Studio Theatre in D.C. Produces Play About a Swimmer Discovering Steroids

Braden Keith
by Braden Keith 4

September 30th, 2013 News

The Washington D.C.-Northern-Virginia-Southern Maryland strip is about as rich and thick with swimming talent right now as we’ve ever seen on the east coast of the United States, with the likes of Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky attracting attention of even the non-aquatically inclined.

And so Lucas Hnath has written a play called “Red Speedo” for D.C.’s Studio Theatre, directed by Lila Neugebauer. The synopsis from the theater:

Ray’s swum his way to the eve of the Olympic trials. If he makes the team, he’ll get a deal with Speedo. If he gets a deal with Speedo, he’ll never need a real job. So when someone’s stash of performance-enhancing drugs is found in the locker room fridge, threatening the entire team’s Olympic fate, Ray has to crush the rumors or risk losing everything. A sharp and stylish play about swimming, survival of the fittest, and the American dream of a level playing field—or of leveling the field yourself.

Actually, this sounds kind of like a real-life scenario, and could be an interesting exploration of the human emotion when faced by just this scenario (and the reality is that most of the elite swimmers in the world probably know at least one competitor who is doping but hasn’t been caught yet.)

The play is taking place in the theater’s “Studio Lab,” which is an opportunity for playwrights to experiment with different forms, and stars one Frank Boyd as “Ray,” the swimmer.

For tickets to the play, which began September 25th, click here.

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OLDSWIMMER
11 years ago

That’s what I thought. After reading more about the play I agree it is an interesting concept and anytime swimming is out there I’m all in favor.

Milana
11 years ago

Swimming in the theater works and is a great medium to share the mindset and enthusiasm of the sport of swimming. I am a college student at a liberal arts school and took a playwriting course last winter during my college swim season. Obviously, the one act play I wrote ended up being about swimming, titled “No Limits?”. What I did not expect was for my play about swimming to end up being one of two student written acts chosen to be performed out of a selection open to the entire student body. Beyond that, people came and watched who knew nothing about swimming and then walked away feeling a connection with the sport. I wish “Red Speedo” the best… Read more »

oldswimmer
11 years ago

Ridiculous. Speedo should sue. Or did Speedo give permission?

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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