REAL-WORLD THEATRE Speaker Series
This free series from Durango PlayFest will bring young playwrights and actors of diverse backgrounds to Durango to speak to students at Fort Lewis College and students in 8th grade and older in La Plata and surrounding counties. Frank discussions of the challenges and opportunities in the industry – warts and all – can inspire students to envision theatre careers they may not have otherwise considered. Events will be held each Spring and Fall. If you are bringing students to an event, please RSVP to mandy@durangoplayfest.org or call 970-903-6537.
Erica Vetter – Actor
Thursday, April 3 from 1 – 2 p.m.
Fort Lewis College Theatre Building
FREE to the public
Erika recently starred in Merely Players’ production of “Swing State.” It was her third production with Merely Players. Her theatre credits include performances in “Teenage Dick” (Seattle Repertory), the Off Broadway production of “Emilie” (The Flea), and “The Flick” (Mendocino Theatre Company). Her TV credits include “Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu) and “Somebody I Used to Know” (Amazon Prime).
ALEX RIAD – Playwright
Alex, an Egyptian-American writer based in New York City, was our speaker in March 2024. He enjoyed speaking with students at Durango High School, Animas High School and Fort Lewis College. His play, “Heartbeat,” premiered at the 2023 Durango PlayFest. He has been a part of The Lark’s Middle Eastern Writers Lab, a Literary Fellow at The Farm Theater, a member of The Actor’s Studio Playwright Unit, a Lila Acheson Wallace American playwriting fellow at The Juilliard School, and is currently under commission at the Atlantic Theater Company via the Judith Champion Launch Commission Program. He is a graduate of the Juilliard School.
SKY LAKOTA-LYNCH – Actor
An actor of Native American and Ethiopian descent, Sky served as the first speaker in PlayFest’s REAL-WORLD THEATRE speaker series in April 2023, where he spoke to students at Fort Lewis College, Animas High School, and the cast of FLC’s production of “Romeo and Juliet.”
Sky is starring as Johnny Cade in the Broadway musical, “The Outsiders.” He’s received both Tony and Grammy nominations for his role. He made his Broadway debut as Jared Kleinman in the Tony-winning “Dear Evan Hansen.” At the 2021 Durango PlayFest, he starred with actor Dan Lauria (The Wonder Years, Lombardi) in Pulitzer-nominated playwright Lee Blessing’s play, “The Family Line.” He graduated from The Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre in New York City.
