Intiman Theatre Stages New Comedy JOHN BAXTER IS A SWITCH HITTER, Now thru 9/27

When local gay softball league favorites the Seattle Fireflies go up against the champion San Francisco Hornets, an all-American pastime turns into an impromptu inquisition as one team halts the game to accuse their opponent of having too many "straight ringers" on their roster.

The 2015 Intiman Theatre Festival continues in full swing tonight, August 20 - September 27 at The Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center with John Baxter is a Switch Hitter: a big, new comedy by local playwrights Ana Brown and Andrew Russell, inspired by an outrageous-but-true story that hits close to home: the 2008 Gay Softball World Series held in Seattle.

Previews for John Baxter is a Switch Hitter begin Wednesday, August 18; media are welcome at all opening weekend performances, August 20-23; closing is Sunday, September 27.

New this year, Intiman offers $20 tickets for a wide variety of patrons, including artists; students and educators; nonprofit employees; retail/service industry employees; government/public sector employees; and members of the military. Single tickets and discount festival passes are on sale now at intiman.org or call (206) 315-5838.

Veteran Seattle director Rosa Joshi leads a vibrant cast of 18 local actors ranging from festival veterans like Adam Standley and Charles Leggett, to other well-known Seattle artists like Reginald André Jackson and Chris Ensweiler.

"Like many classic American plays, John Baxter is a Switch Hitter directs a very focused lens into one specific community in order to reflect universal truths about the larger world," says Joshi. "Through the metaphor of the great American pastime, Ana and Andrew ask us: If people of goodwill can't get to the first base of co-existence, what hope is there for any of us? It's a big question - posed with incredible humor, joy, and theatricality in this big play - that challenges us to embrace a broader sense of humanity."

John Baxter is a Switch Hitter is the latest installment of Intiman's popular "Start Up Stagings" new play initiative (Miracle!, Stu for Silverton), dedicated to commissioning, developing, and producing new works that represent Intiman's mission to champion diverse protagonists.

Intiman's Community Partner for John Baxter is a Switch Hitter is the Pride Foundation, a regional community foundation that inspires giving to expand opportunities and advance full equality for LGBTQ people across the Northwest.

The 2015 Intiman Theatre Festival, The Hunt Is On, explores how communities treat those who live on the fringe; it began in July with a critically acclaimed, immersive restaging of Tennessee Williams' Orpheus Descending at 12th Ave Arts on Capitol Hill.

The festival continues September 9-27 with Lillian Hellman's controversial classic The Children's Hour - re-set by director Sheila Daniels in 1980s Seattle - performing in repertory with John Baxter is a Switch Hitter at The Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center.

Robert O'Hara's breakout hit play Bootycandy - a semi-biographical, subversive satire that weaves together scenes, sketches, and daring meta-theatrics to portray growing up gay and black - concludes the festival September 16 - October 3 in the Alhadeff Studio at Cornish Playhouse.

Cast (in alphabetical order):

Alex Brown Luke

Mason Brown Kevin

Moises Castro Alex / Office Guy 3

Drew Combs Josh

Chris Ensweiler* Neil / Steven

Brace Evans* Richie

Bradford Farwell* Bret

Meme Garcia Morgan / Mascot / Others

Reginald André Jackson* Tim / Office Guy 2

Isaiah Johnson* Mike / Office Guy 4

Charles Leggett* Franklin

Rafael Molina Dance Instructor / Others

Michael Place* Carl / Brad / Office Guy

Betsy Schwartz* Charlie

Riley Shanahan John Baxter

Jasmine Jean Sim Rose / Others

Adam Standley* Lyle Webb

Tyler Trerise Sam

Creative Team:

Writers Ana Brown & Andrew Russell
Director Rosa Joshi
Scenic Designer Jared A. Roberts
Costume Designer Melanie Taylor Burgess
Lighting Designer Robert J. Aguilar
Sound Designer Matt Starritt
Choreographer Marc Kenison
Softball Coach Alex Garnett
Fight Director Peter Dylan O'Connor
Production Stage Manager Whitney Breite*
Stage Manager Jessica C. Bomball*
Assistant Stage Manager Rachael Dorman*

*denotes member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

Intiman is a professional and socially progressive theatre that produces an annual theatre festival that is relevant to our time, and as diverse as the community in which we live.

In 2014, Intiman presented a 20th anniversary production of both parts of Tony Kushner's epic Angels in America; and won a Seattle Times Footlight Award for Top Mainstage Play.

In 2013, Intiman won the Seattle Times' Footlight Awards for Best New Musical and Great Performances for its production of Stu for Silverton, a new musical about the first openly transgender mayor in America heralded by the Times as "groundbreaking."

Another 2013 festival play, Trouble in Mind - written in 1955 by celebrated African-American playwright Alice Childress - had one reviewer weeping through the curtain call, calling it theatre that "bring[s] us face-to-face with our collective humanity."

For more information, visit intiman.org and follow Intiman on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

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