THE WHALE to Open 26th Season at Elly Award Winning California Stage

Fresh off winning an Elly Award for best production of a new script, California Stage opens the 26th season with the award winning play The Whale, Samuel D. Hunter's incisive look at love, relationships and religious intolerance. Starring Joel Mario Rickert and directed by Shawn O'Neal, it opens January 13th at 8pm. The Whale is the recipient of the 2013 Lucille Lortel Award, Best Play, the 2013 Drama Desk Award for Significant Contribution to Theatre and the 2013 GLAAD Media Award, Outstanding Theatre.

A 600 lb man slowly eats himself to death while teaching online writing courses from his apartment. He's visited by a friend, a family member and a stranger, each looking to save or be saved by him. Will his past issues prevent him from learning to live his life?

Elly winner O'Neal makes his CalStage debut, having received his award for The Pillowman at Big Idea Theatre. His work as an actor and director has been seen frequently in the Sacramento area. He received his training from The American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. Currently, Shawn is a Producing Artist at Resurrection Theatre and will be directing their upcoming production of 'Six Degrees of Separation' in addition to starring in 'God of Carnage'.

Actor Joel Mario Rickert is Sacramento-based actor, having worked in casting in Hollywood on several major motion pictures including "Fried Green Tomatoes" and "The Addams Family" and played roles in many independent films. He is a graduate of Sacramento State.

The Whale, by Samuel D. Hunter, will run Jan 13th through Feb 12th on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 P.M. and Sundays at 2 P.M. in The Three Penny Theater at the R25 Arts Complex, a three-venue center located at 1725 25th Street in Midtown Sacramento. Tickets are $12-$20 and may be purchased online at www.calstage.org or by calling (916) 451-5822. Group sales available upon request.