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1st Stage will move ahead with its production of Between Riverside and Crazy following the unexpected death of William T. Newman Jr., a longtime artist and board member who had been rehearsing the lead role.
Newman, known as Bill, had worked with the Tysons theater for nearly a decade. In recent weeks, he had been preparing to play Walter “Pops” Washington in the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama.
After discussions among the cast, crew, designers and staff, the company decided to complete the production Newman had begun. Addison Switzer, who previously appeared at 1st Stage in The Piano Lesson, will take over the role.
The revised run is scheduled for Feb. 26 through March 15, 2026, at 1st Stage, 1524 Spring Hill Road in Tysons.
Written by Stephen Adly Guirgis and directed by José Carrasquillo, Between Riverside and Crazy follows a widowed former police officer fighting to retain his rent-stabilized New York City apartment. Pops faces pressure from the NYPD to settle an unresolved lawsuit while contending with his recently paroled son, unwanted houseguests, his landlord and a persistent church.
The play won the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
The cast also includes Dylan Arredondo, Fabiolla da Silva, Chris Genebach, Ellis Greer, Shawn Sebastian Naar and Hannah Taylor.
Tony Cisek designed the scenery, with lighting by William D’Eugenio, sound by Sarah O’Halloran, costumes by Moyenda Kulemeka and props by Justin Nepomuceno. Lorraine Ressegger serves as intimacy coach.
Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays. Saturday shows are at 2 and 7:30 p.m., while Sunday performances begin at 2 p.m.
General-admission tickets are dynamically priced at $25, $40 and $55, with limited availability at the two lower prices. Tickets for students, educators and military members cost $15. They are available online or through the box office at 703-854-1856.
The production runs approximately two hours and includes a 15-minute intermission. Captions and audio description will be available during select performances.