Swimmer

A swimming movie star adopts an orphaned teen at a crucial moment for her career. Her arm feels like it might be a different gender, her mask work is still unconvincing, and her dives might, for the first time, fall short. Auntie Mame meets Esther Williams meets All About Eve meets Dali in this dark comedy about show business and motherhood.

A swimming movie star adopts an orphaned teen at a crucial moment for her career. Her arm feels like it might be a different gender, her mask work is still unconvincing, and her dives might, for the first time, fall short. Auntie Mame meets Esther Williams meets All About Eve meets Dali in this dark comedy about show business and motherhood.

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Swimmer

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  • Shaun Leisher: Swimmer

    I know Dennis-Yates says that this play can be done very simply but it's begging for a big, lavish production. How cool would it be for a real pool to be on stage? This play feels like an Old Hollywood period piece while also being so grounded in the present. Drive and ambition in women is such rich subject matter and Dennis-Yates mines it really well. This play does a great job at exploring what it means to follow one's dreams and how human connection can be all we really need. This has to be so fun to perform.

    I know Dennis-Yates says that this play can be done very simply but it's begging for a big, lavish production. How cool would it be for a real pool to be on stage? This play feels like an Old Hollywood period piece while also being so grounded in the present. Drive and ambition in women is such rich subject matter and Dennis-Yates mines it really well. This play does a great job at exploring what it means to follow one's dreams and how human connection can be all we really need. This has to be so fun to perform.

  • Abe Johnson: Swimmer

    Deliciously grand, totally inviting, and bubbling with comedy, this play is a wildly fun love letter to ambition and status and divas of a bygone era. SO vivid, in visual language and written language, that's it's thrilling to think about what this could look like onstage. It's a dazzling, absurd, and somehow cozy world with twists that genuinely made me gasp. The relationship at the core is so singular, too— bizarre and tender and delightfully won. Referential yet totally original. Adored!!!

    Deliciously grand, totally inviting, and bubbling with comedy, this play is a wildly fun love letter to ambition and status and divas of a bygone era. SO vivid, in visual language and written language, that's it's thrilling to think about what this could look like onstage. It's a dazzling, absurd, and somehow cozy world with twists that genuinely made me gasp. The relationship at the core is so singular, too— bizarre and tender and delightfully won. Referential yet totally original. Adored!!!

Character Information

Casting note: None of the described physical characteristics are necessarily literal.

Voice can be doubled with Carlo/Alan. Old Woman can be doubled for a reading but not for a production.
  • Swimmer
    Actor can be any gender with intention. Athletic in a strong way. She is dazzling in her element. She is rarely not in her element and in it she’s an idea of a woman. Out of it you might find yourself noticing how strong her thighs are. Or something you actually don’t like about the shape of her face.
    Character Age
    50+
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Z
    Z is a femme person referred to largely with they pronouns. Very slim and striking, not necessarily beautiful. Isn’t yet an idea of a woman but has an idea of one.
    Character Age
    "Teen"
    Character Gender Identity
    Gender in flux
  • Carlo/Alan & Voice
    Entrenched in service/entrenched in show business.
    Character Age
    30s-50s
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Delia/Gigi
    Entrenched in service/entrenched in show business.
    Character Age
    30s-50s
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Old Woman
    A harbinger, and also just a woman.
    Character Age
    Old

Development History

  • Type Reading, Organization Hunter College Playwriting MFA First-Year Roundtable Reading, Year 2024