Photos by Michael Bailey

Martin Beekman as Don, Richard Warner as Michael in “Rounding Third”

June 20, 2005 -- Heritage Repertory Theatre, the University of Virginia’s summer professional repertory theatre, announces its opening production for the 2005 season: Rounding Third — by Richard Dresser — a comedy about two manic little league coaches. One wants the kids to win at all costs, while the other just wants the kids to have fun. “Rounding Third is an amusing and thoughtful examination of America’s infatuation with competition, the ways in which we compete, and the ways in which we teach our children to compete,” says Douglas Sprigg, the show’s director and veteran of many HRT productions.

“It’s a particularly appropriate companion piece to both Damn Yankees and The Price” (Damn Yankees runs concurrently with Rounding Third, while The Price, also directed by Sprigg, opens later this summer). This two-person production opens June 22 and runs through July 9 in the Helms Theatre.

In addition to Sprigg as director, the show’s production team includes scenic designer Sara Brown, costume designer Shana Albery, lighting designer Cody Schindeldecker, and sound designer Melissa Marquis.

Rounding Third stars Martin Beekman and Richard Warner as the two little league coaches. Both are not only long-time HRT participants — Warner has directed and appeared in many HRT productions while Beekman is the company’s business manager, in addition to appearing on stage — but both are real-life little league coaches as well. “Folks will want to come out to see Martin and Richard create this special evening,” adds Sprigg, “an evening that is hilarious, enlightening, and, finally, an affirmation of America’s love affair with the game of baseball.”

Tickets for Rounding Third are available at the Culbreth Theatre box office, open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. More information is at (434) 924-3376 and at www.uvahrt.org.