Board of Directors Justin Waters, Matt Henderson, Mike Donovan, Seth Harris. Follow 12 Peers on Social Media

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Vince Ventura Artistic Director Sara Fisher Producing Artistic

Donovan, Seth Harris Founded in 2011, and taking their name from

organization operating in the Greater Pittsburgh Area.

theater through contemporary works exploring myth and cultural

1 Vince Ventura Artistic Director Sara Fisher Producing Artistic Director Board of Directors Justin Waters, Matt Henderson, Mike Donovan, Seth Harris Founded in 2011, and taking their name from the Twelve Peers of Charlemagne, 12 Peers Theater is a 501(c)(3) organization operating in the Greater Pittsburgh Area. 12 Peers Theater s mission is to provide challenging and engaging theater through contemporary works exploring myth and cultural identity. Follow 12 Peers on Social Media 12 Peers 12PeersTheater

2 Artistic Director Notes Planning our 2018 season was done in a world that felt, and still feels very different than previous seasons. It s a world that feels more dangerous, hateful, and divided than at any point in my lifetime. In service of our mission of exploring myth and cultural identity we felt called to reflect the current national climate through our artistic platform, and to facilitate discussion around the difficult questions that face us. Building the Wall is a cautionary tale, not a history play. The events are fiction and we deeply hope the world never again sees events such as the ones discussed in this play. However, Building the Wall reminds us how easy it is to slowly give up our values and lose our humanity, one step at a time. Building the Wall calls us to be vigilant against injustice, steadfast in our morals, and courageous in the face of what we know is wrong. At the same time, Building the Wall calls us to be compassionate. In this great country of opportunity, there are far too many people who have been left behind. The schisms that divide us aren t so deep that we cannot see what unites us. The fear felt by the disenfranchised, of all races, of all religions, of all genders and sexualities, feels the same to the individuals who feel that fear. We all want feel the same desire for happiness. Sadly, a lot of Americans aren t happy. A lot of Americans are struggling. In a time when we need the support of our communities, we look for people within those communities to blame for the causes of our unhappiness. Often, those people tend to be people of color, immigrants, and members of the LGBT community. The way to move forward is to move beyond tribalism, blaming, and fear, and to look within ourselves for compassion and happiness and to support and protect our communities. This amazing experiment of a country was founded on ideals of equality, freedom, and opportunity. We have done beautiful and terrible things in the name of those ideals. Often, we have failed to live up to the vision of our best selves individually and collectively, but that does not mean we should stop trying. Slowly, we have made and will continue to make progress toward a just, equal, and compassionate society. Until then, stay vigilant, stay compassionate, and try to live up to our shared American ideals. Sincerely, Vince Ventura Artistic Director 12 Peers Theater We want to hear from you! If you have questions, would like to discuss a performance or production, or would like to provide feedback, feel free to artistic@12peerstheater.org.

4 Building The Wall Setting: El Paso State Penitentiary, TX Time: 2019 Production Staff VINCE VENTURA..... Artistic Director SARA FISHER.. Producing Artistic Director MATT HENDERSON... Literary Manager / Marketing Director RICARDO VILA-ROGER....Director CAITLIN SKAFF..Stage Manager JOHN BRUCKER... Technical Director PAIGE BORAK Lighting Designer HANK BULLINGTON Scenic Designer MADISON HACK Resident Costume & Prop Designer SHANNON KNAPP....Sound Designer SANDI FISHER.....Box Office Assistant JENNIFER KAPPERT Box Office Assistant Donors Hazel Leroy Carr Chris Cattell Robert Creo Jeanne Drennen Brian Edward Robin Evans Elizabeth Franz Mark Freeman Steve and Joanne Hallock Ken and Christine Henderson Bill Kulp Johnny Terrari Sandra Ventura Special Thanks University of Pittsburgh City Theatre Company Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre We B Props 1flychicken creations Robert Dunham Sandi Fisher Jennifer Kappert Ashley Martin Meghan Tutolo Krysia Kubiak Vila-Roger

Cast LAUREN BETHEA (Gloria) has dedicated herself to helping others through work in her Church, Public Allies Pittsburgh, volunteering for social justice organizations and writing grants with her

