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Swept Away

  • Credits

    Book by John Logan
    Music and Lyrics by The Avett Brothers
    Choreographed by David Neumann
    Directed by Michael Mayer
    By Special Arrangement with Matthew Masten, Sean Hudock, and Madison Wells Live

  • Location

    Kreeger Theater

  • Run Time

    Approximately 90 minutes without an intermission

  • Program
"SOULFUL...STAGGERING...SPELLBINDING TALE... Swept Away  has proved itself worthy of a broadway christening"

— The Washington Post

When a violent storm sinks their whaling ship off the coast of New Bedford, Mass., the four survivors face a reckoning: how far will they go to stay alive? And can they live with the consequences? With music and lyrics from The Avett Brothers (“America’s Biggest Roots Band,” Rolling Stone), whose 2004 “Mignonette” was inspired by an 1884 shipwreck and the struggle of four men to survive, Swept Away is an electrifying, soul-stirring new musical exploring how facing tragedy can open the door to forgiveness…if only we’ll let it.

Swept Away is made possible through generous funding from Decker Anstrom and Sherry Hiemstra with additional support from Linda A. BaumannBonnie Feld, Daniel Korengold, Martha Dippell, and  , and Ilene and Steven Rosenthal.

Cast

HUNTER BROWN

Ensemble / u/s Mate

MATT DeANGELIS

Ensemble / u/s Mate

WAYNE DUVALL

Captain

ADRIAN BLAKE ENSCOE

Little Brother

TAUREAN EVERETT

Ensemble / Dance Captain / u/s Captain

JOHN GALLAGHER, JR.

Mate

CAMERON JOHNSON

Ensemble / u/s Big Brother & Little Brother

BRANDON KALM

Ensemble / u/s Big Brother & Little Brother

MICHAEL J. MAINWARING

Ensemble / Partial Swing

ORVILLE MENDOZA

Ensemble / u/s Captain

TYRONE L. ROBINSON

Ensemble / u/s Captain

STARK SANDS

Big Brother

JOHN SYGAR

Ensemble / Partial Swing

JAMARI JOHNSON WILLIAMS

Ensemble / Partial Swing

Creative

JOHN LOGAN

Book

THE AVETT BROTHERS

Music and Lyrics

MICHAEL MAYER

Director

DAVID NEUMANN

Choreographer

BRIAN USIFER

Music Supervisor / Music Arrangements & Orchestrations

CHRIS MILLER

Music Arrangements & Orchestrations

WILL VAN DYKE

Music Director

RACHEL HAUCK

Set Designer

SUSAN HILFERTY

Costume Designer

KEVIN ADAMS

Lighting Designer

JOHN SHIVERS

Sound Designer

JIM CARNAHAN, C.S.A.

New York Casting Director

JOSEPH PINZON

DC Casting

JOHANNA McKEON

Associate Director

BRIAN MUNN

Associate Choreographer

MATT DEITCHMAN

Associate Music Director

MATTHEW LEINER

Stage Manager

ALICE M. POLLITT

Assistant Stage Manager

MARNE ANDERSON

Assistant Stage Manager

JALON PAYTON

Assistant Stage Manager

MATTHEW MASTEN

Commercial Partner

SEAN HUDOCK

Commercial Partner

MADISON WELLS LIVE

Commercial Partner

DOLPHUS RAMSEUR

Avett Brothers Management

BERKELEY REPERTORY THEATRE

Photos

Stark Sands (Big Brother), John Gallagher, Jr. (Mate), Wayne Duvall (Captain), and Adrian Blake Enscoe (Little Brother) in Arena Stage's East Coast premiere of "Swept Away". Photo by Julieta Cervantes.
Stark Sands (Big Brother) and Adrian Blake Enscoe (Little Brother) in Arena Stage's East Coast premiere of "Swept Away". Photo by Julieta Cervantes.
Adrian Blake Enscoe (Little Brother), Stark Sands (Big Brother), John Gallagher, Jr. (Mate), and Wayne Duvall (Captain) in Arena Stage's East Coast premiere of "Swept Away". Photo by Julieta Cervantes.
Stark Sands (Big Brother), Wayne Duvall (Captain), Adrian Blake Enscoe (Little Brother), John Gallagher Jr, (Mate). Taurean Everett (Ensemble), Orville Mendoza (Ensemble), Michael J. Mainwaring (Ensemble), Tyrone L. Robinson (Ensemble), John Sygar (Ensemble), and Cameron Johnson (Ensemble) in Arena Stage's East Coast premiere of "Swept Away". Photo by Julieta Cervantes.
John Gallagher, Jr. (Mate) in Arena Stage's East Coast premiere of "Swept Away". Photo by Julieta Cervantes.
Orville Mendoza (Ensemble), Taurean Everett (Ensemble), Stark Sands (Big Brother), Adrian Blake Enscoe (Little Brother), Jamari Johnson Williams (Ensemble), John Gallagher, Jr. (Mate), Michael J. Mainwaring (Ensemble), John Sygar (Ensemble), and Matt DeAngelis (Ensemble) in Arena Stage's East Coast premiere of "Swept Away". Photo by Julieta Cervantes.

