Free Reading - BULL SHARK ATTACK by Troy Deutsch MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2014 @ 7pm SLAC thanks the Jarvis and Constance Doctorow Family Foundation for their generous support of this vital program. About the Play BULL SHARK ATTACK weaves together three monologues to create a compelling portrait of a trio of lonely souls who have stagnated from life's failures and disappointments. Their stories collide in unexpected ways as they each embark on a journey that ends up leading them down to the beach at night... About the Playwright Troy Deutsch is a writer, director, and actor from rural Minnesota living in New York City. His three-act family drama THE ROSE GARDEN, a semi-finalist for the O'Neill Playwriting Conference, is currently being developed by American Theater Company in Chicago. His play LAKE WATER, also a semi-finalist for the O'Neill Playwriting Conference, was developed at The New Group through the New Group/New Works Reading Series under the direction of Ian Morgan. LAKE WATER received its world premiere at IRT Theater produced by Neighborhood Productions, directed by Daniel Talbott. Troy's play PUSSYCAT was produced by the University of Utah, directed by Sandra Shotwell, and was a regional finalist with Kennedy Center ACTF. His play GLOWING DINOFLAGELLATES was performed on the beach in San Francisco with Rising Phoenix Rep and Kid Brooklyn Productions. Troy also worked with Kid Brooklyn Productions on ENCOUNTERS: THE LA RONDE PROJECT, which had a developmental run at IRT last summer and will have a full run next year. Troy recently wrote the text for FEAST, a multi-disciplinary collaboration between Flying Bobcat Theatrical Laboratory and NOW-ID, which was performed at The Great Saltair. Troy's short film NO ONE TOLD US, which he wrote, directed, and acted in with Cherry in the Spoon Productions is currently playing the film festival circuit. He is in pre-production on a feature film called MARLA, which he will also direct. As an actor: RABBIT HOLE (Broadway u/s, Manhattan Theatre Club). Regional: RABBIT HOLE (The Huntington Theatre Company, The Cleveland Playhouse); LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, A FLEA IN HER EAR (Chautauqua Theater Company). Training: BFA from the University of Utah Actor Training Program. About the Director Sandra Shotwell earned her MFA in Acting from The American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. She studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, earning an Advanced Diploma in Voice and Speech (ADVS), with Distinction. She is a Certified Laban-Bartenieff Movement Analyst (CLMA) and in the midst of earning a certificate to teach Meisner Acting Technique with the True Acting Institute. A Professor of Theatre, Sandra first worked with Troy Deutsch when he was a student in the Actor Training Program at the University of Utah. She fell desperately in love with his play Pussycat after experiencing it at a staged reading, and then directed it for the Department's Studio 115 space. Pussycat was chosen to perform at the regional Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, where Troy received a "Meritorious Achievement" and the lead actor a "Best Actor" award for the production. It is an overwhelming honor and pleasure to be directing Bull Shark Attack and again working with one of her most favorite playwrights, Troy Deutsch. About the Cast Tyson Baker is ecstatic to be making his debut at SLAC with this reading of BULL SHARK ATTACK. Tyson received his theatre training from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. Other favorite credits include: Hannay in THE 39 STEPS (Old Lyric Rep.), Reverend John Hale in THE CRUCIBLE (The Grand Theater), The MC in MUSICAL OF MUSICALS!: THE MUSICAL! (Old Lyric Rep.), Friar Lawrence in ROMEO & JULIET(Weber State), Dan in CLOSER (Wasatch Theater Co.) and just coming off a world premiere kid's tour called DIFFERENT=AMAZING which deals with bullying. April Fossen has appeared locally in NOTHING PERSONAL, SUFFRAGE, MESA VERDE, SHE WAS MY BROTHER, and MIASMA (Plan-B Theatre Company); AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (Silver Summit/Utah Rep); THE RIGHTEOUS AND VERY REAL HOUSEWIVES OF UTAH COUNTY (Alligator Press Productions); THREE DAYS OF RAIN, AN IDEAL HUSBAND, and ROMEO AND JULIET (Pinnacle Acting Company); and RINGS (The Grand Theatre). Regional credits include work with Berkeley Repertory Theatre and the California Shakespeare Festival. April holds a Bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts from UC Berkeley. Cassandra Stokes-Wylie is thrilled to participate in SLAC's New Play Sounding Series with this outstanding creative group. What an amazing artistic opportunity. Her recent favorite credits include Helena in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, Actress Two in THE EXIT INTERVIEW, Roxy in CHEAT, Mrs. Givings in IN THE NEXT ROOM, OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY, Elizabeth Proctor in THE CRUCIBLE and the Governess in THE TURN OF THE SCREW. Cassandra has a BFA in Acting from the University of Utah and lives in New York City.
