EMILY PIRO

CO-DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Birthplace: SEATTLE, WA

SATE-ist since: 2008

Emily quickly became interested in theatre as a mechanism for storytelling. She has studied with Seattle Children's Theatre, Seattle's Young Actor Institute and London's British-American Drama Academy, as well as private film and television studies with Colleen Patrick. She experimented with devising and directing Bible stories for youth group members. She devised her first original play, an a cappella musical called "The Drinking Gourd," which was then produced (and directed by Emily) as a part of a One-Act Festival. Since then, Emily has continued her experiments with adapting texts and developing scenes.

Along with a passion for theatre, Emily feels a calling to human rights issues. She graduated early from Saint Louis University with a double major in Sociology (focus on Anthropology) and International Studies. During her time in college, she was involved in both theatre and social justice groups, and occasionally had the opportunity to combine them. She became dedicated to using theatre to reach out to marginalized communities.

In 2007, she shared the stage with SATE Artistic Director Margeau Baue Steinau in the New Jewish Theatre production of Kindertransport, and was later brought into the SATE family. Then she co-starred with Margeau and fellow SATE-ists Michael B. Perkins and Ellie Schwetye in the Hydeware production of The Caucasian Chalk Circle.

Currently, she assists Spotlight Theatre Artistic Director (and fellow SATE-ist) Pamela Reckamp with Spotlight T.E.E.N., which brings acting classes to juvenile offenders at Missouri Hills DYS. As part of the program, two original plays (derived from interviews with students and written by Margeau) are performed by the students and tour St. Louis middle and high schools.

Awards and recognition: Grand Center Visionary Award (Outstanding Young Artist); Kevin Kline Award for Outstanding Performance of an Ensemble (Kindertransport)