, and This Is How It Goes. His films include: In the Company of Men, Your Friends and Neighbors, Nurse Betty, and Possession.

• About the Cast and Crew

This intimate ensemble of four, brings three Spotlighters veterans back to the stage, and introduces a new actor to Spotlighters' intimate space.  Audience members will recognize R. Brett Rohrer from the January 2006 production of Months on End also directed by Robert Russell. As Tom, Brett, has to face his own conflict and struggle between love and conforming to social pressure. Brett was last seen as the Baker in Into the Woods at Laurel Mill Playhouse. Favorite credits include Lt. Daniel Kaffee in A Few Good Men (Magical Productions), Danny Zuko in Grease! (Laurel Community Theater), Little Harp in The Robber Bridegroom (Burtonsville Players), and Leslie Arthur in Love, Sex, and the I.R.S. (LMP).

Also returning to the Spotlighters stage is Todd Krickler, who was seen in The Mineola Twins, this past April. Todd's character Carter in Fat Pig often speaks what many of us more politically correct folks would never say. Some of Todd's favorite roles include Procter in The Crucible (Liberty Showcase), Hogan in Hungarian Trilogy (Mobtown Players), The Pirate King in Pirates of Penzance (Charles Street Players), and George Bailey in It's A Wonderful Life (Pasadena Theater Co.).

Rounding out the veterans in the cast is Courtney Ryan, who, as Jeannie, is the perfect specimen of ideal beauty. She struggles with the loss of her office boyfriend, Tom - and with the insult that he dumped her for Helen. Courtney was last seen on the Spotlighters stage in an original work by PS Lorio, DICK, The Musical. She has studied theatre at Circle in the Square Theatre School, Lancaster University (UK) and The College of Notre Dame of MD, where she received her B.A. in Theatre and English. She will be attending University of California, Santa Barbara in the autumn to earn her M.A. in Dramatic Art. Favorite past credits include: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Hermia), Popcorn (Brooke), Romeo & Juliet (Juliet) and Antigone (Ismene). Courtney can be seen next month in Cockpit in the Court's production of The Foreigner.

Erin Riley makes her Spotlighters' debut as Helen, the object of Tom's affection in Fat Pig. A 2001 graduate of The College of Notre Dame of Maryland, she holds her B.A. in Theatre Studies jointly with The Nuffield Studio at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom. Previous favorite roles include Ana in Real Women Have Curves (Catonsville Theatre Company), Lady Macduff in Macbeth (The Mobtown Players), Tzara's Ghost in Splitting the Rim (Second Skin - Edinburgh, Scotland), Mistress Overdone in Measure for Measure (Loyola College) and The Nurse to Courtney Ryan's Juliet in Romeo and Juliet (The Mobtown Players). In her spare time, Erin has been a director, costume designer and make-up/hair artist for several companies in the area including Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, The Mobtown Players and Seton Keough High School, where she was the Artistic Program Director from 2001 - 2007.

Robert Russell, director, has years of theater experience in both Howard and Baltimore County, and has been a regular contributor at the Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theatre for decades.  Fat Pig is Stage Managed by Leah Chester with Assistant Stage Manager, Ivan Lawson.

• About Fat Pig Events and Services

A Talk Back Session is scheduled with cast and creative team of Fat Pig on Sunday, June 24 following the 2PM matinee. This is an opportunity for audience members to ask questions regarding the production, the performance, the process and the characters.

Audio Description for the Visually Impaired is available upon request. Please contact the theatre two weeks in advance so that arrangement may be made to provide the service. (There is no additional fee for this service).

• Ticket Information

Tickets may be purchased online at www.spotlighters.org - TICKETS or at the Box Office one hour prior to each performance. Tickets may be placed on Will Call by phoning the theatre at 410-752-1225.  Reservations are strongly recommended. Cash and Credit Cards are accepted at the Box Office.

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