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<\/a>Pilato has produced four versions of \u201cThe Dixie Swim Club\u201d and has directed the show five times. He finds the plot really touching and powerful. \u201cIt\u2019s one of those shows that\u2019s close to my heart,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s about companionship and friendship, which means a lot to me as a person.\u201d<\/p>\n
Part of the reason the friendship aspect works so effectively for Pilato is because the former classmates change drastically when they get older. \u201cWhen Act I begins, they already have been a part of the club for years,\u201d he said. \u201cAs we watch them grow, we realize that their friendship is what they depend on.\u201d<\/p>\n
His latest staging has a different cast from prior interpretations. Sandy Hotchkiss stars as Sheree Hollinger, the former team captain and leader of the group. She empathizes with Sheree, since Hotchkiss likes to feel in control.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a mother I can relate to that, especially when my kids were younger,\u201d she said. \u201cSheree\u2019s behavior comes from a good place, because she truly cares and loves her friends. She helps to make sure that they are all having a fun time together.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Hotchkiss has a lot in common with Sheree, the actress finds the group to be fully realized individuals. \u201cThese characters are very real,\u201d she said. \u201cI think men and women can relate to the relationship that the women have.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pilato does not want to downplay the dramatic sequences written by playwrights Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten. Part of the reason is because he has mostly directed dramas in the past.<\/p>\n
Although the tone is generally comical, Pilato says the narrative is grounded in reality. \u201cTopics like sex, marriage, kids, and divorce are taken seriously,\u201d he said. \u201cI play the sincere moments for everything its worth\u201d<\/p>\n
Hotchkiss finds the contrasting tones to be realistic. \u201cThere are so many things that we deal with that are both difficult and poignant in our own lives,\u201d she said. \u201cI think about my own personal experiences when I am in the non-comedic scenes.\u201d<\/p>\n Like many tales, people will connect to \u201cThe Dixie Swim Club\u201d if they enjoy spending time, and empathizing, with the main characters. \u201cThe idea is for the audience to really like these people,\u201d Pilato said. \u201cAlthough it\u2019s a comedy, you see a lot of these occurrences happen in your own life.\u201d<\/p>\n Spending several decades with the former swim team will give viewers plenty to discuss after the curtain call. Theatregoers are in for a smart, entertaining, and reflective evening.<\/p>\n<\/a>