FST Presents the Regional Premiere of THE THINGS THEY CARRIED

- FST concludes its Stage III Series-the theatre's program devoted to edgier work-with The Things They Carried, based on Tim O'Brien's collection of short stories of the same name. Dramatized by Jim Stowell, this moving one-man show explores morality and the ethics of war. A regional premiere, The Things They Carried runs in the Bowne's Lab Theatre from March 21 through April 13, 2018. Single tickets may be purchased online at floridastudiotheatre.org, by phone at (941) 366-9000, or by visiting the Box Office.

Based on the literary classic, The Things They Carried is the powerful telling of Tim O'Brien's personal journey from his innocent years in rural Minnesota to the jungles of Vietnam. A one-person tour-de-force, this play explores the lines between truth and reality as fact and fiction blur in this unforgettable soldier's journey.

The Star Tribune calls it "Superb" and "Haunting." According to St. Paul's Pioneer Press, the "Poignant" play "Opens conversations...that could lead to a better world." The Twin Cities Daily Planet thinks it "Serves up a healthy dose of catharsis" with its "Compelling" and "Remarkable story."

Tackling the challenging role of Tim is David Sitler, who was last seen on the Bowne's Lab stage as Gary in both FST productions of The Exonerated. Sitler also played Jack Henry Abbott in FST's In the Belly of the Beast, earning Sarasota Magazine's award for Best Actor in a Play (2008). Other credits include An Inspector Calls (1994 Broadway revival), Frost/Nixon (National Tour), and Drawer Boy (Vermont Stage).

Sitler is exhilarated to be working on Jim Stowell's adaptation of Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried. He shares, "I was playing a homeless Vietnam Vet in The Speed of Darkness when Ken Burns' amazing series came on... and I was glued to my screen." This was when he first learned of Tim O'Brien, and shortly thereafter learned that FST was producing a stage adaptation of O'Brien's work. "I read his book and was blown away by it," Sitler comments, though he confesses that he did not notice that the work is fiction. "As I read, [O'Brien] brought the men and their stories to life so vividly [that] I became more engaged with each turning page."

Sitler is also looking forward to being directed by and collaborating with Kate Alexander, FST's Associate Director At-Large, again. Alexander is thrilled to work on a play that "Moves past the conflict of our differences" and instead highlights "Our one [shared] humanity." Both Sitler and Alexander are passionate about bringing Tim's words to life, for they are the "Lifeblood of the piece...visceral and poetic and human and real. [O'Brien's words] bring out the truth and bring back those [O'Brien] lost for a time and, in so doing, himself."

The Things They Carried is the third and final production in Florida Studio Theatre's Stage III Series, running from March 21 through April 13, 2018. Single tickets may be purchased online at floridastudiotheatre.org, by phone at (941) 366-9000, or by visiting the Box Office.

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