Off The Rocks Theater

Schatzie Schaefers

Is an Alaskan playwright who also produces, directs, and acts in local theatre productions in her hometown of Anchorage. In the last two years alone her short plays have been produced through festivals in San Francisco CA, New York NY, South Camden NJ, Toledo OH,
Brooklyn NY & St.Paul MN. Most recently, Schatzie’s short play Where Strawberries Come From  was produced both at the Arcs & Triumphs Festival in April & May in Manhattan, and at the Lakeshore Players Festival in White Bear Lake, Minnesota in June. Schatzie is a co-producer and regular participant in Alaska Overnighters, where plays are written, rehearsed, and performed in the span of 24 hours. Schatzie’s stage credits include Honey in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (Cyrano’s Off-Center Playhouse 2006), Beth in A Lie of the Mind (Open Door Theatre 1999), Pam/Popo in Fat Men in Skirts (TOAST 1997), Claire in Fuddy Meers (Manbites Dog 2000), and Bride/Felice in Kafka Dances (Cyrano’s 2005). She directed the world premiere of Arlitia Jones’ play Sway Me, Moon  in February of 2007 at Out North. Schatzie was a nominee for the United States Artists Fellowship in its inaugural year in 2006. She spent 14 years as an on-air personality in commercial radio, and now works as marketing and development director for Out North Theatre in Anchorage. She holds a bachelor’s degree in theatre from University of Alaska, Anchorage.

"When Tami first came to me with this idea, I thought it sounded fascinating. But I couldn't help wondering why she had chosen me to be the playwright. Most of my plays are dark comedies, and my assumption was that she wanted the play to be a straight drama. Not so, as it turns out. And over the last four months that the group has been meeting, there have been quite a few hilarious moments which have been therapeutic for everyone involved, including me. I've learned a lot through this process, and each time we meet I learn more. I could probably write ten different plays based on what the women in our group have taught me. But even writing one play on such a heavy topic as addiction is challenging enough. I'm enjoying the process, and I hope you will enjoy the play."