The Sweetest Swing in Baseball

Performances are March 15th to 23rd, 2024
by Rebecca Gilman
Directed by Lennox Forrester
Performed on the Drury Stage at the Bartell Theatre

"The Sweetest Swing in Baseball" is a vibrant play that straddles the line between comedy and drama, written by the highly talented Rebecca Gilman. This theatrical piece centers around the character Dana Fielding, a talented but troubled artist battling with alcoholism, a fading career, and mental health issues. Using a unique combination of drama and comedy, the play offers an examination of the art world, identity, and the thin line between sanity and insanity.

The play is set mostly in a mental institution where Dana is committed after a failed suicide attempt. Here, she assumes the identity of a fictitious alter ego, the celebrated baseball player Darryl Strawberry, who has "the sweetest swing in baseball." The ploy, at first a desperate measure to extend her stay in the institution where she feels safe, develops into a means for Dana to explore and understand her own identity and value as an artist and an individual.

Rebecca Gilman, through "The Sweetest Swing in Baseball," paints a poignant picture of the struggles artists often face in a world that measures their worth by their success. She skillfully combines humor with heartrending drama to make audiences both laugh and empathize with Dana's circumstances. Gilman's brilliant play is a sobering reminder of the thin line separating genius from madness, sanity from insanity, and the often devastating consequences of trying to navigate this line. It encourages introspection and conversations about mental health, self-worth, and the pressures of living up to societal expectations.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased on the Bartell Theatre’s website. Or, call the Bartell after 2:00 pm, Tuesday through Friday: 608-661-9696.

Featuring the Talents of
Aly Rader as Dana Fielding
Brent Holms as Roy/Gary
Aiya Islam as Brian/Michael
Maya Weatherall as Erica/Dr. Gilbert
Peggy Rosin as Rhonda/Dr. Stanton
Issaka Aguirre as Understudy for Dana
Cooper Skubal as Understudy for Brian/Michael