SOUTHWEST THEATRE PRODUCTIONS

BOYD VANCE THEATRE - JAN 22-31

ALEKS MERILO'S

EXIT 27
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO
THE LOST BOYS OF UTAH?
1,400 teenage boys were abandoned
in the desert at the hands of a
religious cult. Where did they go?

How do you know

you've been brainwashed?

MIND CONTROL
SPOKEN HERE

PHOTOGRAPHED BY ALEKSANDER ORTYNSKI

WARREN JEFFS
THE ORIGINAL SINNER
7 things you didn't know about
this radical religious dictator
and the FLDS.

SWTP

EXIT 27

BACKSTORY

NO ONE TALKS
ABOUT WHAT
REALLY HAPPENED.
KAT SPARKS
DIRECTOR, EXIT 27

When Warren Jeffs faced a raid on his Eldorado, Texas

compound in April 2008, which resulted in his
imprisonment for polygamist marriages to underage girls,
much was reported about the Fundamentalist Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS). It was, and is, a
religious cult led by a radical dictator. A dictator who has
used mind control to such a degree that many followers
believe hell return to lead the commune again, in spite of
his life sentence. But during the shouts and slamming of
suitcases something major was overlooked by the media.
Hundreds and hundreds of teenage boys were missing. It
should have been obvious given the predominantly female
population among thousands of members. But if it was, it
was rarely mentioned.
Statistically there are an equal number of male and
female babies born into this world. How was it possible
then, for three, or ten, or yes even seventy wives to serve
one man? Easy: Reduce the number of males in
competition for wives. But how?
Jeffs and his henchmen came up with a plan. Trump up
sins to get a large number of young men exiled, one at a
time. Minor infractions became big sins when committed
by boys. So unforgivable were these sins, families were
told, that if they chose not to send their sons into exile they
themselves would lose salvation. So the boys, one by one,
were left on the side of the road with little more than the

shirt on their backs. Mothers and fathers made U-turns

back to the safety of their homes, and to daughters who
committed the same sins but were given a lecture and a pat
on the head. Not a one-way ticket to nowhere.
According to local social services the total number of
exiled young men, some as young as twelve years old, is
unconfirmed. Many didnt have birth certificates. Several
had similar names and bloodlines. It has been documented
that as many as fourteen hundred boys have been
dropkicked into the desert since the year 2000. Most died
from disease, starvation, or the elements. Some committed
suicide, died from a drug overdose, or killed each other.
Very few asked for help because they had been
brainwashed into thinking that everyone who wasnt a
member of FLDS was evil, and to speak to them was a date
with eternal damnation.
Mind control is found in radical militaries, gangs,
domestic abuse, and religious cults. So by itself, this isnt
unique. What is unique is the sheer volume of followers
willing to place their own children into harms way, fully
knowing there was a better chance than not they would
perish. Remarkably, equipped with only a backpack and a
seventh grade education some still managed to survive. But
how? This is the mystery of The Lost Boys of Utah. EXIT 27
by Aleks Merilo, gives us a chance to experience the exile,
abandonment, and the battle for survival of four Lost Boys.

SOUTHWEST THEATRE PRODUCTIONS

EXIT 27
BY
ALEKS MERILO
AT THE BOYD VANCE THEATRE
JANUARY 22, 23, 24 & 29, 30, 31

Haunting is the best and most used word to describe the captivating piece that Aleks
Merilo has created in his play, EXIT 27. Emerging Playwright
This new work truly and unequivocally gets everything right. This resoundingly
incredible play deftly moved me more than anything I have ever witnessed, stirring my
mind and breaking my heart many times and on many different levels. Broadway
World
EXIT 27 is by far the best original play to be produced this season. Critics Critic
Winner! 2013 Broadway World Award for "Best New Play" - TX
Winner! - 2013 Sanguine Theatre Companys Project Playwright Competition - NY
Winner! - 2012 New American Voices Play Reading Series - TX
Winner! - 2012 Coho Productions New by Northwest Playwriting Contest OR

Table of Contents
THE LOST BOYS OF UTAH BACKSTORY ......................................................................................................................... 2
EXIT 27 SHOW LOGO ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
PERFORMANCE DETAILS ............................................................................................................................................... 5
EXIT 27 PRESS RELEASE - SYNOPSIS .............................................................................................................................. 6
ACTORS - CHARACTERS ................................................................................................................................................. 7
FLDS 101 FAST FACTS ................................................................................................................................................. 9
COMPANY INFORMATION .......................................................................................................................................... 10
ACTOR INVERVIEWS (Supplement) ......................................................................................................UPON REQUEST

Contact: Sherrie Marino, Communications Manager 512.217.1074

SOUTHWEST THEATRE PRODUCTIONS

EXIT 27
A Story Based on True Life Events.
Over a ten year period fourteen hundred teenage boys, the Lost Boys of Utah, have been dropped off at
exit number 27 along the Arizona-Utah border by the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints (FLDS)
to atone for their sins. Most don't survive. EXIT 27 is the story of four of those young boys, their attempt
to become good again, and how a young girls visit from the forbidden town of Hurricane changes
everything.