Videos

Swept Away In The News

THE WASHINGTON POST

Arena Stage’s ‘Swept Away,’ ‘Angels in America’ top Helen Hayes nominations

WTOP

Helen Hayes Award nominations ‘swept away’ by Arena Stage in battle of best local theater

NPR ALL THINGS CONSIDERED

Truth, forgiveness: 'Swept Away' is a theatrical vessel for Avett Bros' music

WASHINGTON CITY PAPER

Tuneful and tragic, Swept Away looks to be the latest Arena Stage musical to graduate to Broadway.

DRAMA FIENDS PODCAST

Episode 24: Swept Away with Adrian Blake Enscoe

BROADWAY.COM

With Musical Swept Away, The Avett Brothers Chart New Waters

THEATERMANIA

Avett Brothers-Inspired Musical Swept Away Hoists Enthralling Sails

NO DEPRESSION

The Avett Brothers’ Songs Get Theatrical Treatment in ‘Swept Away’

THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

The stars of the Avett Brothers musical ‘Swept Away’ embrace their emotional journey

FOX 5 GOOD DAY DC

"Swept Away" sweeps audiences off their feet at Arena Stage

PLAYBILL

Watch: Get Swept Away With the New Avett Brothers Musical at Arena Stage

BROADWAY.COM

Set Sail with the Swept Away Cast on Opening Night

THE FREE LANCE-STAR

A striking 'Swept Away’ lands at Arena Stage

DISTRICT FRAY

“Swept Away” Washes Ashore at Arena Stage

THE WASHINGTON POST

“TRANSFIXING NEW MUSICAL…waves of roots rock and soulful introspection
come crashing one after the other”

BROADWAYWORLD

Photos: Go Inside Opening Night of The Avett Brothers Musical SWEPT AWAY at Arena Stage

METRO WEEKLY

“SEE WORTHY…The Avett Brothers’ roots rock translates beautifully
to the stage in the new musical adventure”

BROADWAYWORLD

“...with ELITE TALENT across the board, a TRULY STUNNING score, and a MASTERFUL set, Swept Away has tremendous potential as a production with an eye for Broadway”

DC THEATER ARTS

"AWESOME, in the fullest sense of the word…"

THE DC LINE

“Gallagher, Duvall, Sands and Enscoe are careful stewards of the Avett Brothers’ beloved songs…their four voices blend remarkably well in group numbers and soar in solo turns.” 

BROADWAYWORLD

Interview: Chris Miller and Brian Usifer On Orchestrating The Avett Brothers For The Stage

MARYLAND THEATRE GUIDE

“DELIVERS MASTERFUL THEATRE…you may find yourself swept away”

TALKIN' BROADWAY

"DEEPLY EMOTIONAL story…powered by RICHLY MELODIC score…"

A THEATRE GOER'S THOUGHTS

“DARING and ORIGINAL, CHALLENGING and THOUGHT-PROVOKING…
Swept Away is one of the most stunning pieces of theatre that I’ve ever seen”

DREW MORRIS

"...a RESOUNDING SUCCESS, featuring can’t-miss acting, an intrepid, tragic book, and jaw-dropping production effects"

UNPROFESSIONAL OPINION

“For the entirety of its 90 minutes, I was gripped by its stunningly distilled storytelling..."

PLAYBILL

Photos: Get a 1st Look at Avett Brothers Musical Swept Away, Opening December 6 at Arena Stage

WASHINGTON CITY PAPER

Will Swept Away Rock John Gallagher Jr. and Michael Mayer Back to Broadway?

THE WASHINGTON POST

An Avett Brothers musical is testing the waters. Next stop: Broadway?

INSIDEHOOK

Is an Avett Brothers Musical in Broadway’s Future?

PLAYBILL

Avett Brothers Musical Swept Away Starts at Arena Stage November 25

THE WASHINGTON POST

The 36 best things to do in D.C. this weekend and next week

THE GEORGETOWNER

Weekend Roundup: Get “Swept Away” at Arena Stage

BROADWAYWORLD

Photos: Go Inside the First Rehearsal for SWEPT AWAY at Arena Stage

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Musicals, Plays and Festivals to Take In This Fall and Spring

WASHINGTON CITY PAPER

2023 Fall Arts Guide: Swept Away, opens Nov. 25

PLAYBILL

See Who's Starring in Avett Brothers Musical Swept Away at Arena Stage

PLAYBILL

Avett Brothers Musical Swept Away Unveils Key Art From Rock Poster Artist Ken Taylor

BROADWAYWORLD

Full Cast & Creative Team Set for The Avett Brothers' SWEPT AWAY at Arena Stage

TIMES SQUARE CHRONICLES

Theatre News: Mother Play, Harmony, Hadestown, On the Flip Side, Baked and Swept Away

THEATERMANIA

Full Cast and Creative Team Announced for Avett Brothers Musical Swept Away

THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

Momentum builds for East Coast debut of The Avett Brothers musical ‘Swept Away’

DEADLINE

Broadway-Aimed Avett Brothers Musical ‘Swept Away’ Sets Washington D.C. Cast

THEATERMANIA

John Gallagher Jr., Stark Sands to Lead Swept Away at Arena Stage

THE BROADWAY BLOG

‘SWEPT AWAY’ SAILS INTO ARENA STAGE THIS FALL