1st Stage Presents The World Premiere Of SWIMMING WITH WHALES

This world premiere production invites audiences into a world of healing, compassion, and renewal. While visiting his family's secluded cottage on the shores of the Atlantic ocean, Owen, a typically urban fifteen-year-old boy, and his fisherman father clash until an unlikely and healing communion with an injured whale awakens in Owen a forgotten boyhood and connection with the sea.

Playwright, Bob Bartlett is a Washington, DC based dramatist. His work has been produced and developed at The Kennedy Center, The O'Neill Theater Center, Atlanta's ALLIANCE THEATRE, The Lark New Play Development Center, Seven Devils Playwrights Conference, Theater Alliance, Rep Stage, Spooky Action Theatre, and The Capital and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals. He is the 2018 Playwright-in-Residence at New Voices for the Theater, an affiliated artist with the National New Play Network, and a member of The Dramatists Guild of America. He is a founding member of The Welders, a DC-based, producing playwrights collective.

The 1st Stage production of Swimming With Whales by Bob Bartlett features the return of Teresa Castracane, Jessica Lefkow, and Matthew R. Wilson to the 1st Stage stage. Nate Shelton and Ethan Miller make their 1st Stage debuts. 1st Stage Artistic Director, Alex Levy directs the production.

The design team includes: scenic design by Kathryn Kawecki, costume design by Debra Kim Sivigny, lighting design by Robbie Hayes, sound design by Sarah O'Halloran, and properties design by Cindy Landrum Jacobs.

Swimming With Whales will run at 1st Stage from May 31 through June 24 with show times as follows: Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays at 8 pm, Saturdays at 2 pm and 8 pm, and Sundays at 2pm.

General admission tickets are $33. Senior (65+) tickets are $30. Student and military tickets are $15.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.1ststage.org or by calling the 1st Stage box office at 703-854-1856.

The run time is approximately 2.5 hours with one 15-minute intermission. Closed captions and audio description will be offered for select performances. Check www.1stStage.org for the schedule.

Swimming With Whales is the fifth production in 1st Stage's 10th Anniversary season. It will be followed by the 2nd Annual Logan Festival of Solo Performance featuring nationally celebrated solo performers from July 12-22, 2018. The festival features Brahman/i by Aditi Brennan Kapil, featuring Aila Peck with music by Thom Dunn, directed by M. Bevin O'Gara, The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey by James Lecesne featuring Jeffrey Plunkett, directed by Kate Alexander, and Where Did We Sit On The Bus? written and performed by Brian Quijada.

About 1st Stage:
Now in its 10th Anniversary Season, 1st Stage Theatre is an award-winning professional theatre in the heart of Tysons, Virginia. The company serves as a cultural hub for the community producing first-rate theatrical productions as well as hosting professional musicians, orchestras, and visual artists, and providing educational opportunities for the community. Awards include the American Theatre Wing National Theatre Company award, Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play in 2018, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Play in 2017 and 2016, Outstanding Director of a Musical and Outstanding Lead Actor in 2015, and the John Aniello Award for Outstanding Emerging Theatre Company in 2010. 1st Stage is a member of the Catalogue for Philanthropy class of 2016-2017. In September 2016, The Wall Street Journal called 1st Stage "one of America's most impressive smaller regional companies." The Washington Post named 1st Stage's production of Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train among their list of the "10 Best Washington Theater Productions in 2017."

For more information, visit 1st Stage online at www.1ststage.org or follow the theater on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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