5 Cast LAUREN BETHEA (Gloria) has dedicated herself to helping others through work in her Church, Public Allies Pittsburgh, volunteering for social justice organizations and writing grants with her family. She is the proud parent of an incredible, funny and energetic two year old Lorraine. The arts have been so vital for Lauren to endure life's challenges and she is forever great-full. TOM KOLOS (Rick) 12 Peers Debut! Education: Duquesne University/Point Park University Conservatory of Performing Arts. Favorite roles include: Disney s The Little Mermaid, Role of Prince Eric, Pittsburgh Musical Theatre, Young Frankenstein, Role of The Creature, The New West Virginia Public Theatre, Angels in America (Parts 1 and 2), Role of Joe Pitt, Throughline Theatre, Romeo and Juliet, Role of Tybalt, Primestage Theatre. Twitter/Instagram: tomkolos Production RICARDO VILA-ROGER (Director) is a teaching artist at the University of Pittsburgh Department of Theatre Arts. Directing credits at University of Pittsburgh Stages: Our Town, Baltimore, & Water by the Spoonful. Other directing credits include: The Fantasticks, A Lion In Winter, and It s a Wonderful Life. Recent acting credits: Pool Boy (CLO Spark), Peribañez (Quantum), The Giver (Prime Stage), and Nine (UP Stages). Up next: acting in Gloria with Hatch Arts Collective. CAITLIN SKAFF (Stage Manager) is grateful (and excited!) for the opportunity to work with 12 Peers Theater for the first time on such an important show. Caitlin has worked as a stage manager in Pittsburgh for the last eight years on more than 25 productions with City Theatre, Pittsburgh Playwrights, Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh, Prime Stage Theatre, South Park Theatre, Stage 62, and the Theatre Factory. In May 2017, she assistant directed the world premiere production of The Perks of Being a Wallflower for Prime Stage Theatre. Caitlin has also performed in numerous productions at South Park Theatre, Mon River Arts, Stage 62, and Pittsburgh Savoyards. She is currently the Co-Chair of Pittsburgh Emerging Arts Leaders (PEAL) and a performing member of Pittsburgh Playback Theatre. By day, she works for the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, is a volunteer tax preparer, and mentor to an amazing 7th grader. PAIGE BORAK (Lighting Designer) is a Pittsburgh-based Lighting Designer and performer. She has designed productions for local theatre companies such as CLO, Ghostlight, and Throughline, and she teaches theatrical lighting design at Pittsburgh CAPA Favorite designs include: Orphans, Spitfire Grill, Belfast Girls, Annie, and Vibrator Play. For more information, resumes, and upcoming projects, visit

6 Production Continued HANK BULLINGTON (Resident Scenic Designer) Hank Bullington is a Pittsburgh based freelance Scenic and Video Designer. He is thrilled to be working with all of these talented Artists at 12 Peers once again! Hank s recent Design credits include: Scenic Design, The White Chip, (City Theatre). Scenic Design and Technical Direction, D.O.D.O (Bricolage). Scenic Design, Mr. Burns, A Post Electric Play (12 Peers Theater). Scenic Design, Midnight Radio: A Christmas Story, Night Of The Living Dead N at and The 2016 Holiday Spectacular (Bricolage). Scenic and Video design, Young Playwrights Festival (City Theatre 2016). Scenic and Video Design, A Gathering of Sons, Sweeney Todd, Xerxes, Intermezzo (Pittsburgh Festival Opera, 2017). Scenic Design, The Birds (12 Peers Theater). Upcoming Design Work: Stupid!@#$ing Bird (12 Peers Theater). Technical Director, The forest of Everywhere, (Bricolage), Young Playwrights Festival (City Theatre). MADISON HACK (Resident Costume & Props Designer) made the trek from Texas to Pittsburgh after graduating from Oklahoma State University with a BA in Theatre in Since then, she has gone from costume shop over-hire at City Theatre to Costume Shop Manager. Madison made her main season Hamburg Studio debut at City designing The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey this past January. Madison started working with 12 Peers in 2015 on Existence and the Single Girl by Matt Henderson, and they haven't been able to get rid of her yet; to making blood on Detroit by Lisa D'Amour, to bringing the Simpsons to life in last seasons Mr. Burns: The Post-Electric Play by Anne Washburn. Building the Wall is a gut-wrenching, powerful, and thought-provoking piece that needs to be produced everywhere. Thank you to Vince and Sara for the continuing trust and support. Thank you to my fam, thank you to my love, thank you to my K9 and feline. #lovetrumpshate #buildbridgesnotwalls SHANNON KNAPP (Sound Designer) is a Western PA native who has been making theatre in Pittsburgh since 2008, and she works at Quantum Theatre as Communications and Administrative Associate. She runs her own company, Non-State Actors (nonstateactorspgh@gmail.com) and serves as Production Manager for Throughline Theatre as well as for folklab: in our voices (folklabseries@gmail.com). Selected credits include Milo de Venus (Director, Non-State Actors), The Grand Duke (Assistant Director, Pittsburgh Savoyards) A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Sound Design Assistant, Pittsburgh Public), Belfast Girls (Sound Designer, Ghostlight Theatre), Cloud 9 (Sound Designer, Throughline Theatre), In the Next Room (Assistant Director, Throughline Theatre), Ciara (Assistant Director, Quantum Theatre), How the Other Half Loves (Dramaturg, PICT), Measure for Measure (Creator/Director, Cincinnati Fringe), #ViralContentGenerator (Creator/Director, Pittsburgh Fringe), Iphigenia & Other Daughters (Director, Alarum Theatre), Waking Dream (Director, Between Us Productions). Next up she will be directing Ubu Roi for Throughline.

A Cultural Opportunity Of A Lifetime

A Cultural Opportunity Of A Lifetime Article By: Tula Mason Photos By: Josh Triggs and Seth Freeman The Theatre, the Theatre, what s happened to the Theatre? This was the burning question that Danny Kaye