SILVER SPRING, Md. — One day after he was violently attacked and robbed, a local theater actor has gone in for surgery.
Frank Britton suffered a shattered bone on the side of his face. The attack also resulted in a contusion on the back of his head and swelling to an eye.
Despite the pain, he’s doing well, according to friends and well wishers at the hospital.
They even set up a tablet computer for him to read all the messages of support.
After performing at a show’s opening night, the cast went out to celebrate on Colesville Road Silver Spring.
About 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, four men attacked and robbed him by a taxi stand close to the Silver Spring Metro station.
“It was definitely a real shock, but he’s in really good spirits about the recovery,” says Michael Dove, the theater’s artistic director who has known Britton for 10 years.
“He just really thankful for everyone who’s reaching out,” Dove says.
Supporters have done a lot of that.
Friends and family established a GoFundMe account to help cover his medical bills.
In the first day, the account showed more than $40,000.
An understudy will play the role in Wednesday’s performance of “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot.”
But Britton isn’t conceding his spot for very long.
“He keeps joking with me that he wants to be back on tomorrow night,” Dove says. “We’ll see!”
The four attackers stole Britton’s iPhone, iPad and wallet. They have not been caught.
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