WHAT
Southwest Theatre Productions presents EXIT 27, by Aleks Merilo, Directed by Kat Sparks and Starring
Thomas Burke, Nathaneal Dunaway, Sam Stinson, Sam Domino, and Lee Eden.

WHEN
January 22nd through 31st - 2016
Evenings: Fri. Sat. at 8pm; Sun. always at 4pm

WHERE
Boyd Vance Theatre, 1165 Angelina Street, Austin, Texas (near East 11th Street) inside the George
Washington Carver Museum.

TICKETS (FREE PARKING!)

$22 - General Admission

$18 - Seniors (age 60 and older)

$18 - Students

$15 - Groups (6 or more)

MILITARY ALWAYS FREE

Brown Paper Tickets
http://exit27austin.bpt.me

L-R: Nate Dunaway, Sam Domino, Lee Elder, Thomas Burke, and Sam Stinson

(Austin, TX) - Southwest Theatre Productions presents EXIT 27, an original drama by Aleks Merilo, directed
by Kat Sparks. EXIT 27 is an intense, gritty drama which will run for 6 nights the last two weekends in
January at the Boyd Vance Theatre. Wine concessions are available at each performance beginning one
hour prior to the show. Parking is free at the Boyd Vance Theatre.

SYNOPSIS
LOCATION:
TIME:

Utah, Southern Desert Region

The entire story takes place over two weeks in July around 2004.
Four Lost Boys have each found their way to the same abandoned home in the
desert within a few months or years of each other. They were told they would
never get into heaven or see their families again, but they have hope. When one
of the boys is injured they fight their fears and elect one among them to risk
salvation and travel to the nearby town of Hurricane to get help. But the one they
choose has a secret plan of his own.
A young girl in Hurricane wants to help but has no idea who these boy are, how
serious their situation is, or how dire the circumstances. Her choices spin their
lives out of control forever, making them question everything they know about
their faith, and each other.
This gripping, award-winning original play is based on true events. There are light
moments, though the majority of the story is gritty and intense. Discretion should
be used when bringing children under the age of sixteen.
Director is Kat Sparks, Stage Manager is Heather DeMartini. Lighting Designer is
Amy Lewis, Sound Designer is Fabian Duran. The set was created by Wesley
Riddles, Production Designer, who works primarily in television and film in Austin,
Texas. Logan Sparks, Ph.D., Anthropology, advised regarding music, religion and
rituals.
This new, original play has won many awards since it was introduced. The
Houston Chronicle and Broadway World named it the Best Play of 2013. This is
the first Austin production of EXIT 27.

EXIT 27 CAST
Thomas Burke (Ryker)
Thomas is an Austin-based producer, actor, and editor originally from
Joliet, Illinois. He first performed in live theater as a teen while also playing
drums in an established heavy metal band. Since then, Thomas has
developed his craft as a filmmaker in Austin, Texas, directing and producing
dozens of short narratives. He recently won the Best Director award at the
Austin 48 Hour Film Project for his work The Making of The Lost Son.
Thomas has worked as a post-production editor for On Story, Austin Film
Festival's Emmy award winning program on PBS-KLRU. He continues
to work on both sides of the camera in both theater and film style
production.

Nathaneal Dunaway (Dodge)

This is Nates first appearance with Southwest Theatre Productions, and
he's thrilled to be bringing this production to Austin for the first time. Past
shows include DNA (Capital T), Los Tequileros and The Mexcentrics (Teatro
Vivo), Frog & Toad (Scottish Rite), and Austin Is A Place (Theatre En Bloc).
An Austin native, Nate studied theater at Austin Community College and
The University Of Southern California. He'd like to thank his friends and
family for their constant support. Nate can be seen next as the title
character in La Fenice's Chad Mercury & The Siege of the Dark Nebula,
opening at the Butterfly Bar in spring 2015.

Sam Stinson (Shyler)

Sam is delighted to be making his debut with Southwest Theatre
Productions. Recent credits include work on the 2015 feature film My All
American, and the HBO series, The Leftovers. He currently studies under
Laurel Vouvray, learning the Stanford Meisner technique at In the Moment
Acting Studio, and previously trained for two years at the State Theater
School of Acting in Austin, Texas, where he resides.

Sam Domino (Brodie)

It wasnt until the end of his high school career that Sam first began
performing, appearing in musicals as Bryan in Damn Yankees and Tommy
Djilas in The Music Man. Since attending The University of Texas at Austin,
he has had the pleasure of working on multiple student and class
productions, with roles as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, and multiple
characters in The Laramie Project. As a born and raised Austinite, he is
extremely grateful to live in a city with such a thriving art scene. He
continues his career as a full-time 3rd year student, while participating in
various stage and film productions in the Austin area.

