Florida Rep stages ‘Doublewide’ in partnership with new play network

Tom Hall, Florida Weekly Correspondent Apr. 12, 2017

Stephen Spotswood’s Doublewide,” part of a Rolling World Premiere in which Florida Rep is participating in partnership with the National New Play Network in Washington, D.C., and two other regional theaters, begins April 14 in Florida Rep’s ArtStage Studio Theatre.

“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 Florida Rep Producing Artistic Director Robert Cacioppo. “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.”

Florida Rep is the first of the three regional theaters to produce the play. Vermont Stage in Burlington will produce the play in January 2018 and Williamston Theatre in Williamston, Mich., will complete the three-theater Rolling World Premiere with a production in March 2018.

“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 D.C.-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.”

The play is an honest, heartfelt and often humorous story of one family’s pursuit of the American Dream. It tells the story of Jim Starkey, a man who just wants to replace the doublewide trailer on his oneacre plot of land with a nice house that he can one day leave to his daughter, Lorelai. But when a highway expansion project and a freak hunting accident shatter his dreams, Jim must decide how far he can be pushed and Lorelai is left to build her own future.

“Doublewide” features Florida Rep ensemble members Rachel Burttram and Carrie Lund, Miami actor Gregg Weiner, former Florida Rep intern Dillion Everett, and Isabella Cintron, a junior at Cypress Lake High School Center for the Arts.

Maureen Heffernan directs, and is joined by ensemble set designer Ray Recht, ensemble lighting designer Jim Hunter, costume designer Alex Vazquez, sound designer John Kiselica and ensemble stage manager Janine Wochna.