Florida Rep Announces Rolling World Premiere Partnership with the National New Play Network

Florida Repertory Theatre is pleased to announce a partnership with the National New Play Network in Washington, DC, Vermont Stage, and Michigan's Williamston Theatre to produce "Doublewide" by Stephen Spotswood as a Rolling World Premiere. The final offering in Florida Rep's 2016-2017 season, "Doublewide" runs in Florida Rep's ArtStage Studio Theatre April 11 to May 14.

As part of the national initiative to develop new works, Florida Rep will be the first of three regional theatres to produce the play before the spring of 2018. Vermont Stage in Burlington will produce the play in January 2018, and Williamston Theatre in Williamston, Mich. will complete the three-theatre Rolling World Premiere with a production in March 2018.

The National New Play Network (NNPN), the country's alliance of nonprofit theaters that champions the development, production, and continued life of new plays, and the Rolling World Premiere Program is the organization's flagship initiative. The Rolling World Premiere Program supports three or more theaters that choose to mount the same new play within a 12-month period. The result is an NNPN Rolling World Premiere, in which a playwright develops a new work with multiple creative teams in at least three different communities. The playwright is part of the process, working on the script and making adjustments based on what is learned from each production.

"We read 'Doublewide' as part of our PlayLab Festival last year, and it became clear that this was the play we wanted to premiere in our 2016-2017 Season," said Producing Artistic Director, Robert Cacioppo, "and I am delighted that two other regional companies have committed to producing this important new work in the communities they serve. We are honored to be working with the NNPN and the artistic leaders at Vermont Stage and Williamston Theatre in giving this play a wider audience."

"National New Play Network is thrilled that this NNPN Rolling World Premiere is happening," said Executive Director, Nan Barnett, "as it embraces one of the core founding concepts of the Network and specifically this program - bringing regional playwrights to audiences across the country. The Roll will introduce this DC-based playwright to New England, the Gulf coast of Florida, and Michigan, adding to the growing legion of Spotswood fans as it strengthens the play."

"Doublewide" is a heartfelt, honest, and often humorous story of one family's pursuit of the American Dream. All Jim Starkey wants to do is build a home on his one-acre plot of land and replace his doublewide trailer with something his daughter, Lorelai, can inherit. When a highway expansion project and a freak hunting accident shatter his family's dreams, Jim must decide how far he can be pushed and Lorelai is left to build her own future.

"This is an important play to be doing right now while too many Americans are working more hours for less pay and struggling to make ends meet," Cacioppo continued. "Doublewide' is full of heart, the characters fully drawn, and the family's struggle is incredibly timely. It's a story about a family trying to make it, and succeeds because they love one another and remain hopeful against terrible odds."

"Doublewide" features Florida Rep ensemble members Rachel Burttram and Carrie Lund, as well as Miami actor, Gregg Weiner, making his Florida Rep debut, former Florida Rep intern Dillion Everett, and Isabella Cintron, a junior at Cypress Lake High School Center for the Arts. Burttram and Lund were seen most recently in Florida Rep's nationally acclaimed production of "The House of Blue Leaves", and Lund appeared in the reading of "Doublewide" last spring. Mr. Weiner and Mr. Everett also appeared in the reading, and Everett was also seen in last season's "Twelve Angry Men" and "A Christmas Story". Cintron will make her Florida Rep debut after multiple appearances in Florida Rep's educational programming, and most recently in another of the 2016 PlayLab reading.

Florida Rep ensemble member, Maureen Heffernan, directs the production and comes back to Fort Myers after a short hiatus. Her work with the Rep has been praised nationally numerous times in "The Wall Street Journal", most notably for "Dancing at Lughnasa", "The Little Foxes", and "Sylvia". Heffernan is joined by an expert team of designers including ensemble set designer, Ray Recht ("The House of Blue Leaves"), ensemble lighting designer, Jim Hunter ("The Dingdong"), costume designer, Alex Vazquez ("The House of Blue Leaves"), Sound Designer, John Kiselica ("Shear Madness"), and ensemble stage manager, Janine Wochna ("To Kill a Mockingbird").

"Doublewide" plays in the Historic Arcade Theatre April 14-May 14 with four nearly sold-out previews April 11-13 at 8pm, and April 12 at 2PM. Performances Tuesday-Saturday at 8pm with matinees on Thursday, Sunday, and selected Saturdays at 2PM.

Priced from $45 to $52 for regular performances and $25 to $32 for previews, single tickets are now on sale through the box office at 239-332-4488 and online at www.floridarep.org. Subscriptions for the 2016-2017 season offer the best seats and the biggest savings, and packages start as low as $125 for 3 plays.

"Doublewide" is generously sponsored by Bruce and Janet Bunch.

Florida Repertory Theatre performs in the Historic Arcade Theatre and the ArtStage Studio Theatre on Bay St. between Jackson & Hendry with limited free parking in the Fort Myers River District. Visit Florida Rep online at FloridaRep.org, and by following the company on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube.

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