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Intiman Theatre opens its 34th season with Richard Dresser's Rounding Third, directed by BJ Jones. Previews begin April 14th with an opening set for April 19th.
The story of two mismatched "Little League Dads" with opposing philosophies toward competition and success, Rounding Third is a comedy about parenthood and America/>/>'s cultural values. Featured in the cast are Michael David Edwards and Richard Ziman.
Playwright Richard Dresser began writing Rounding Third when his son's Little League coach suggested that a slower player fake an injury as part of the team's strategy for winning. "I was horrified," Dresser wrote in an Introduction to the play. "Is this how our children are being trained to deal with competition? How many future Enrons are brewing on our Little League fields and in our school gyms under the watchful eyes of over-zealous coaches? What about building character and encouraging fair play? Or are such notions laughable in this country at this point in history? At that moment I knew that I had to write Rounding Third."
Dresser's plays are widely produced regionally, in New York/> and in Europe/>. Rounding Third appeared off-Broadway at the John Houseman Theatre after productions in Chicago/>, Laguna Beach/>/> and the Old Globe. His other plays include Below the Belt and Gun-Shy, both of which started in the Humana Festival at Actors Theatre of Louisville before moving off-Broadway. His short plays include What Are You Afraid Of?, staged in the front seat of a car, which premiered in the 1999 Humana Festival and has been running in Germany for several years; and Greetings from the Home Office, which premiered at Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany and has no actors. He also writes for film and television.Director BJ Jones staged the world premiere of Rounding Third at Northlight Theatre in Chicago/>/>, where he has been artistic director for eight seasons. A 32-year veteran of acting and directing in Chicago theatre, he has piloted such productions as Dresser's Below the Belt, Martin McDonagh's A Skull in Connemara and The Cripple of Inishmaan, Caryl Churchill's A Number and plays by Arthur Miller and George Bernard Shaw at Northlight, Steppenwolf, National Jewish Theatre, Body Politic, Next Theatre and Wisdom Bridge. A two-time Jeff Award-winning actor, he has appeared on virtually every stage in Chicago/>, including his home theatre, Goodman, Steppenwolf, Court and Victory/> Gardens/>/>.
Actors Michael David Edwards (Michael, the "can't we just have fun" coach) and Richard Ziman (Don, the "win at all costs" coach) have both recently moved to Seattle/>/>. Both are also making their Intiman debuts with this production. Edwards has performed around the country, including three seasons with the Utah Shakespearean Festival. Ziman, a veteran of Broadway productions including the world premiere of Tennessee Williams' Not About Nightingales, directed by Trevor Nunn, was recently seen in Richard III for Seattle Shakespeare Company and in Born Yesterday for ACT Theatre. The creative team for Rounding Third includes scenic designer Bill Forrester, costume designer Dennis Milam Bensie, lighting designer Greg Sullivan and sound designer Joe Swartz. Rounding Third runs April 14th to May 14th. For tickets call (206) 269-1900, or visit www.intiman.org
