Azeotrope presents BUILDING THE WALL, by Tony Award Winning Playwright Robert Schenkkan

Seattle theatre company Azeotrope is pleased to announce the Seattle premiere of Building the Wall, by Tony Award winning playwright Robert Schenkkan (All The Way, The Great Society, The Kentucky Cycle), directed by Desdemona Chiang. Building the Wall begins opens Friday, December 1, 2017 and plays through December 23, 2017 at 12th Ave Arts Studio Theatre in Capitol Hill, Seattle.

On January 20, 2017, Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. Set in the not-so-distant future, Building the Wall lays out in a harrowing drama the consequences of Trump's anti-immigration campaign rhetoric turned into federal policy. Over the next sixteen months, events would unravel that test every American's strength of character: systemically racist executive actions, a declaration of martial law, and a round-up of millions of illegal aliens, with their incarceration overflowing into private prisons and camps reminiscent of another century.

Rick is a former warden awaiting sentencing for a catastrophic event that has happened at a prison facility under his watch. Gloria, a Black female historian, has come to seek the truth behind what has happened, and over the course of her interview with him, Rick gradually reveals how the unthinkable became the inevitable, and how the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.

Building the Wall features Tim Gouran as Rick and Shermona Mitchell as Gloria. The creative team includes Shelby Choo (scenic), Christine Tschirgi (costumes), and Jessica Trundy (lighting).

"Several years ago I stumbled across 'Into That Darkness' by Gitta Sereny," says playwright Robert Schenkkan. "It is an attempt to understand the bleakest of the Nazi horrors by focusing on one ordinary man who for a brief moment, found himself with unlimited power. The past is often the future and in this play I have imagined a not so distant time to come in which President Trump's rhetoric has found its full expression. While the current political crisis is extraordinary it is not new, the authoritarian play book is well established... The question, of course, is not so much what the Authorities will do but how we, the citizens, will respond."

"Azeotrope's mission has been to focus on the marginalized stories in our communities," says co-Artistic Director Richard Nguyen Sloniker "And in progressive city like Seattle, a play like Building the Wall can superficially be seen as 'preaching to the choir.' But it subtly highlights the seeming ways in which people-no matter how immune we think we are-can become complicit in a system of oppression. Horrors become normalized over time, and despite the best of intentions, our failure to act can lead to devastating consequences."

"Few people in this community will disagree with the rhetoric of this play and its criticism of our current administration," says director Desdemona Chiang. "But we've also arrived at a place of such certainty in our own beliefs that we neglect to shine light on the ways we have failed each other. Yes, you're outraged. We're all outraged. The question is: What are you going to do about it?"

Schenkkan wrote this play in what he describes as a "white hot fury," with the ambition of getting its message out to as many people are possible. In that spirit, Azeotrope is offering admission to Building the Wall at no charge, giving patrons the option to pay what they wish at the end of the show. No one will be turned away for lack of funds, although reservations are strongly recommended. Half of the seats will be available for reservation online, with the other half at available at will call, first come first serve, starting 30 minutes before curtain.

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