Lee Eden (The Outsider)

Lee is a 16 year old high school junior. She first caught the acting bug at the
age of nine, seeing her older sister perform in a musical. At ten, Lee was
already working professionally, and loving every second of it. She considers
herself lucky to be presented with opportunities to work in various fields,
including theatre, commercials, voice-overs and more. Some of her favorite
roles in theatre include Rhoda Penmark in 'The Bad Seed', Brigitta Von
Trapp in 'The Sound of Music', and Martha in 'Spring's Awakening'. Her
most recent role was Chris Gorman in 'Rumors'. After reading the casting
breakdown for 'Exit 27' and doing research on the playwright and the play
itself, Lee decided The Outsider is the role she absolutely must have... Lee
is very excited to be working with - and learning from - her exceptionally
talented cast mates, an amazing director Kat Sparks, and the superstar
stage manager Heather DeMartini.

Kat Sparks (Director)

Kat is a founding member of Southwest Theatre Productions. She
studied with Ivana Chubbuck at the Roy London Studio in Los
Angeles, and now directs and provides private coaching in the Austin
area based on many of Ivanas techniques. She appeared in the
recurring role of Patty in The Young & The Restless, in CEO opposite
James Coburn, and in over seventy-five plays in theatres as diverse
as Theatre Three in Dallas, and the Zephyr Theatre in Los Angeles.
Her most rewarding role was Sharon in Three Ways Home by Casey
Kurtti, where she performed in several cities in California including a
Ted Lange production for Black History Month in Los Angeles. You
can currently hear her voiceover in commercials for Zextit.

Aleks Merilo (Playwright)

Aleks Merilo is a Portland based playwright and drama teacher. He wrote Exit
27 based on interviews he conducted with The Lost Boys of Utah while
employed at the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Merilos scripts include THE WIDOW
OF TOMS HILL (2nd Place winner of the Julie Harris Playwriting Competition, and
recently produced by 59E59 Theaters in NYC), EXIT 27, (Recent winner of the
Coho Productions New by Northwest Playwriting Contest, performed at the
Landing Theatre in Houston, Texas, The Sanguine Theatre Company in New York
City, and currently in production with Austins Southwest Theater Productions)
BLUR IN THE REAR VIEW, (Winner of the James Rodgers Playwriting Contest,
premiered at the University of Kentucky, Lexington) and LITTLE MOSCOW,
(Winner of Dubuque Playwriting Contest, performed at the Labute New Play
Festival, and currently scheduled for production at the Arundel Festival, UK ). His
plays have been performed/developed with the aide of The Furious Theater at
the Pasadena Playhouse, Artists Repertory Theater, The Old Globe Theater,
Portland Center Stage Fertile Ground Festival, Pittsburgh New Works Festival,
Ross Valley Players, The Moving Arts Theater, The UCLA New Play Festival, and
Portland Readers Theater among others. Originally from Palo Alto, CA, he holds
a BA in Theater, and an MFA in playwriting from The UCLA School of Theater,
Film, and Television.

SWTP

EXIT 27

FAST FACTS

7 FAST FACTS
OF THE FLDS
1. The FLDS believes in and practices blood atonement. Its your duty to take the life of
someone who sins greatly, so they can regain salvation and enter heaven.
2. Of the 8,000-10,000 members, 50% are direct descendants of the two original founding
fathers.
3. Fumarase Deficiency, also called Polygamist Downs, is a severe form of retardation.
There were only 13 cases worldwide (ever) until 1990 when 20 cases were found
between the FLDS twin cities of Colorado City and Hildale, Utah. This form of retardation
requires both parents to carry the gene, which is why its generally found in marriages
between first cousins.
4. Young males learn construction skills at a very early age as they help to build structures
and homes in the community.
5. Youre forbidden to wear red. That color is reserved for Jesus when he returns.
6. Women dont cut their hair. They will use it to wash Jesus feet when he returns.
7. Warren Jeffs is serving his life sentence just 3 hours northeast of Austin, Texas.

Young male members of the FLDS. Permission to use granted by the photographer: Trent Nelson, SLC Tribune.

ABOUT
SOUTHWEST THEATRE
PRODUCTIONS
EXIT 27 is produced by Southwest Theatre Productions, a company focused on producing quality
plays and new works, particularly those that easily transfer to film or television and include strong
female lead roles. Please contact Sherrie Marino, Communications Manager, by phone (512-2171074) or email (sherriemarino@yahoo.com) for photos or additional information.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southwesttheatreproductions
Website: http://www.swtproductions.com

THE LOOK OF EXIT 27

The look of this performance logo was entirely created by the amazing skills of Emanuel Saba of
Sabagraphix. His almost overnight vision came from his insistence upon reading the script,
listening to selected music, and asking thought-provoking questions. He also created our poster
for Dear Penelope, Love Letters, and is currently developing the look and feel of Wolves of Beirut.
You can contact Emanuel Saba through his website: https://www.sabagraphix.com.
Thank you. Your time is greatly appreciated. Please come to the show at your convenience and
simply let the ticket-taker know youre media.

Southwest Theatre Productions "EXIT 27" is a sponsored project of Austin Creative Alliance, a non-profit arts service
organization. www.austincreativealliance.org