Production History

Carpenter Square Theatre presented the Oklahoma City premiere of Rebecca Gilman’s The Sweetest Swing in Baseball as the second production of its 33rd season. After a disastrous exhibition and a personal crisis, artist Dana Fielding finds unexpected comfort in the routine of a psychiatric hospital. When she learns that her insurance will cover only ten days, she devises a plan to prolong her stay: impersonating baseball star Darryl Strawberry. With coaching from two fellow patients, Dana’s unlikely performance becomes an exploration of identity, creativity, fame, and recovery. Tom Cowley directed the five-member ensemble, with Amy Kelly as Dana and four supporting actors doubling between hospital characters and people from Dana’s outside life. The production was rated R for strong language.

CST Connections

Mark Fairchild later directed The Birds (2017) and portrayed Rexy in The Legend of Georgia McBride (2019).
Lana Henson previously appeared as Claire Partridge in The Left Hand Singing (2009) and Daria Chase in The Game’s Afoot (2014).
Ben Hall, Jay C. Schardt, and Rhonda Clark continued their design collaboration on The Birds (2017) and The Lonesome West (2018).
Tom Cowley later made a brief appearance as Howard’s father in The Mystery of Love and Sex (2020).

Press and Photography

“Carpenter Square Theatre’s ‘The Sweetest Swing in Baseball’ Runs Through Nov. 5 in Oklahoma City,” The Oklahoman, October 21, 2016 — Coverage by Elizabeth Hurd.
“Interviews: Carpenter Square Theatre Marks Fifth Anniversary on Main Street with Diverse Season,” The Oklahoman, August 28, 2016
405 Magazine, October 2016 — Seasonal arts coverage.

Acknowledgments

Ticket sponsors — Hank and Joanie Batty

Season sponsors — Ed and Janet Bucknell; Mel and Cindy Ables

Supported in part by the Oklahoma Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Carpenter Square Theatre was an Allied Arts member agency.

Licensing

Dramatic Publishing Company.

THEATRE UP CLOSE & PERSONAL

Linda Cowley