Samuel D. Hunter's THE WHALE Makes Baltimore/DC Area Premiere at Rep Stage, Now thru 2/1

Rep Stage, the regional theatre in residence at Howard Community College (HCC), continues its 22nd season with Samuel D. Hunter's "The Whale", directed by Helen Hayes award winner and Rep Stage veteran Kasi Campbell.

Since the death of his partner, a morbidly obese man confines himself to his small apartment on the outskirts of Mormon Country, eating himself into oblivion. Desperate to reconnect with his long-estranged daughter, he reaches out to her, only to find a viciously sharp-tongued and wildly unhappy teen. Championed by the Associated Press as "Compelling, funny, and unexpectedly impactful," "The Whale" tells the story of his redemption and of finding beauty in the most unexpected places.

"The Whale" has completed critically acclaimed productions at the Denver Center Theatre and Playwrights Horizons in New York, and will now have its Baltimore/DC area premiere at Rep Stage.

"The Whale" opens tonight, January 14, 2015, with a limited run through February 1 in the Studio Theatre of the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center (HVPA) on the campus of HCC. For tickets and additional information, visit www.repstage.org or call the box office at 443-518-1500. Press performance is Friday, January 16 at 8 p.m. For press reservations, contact Mike Scrivener in the Office of Public Relations and Marketing at mscrivener@howardcc.edu or 443-518-3133.

CAST:
Charlie: Michael Russotto*
Liz: Megan Anderson*
Mary: Susan Rome*
Ellie: Jenna Rossman
Elder Thomas: Wood Van Meter

ARTISTIC TEAM:
Playwright: Samuel D. Hunter
Director: Kasi Campbell
Set Designer: James Fouchard**
Light Design: Jay Herzog**
Sound Design: Neil McFadden
Costume Designer: Jessica Welch
Properties Designer: Dre Moore
Stage Manager: Julie Debakey Smith*
Assistant Stage Manager: Jean Compton

* Members Actor's Equity Association
** Member of United Scenic Artists, IATSE

ABOUT REP STAGE - Rep Stage, a professional regional theatre in residence at Howard Community College, is celebrating its 22nd season. The company is a member of the League of Washington Theatre, the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance and Theatre Communications Group. Rep Stage is recognized by Theatre Washington as professional DC Metro area theatre company and is eligible to be nominated for the Helen Hayes Awards. Performances are made possible by Howard Arts Council, Howard County Government, and the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency funded by the Stage of Maryland and National Endowment of the Arts, as well as through generous individual contributions. Rep Stage is proud to be a partner of Howard County Tourism and promotion. Rep Stage's Artistic Leadership is helmed by Co-Producing Artistic Directors Suzanne Beal and Joseph Ritsch.