LIVE MAGAZINE VOL 8, ISSUE 185 JUNE 13 THRU JUNE 21 4014

14
David Steen Unchained
Playwright to Actor and Back Again
David Steen leads with a mass of unruly curls
and an inviting smile. He is the guy you want to
hang out with at the local. But beneath the laughing
eyes there is David Steen, the actor and playwright.
David’s acting career took root in Los Angeles in films such
as Of Mice and Men, Reservoir Dogs and Django Unchained.
He has also starred in independent films such as Del Shores’
Blues for Willadean and, his own independent film, The Corndog
Man. He was G.W in the critically acclaimed series Sordid
Lives.
Photo by Dimitri halkiDis
By Angela Romeo
But it was theater that David first made a name for himself.
His first play, A Gift From Heaven, brought David to the critics’
attention. The play was originally produced at The Chamber
Theater, Studio City, in June 1998 . The dramatic play centers
around a poor Appalachian family, the Samuals, and their
quest to deal with their dark secrets. The play won eleven
Drama-Logue Awards, including a Best Actor Award for David’s
role as Charlie. “A Gift from Heaven indeed” was how the LA
Times saw things.
David went on to write Avenue A, the story of an ex-convict
creating a family of misfits and lost souls amid the urban decay.
Its reviewers praised David for creating and “in-your-face play
about a collection of misfits looking sideways at the American
dream. It’s lean, mean, tender and darkly humorous. This is a
show without an ounce of fat.” -The Daily Breeze LA. InTheater
NY wrote “Avenue A is a jewel of a play crafted with uncanny
precision.”
I wondered if these works drew David to the recent production
of Sam Shepard’s True West at the Palm Canyon Theater. The
play deals with a family being forced to look within itself. David
plays Lee, the older brother. Soap Opera Star, Sean Kanan is
cast as Austin, and Veteran Actor, Tristan Rogers, in his theatrical
debut, play Saul Kimmer. Is turmoil of family or the wellcrafted
lines of Sam Shepard that appealed to David Steen the
actor?
“Sam Shepard’s plays had a considerable impact on me as a
young actor,” stated David. “Shepard’s rich characterizations
and raw, edgy dialogue inspired me to take a shot at writing
and acting for the stage.”
David continues to seek out new projects. “This area is awash
in great talent. With that great wealth, this area is perched to
make an impact on the contemporary arts and entertainment
field”, said David. “This play, True West, is the beginning of the
wave.”
David and his wife, actress/vocalist Bobbie Eakes call Palm
Springs home. Bobbie has performed at the Palm Canyon Theater
as well as The Purple Room. Together they are proof of the
talent that calls this area home.
And David? Well, David unchained is proof the culture renaissance
of Palm Springs is here.
David steen
David and bobbie
Photo by Troy Michaels
tristan rogers sean kanan David steen
‘trUE WEst’ will be returning Friday sep 19, 2014 - sunday sep 21, 2014
Angela Romeo is the producer /host of COLLIDING WORLDS TV and COLLIDING
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