PITTSBURGH THEATER TO STAGE SAMUEL D. HUNTER’S THE WHALE

Artistic Director Virginia Wall Gruenert hand selects each play for off the WALL Productions. When she came across the well-received reviews of Samuel D. Hunter’s The Whale in the New York Times and read about the script from Playwright Horizons, an Off-Broadway Theater in New York, she had to investigate and learn about the play. She immediately fell in love with the script! A read through of the script resonated for many reasons. The juxtaposition of being simultaneously hilariously funny and extremely sad is captivating in and of itself. Add to that the actual storyline; and the play definitively fit our mold for being a thought-provoking story that will bring new meaning and dimension to the day-to-day perspective of our audience members.

The Whale tells the story of Charlie, a 600-pound man facing his last chance. With failing health, the inability to care for himself and the loneliness of his only friend being his nurse, who further enables him with his self-destructive habits. Recluse, lonely and in fear for his life, he is estranged from his teenage daughter. Having left his wife and daughter 15 years prior to live his genuine life as a gay man, what will come of his relationship with his daughter? Can he mend the broken relationships, or is it too late?

“The Whale is a tragedy in a minor key, about a man torn between flesh and spirit… Humane, sharp and often funny.” -David Cote, TimeOut New York
THE WHALE

A Pittsburgh Theater Premiere
April 24-25 & 30, May 1-2, 7-9 @ 8:00 PM
Matinee April 26 & May 3 @ 3 PM

Written by: Samuel D. Hunter
Directed by: Linda Haston
With: F.J.Hartland*, Abby Quatro*, Amy Landis*
Dana Hardy Bingham*, Brian Knoebel*
Location: Carnegie, PA 15106, USA

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