About

Fire Country

A Developmental Play Reading

Fire Country

Written by Jessica Chisum | Directed by Helen T. Mariam

During the largest forest fire in the history of Washington state, a tech giant’s best-laid schemes come to a screeching halt. A CEO is missing in the wilderness, and the man who saw him last speaks only in riddles. As the fires loom on the horizon, a young biologist tracks a lone wolf searching for answers.

Inspired by the legend of Remus and Romulus and the founding of Rome, Fire Country explores the fantastical elements of the myth in a realistic setting.

Featuring:

  • Luisa - Merri Ann Osborne

  • Roman/Remus - Ezra Parker

  • Ames/Alett - August Luna

  • Raina/Beto - Kelly Merdinger

  • Martin/Omi - Bob Downing

Tickets are Pay-What-You-Will. One performance on YouTube; audience members are invited to join us for a post-show talkback for the playwright on Zoom.

This production of “Fire Country” is part of TSGP’s on-going series of developmental play readings on the Zoom platform, providing expanded opportunity for underheard voices and stories in theatre.

Creative Team

  • Helen T. Mariam (she/her)

    Director

    Helen T. Mariam is a director, screenwriter, and independent film producer. She is the writer and director of the short films Insufficient and Relationship Demons (Finalist, Best Filmmaker, Easter Seals Disability Film Challenge). The Noise Made By People, a short film she wrote and produced, screened at the Port Orchard Film Festival, the Burien Film Festival, and the Local Sightings Film Festival, where it won the Audience Choice Award. She is a member of the 2021 TSGP Incubator/Mentor Program, where she directed Queenfisher by Natalie Schmidt.

  • Jessica Chisum (she/her)

    Jessica Chisum is a Seattle-based actor, playwright, teaching artist and voice actor. She is extremely grateful for the opportunity to develop FIRE COUNTRY with The Shattered Glass Project. FIRE COUNTRY was originally commissioned as a one-act for the Olympians Festival In San Francisco. Jessica's plays have most recently appeared on Seattle stages with the 14/48 Festival and LG! Theater. In San Francisco, THERE IS A LIGHT THAT NEVER GOES OUT premiered as part of THE MORRISSEY PLAYS produced by SF Theater Pub. Her play THE KINGDOM OF CAMULOS will be workshopped later this year. Other plays include SUPERGIRL, YELLOWED, INSERT QUARTER HERE, and PHOEBE PHOENIX SAVES THE WORLD. She is a graduate of Cornish College's Original Works Program and was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Cast

  • Bob Downing (he/him)

    Martin/Omi

    Bob is excited to return to the Shattered Glass Project, where he played Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing last year. Other favorite roles include Tom Snout in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Seattle Shakespeare Company), Tom Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie (Whidbey Island Center for the Arts), and Brutus, Cassius, Mark Antony & more in The New Shakespearience presents Julius Caesar. Bob lives happily in south Seattle with his wonderful family.

  • Merri Ann Osborne (she)

    Luisa

    Merri Ann has performed on stage and film in Japan, the UK and US. Favorite roles include Salacia, ‘Perseus and Anemone’ (Seattle, WA), a rapping Puritan 'Scarlet Letter, The Musical' (LA, CA), various roles 'The Colored Museum' (San Jose, CA), vocalist in the band 'Fun Chicken' (Osaka, Japan), and as a martial artist with Afro Puffs, ‘Enter the Afros (LA, CA). New projects are one of her passions. She’s also a writer and producer with The Mahogany Project. www.mahoganyproject.org.

  • Ezra Parker (he/him)

    Roman/Remus

    Ezra Parker is very excited to be performing in The Shattered Glass Project’s Fire Country as Roman and Remus Silva. Ezra has performed previously in numerous high school productions including Flower Drum Song as Sammy Fong, and Grease as Vince Fontaine. While studying at the University of British Columbia, Ezra fell in love with ballroom dancing and now competes in events across North America. He wishes to thank his aunt Rebecca for being a theatrical inspiration, and for introducing him to The Shattered Glass Project.

  • Kelly Merdinger (she/her)

    Raina/Beto

    Kelly is thrilled to be a part of the “Fire Country” cast! She has loved exploring acting through classes with Freehold Theatre and participating in Dacha Theatre’s 24 hour play festival Dacha ‘Round the Clock. Kelly is a mental health counselor and is passionate about helping people become their most authentic selves. She finds great joy in creative expression that celebrates the complexities of being a human and is honored to be a part of this project.

  • August Luna (they/them)

    Ames/Alett

    August Luna (they/them) has been acting since they could talk. Favorite roles have included Cecily (Importance of Being Earnest with Shoreline Theatrical Society), Eleanor Collins (Ghost Party with Dacha Theatre), and Juliet (Romeo and Juliet with Young Shakespeare Workshop). They are a company member with Dacha Theatre and are currently attending cosmetology school to become a stylist for theatre and film.