New 9/11 Play STEEL Comes to Erickson Theatre

Since 2014, a group of Seattle theatre and film artists have been working together informally to shape a provocative new play, Steel.

After readings for audiences and many rewrites, they have joined with the theatre programs at Seattle Central College and Shoreline Community College to bring their vision to the Erickson Theatre on Seattle's Capitol Hill for 3 weekends in November 2017.

Steel explores how a suburban New Jersey family, safe from the problems of the world, is suddenly thrust-as so many families were-- into the chaos and violence of September 11, 2001. The collapse of the Twin Towers is an event that wounds so deeply, only profound silence lies in its wake as the family shields their young son, Walker, from the pain and secrets exposed that day. But as he comes of age, Walker's questions break the silence that has torn his family, and community, apart.

Co-Producer and cast member Tony Doupe' says: "This unites my three passions: nurturing and producing new plays, working with superb professionals as we mentor student interns, and promoting the next generation of theatre makers by donating revenue to the new Seattle Central Student Theatre Club."

The creative team: Director Duygu Erdogan Monson, has 20 years experience as an actor, director and dancer. She was co-founder ofan award-winning feminist theatre company in Istanbul, Tiyatro Boyali Kus (Theatre Painted Bird). Currently a Doctoral Candidate at the UW School of Drama, she is a professor of Theatre and Film at Shoreline Community College.

--Danny Herter brings his inventiveness in lighting and technical design to create the sights and sounds that haunt our world and this play. His original works have been performed at On the Boards, Velocity Dance Center, and The Pink Door. The Seattle Times reviewed his work as having "...edgy invention to spare."

--Seattle Central Students include: Alison Kozar (stage manager), Rikki Kjolso (asst director), Brian Frederick (understudy)

Fisher, playwright, has had plays produced at Broadway Performance Hall, New City Theater, Front Room Theater, Princeton Rep, and the Douglas Fairbanks Theater in NYC. She is co-author of the book Serving in Silence which was made into an Emmy-award winning film. She taught at Shoreline Community College for over 20 years, and currently teaches playwriting at Seattle Central College.

The cast: Debra Pralle, Sharva Maynard, Tony Doupe', Andrew Granier, Rich Morris, Jason Adkins, Lucas Oktay, Charles Santiago

--Debra Pralle has acted at Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Village Theatre, and Annex Theatre, where she received the Seattle Times Footlight Award for outstanding acting in Penetralia. Her film and television highlights include Wild, The Architect, It's Only Life, Grimm, Leverage, Citizen Baines, The Fugitive. She is also a proud member of the Shoreline Community College Theatre and Film Department.

--Sharva Maynard (Equity) has performed on regional stages around the country including Village Theatre, Seattle Children's Theatre, ACT, Intiman, Missouri Rep, The Human Race Theatre in Dayton and Oregon Cabaret Theatre in Ashland.

--Tony Doupe' has acted and directed at many theatres across the country including The Seattle Repertory Theatre, The Louisiana Repertory Theatre, The Santa Clarita Repertory, The Empty Space Theatre, New City Theatre, The New Space, The Kennedy Center, Center Rep. and Our American Theatre Company. A prolific film/TV actor and producer, and is also the Department Chair of the Shoreline Community College Theatre and Film Program.

Andrew Grenier has a theatre career that spans over fifty years as an actor, director, producer, and educator. Most recently, he directed God of Carnage, Doubt and Robbie Baitz's Other Desert Cities, in which he also played the role of Lyman Wyeth, at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts.

Lucas Oktay's stage work has included roles in A Christmas Carol at ACT Theatre, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at SCT, and Shenandoah at Showtunes. His film and television credits include The Librarians, BizKid$, Haskell (Young Haskell) and The Son, the Father (Young Luke).

Jason Adkins His films include Lemonheads, Simple Creature, and The Hollow One and the TV series Grimm and Librarians. His acted on stage in such plays as One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Buried Child, and Zoo Story, and is the voice of Ike in Nintendo's Fire Emblem video game series. He is an Alumn of the Shoreline Community College Theatre and Film Program.

Rich Morris has extensive work in film and TV. His work can be seen in such films and TV series such as Wild, Grimm, Z Nation, 90210, Leverage and Meet the Backers.

Charles Santigo is a student in the Shoreline Community College Theatre and Film Program.

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