SALT LAKE CITY – The Fusion Theatre Project helps students participate in a year-long process to develop new plays in a workshop setting. Now one of those plays has been brought to life and is showing in the upstairs theater at the Salt Lake Acting Company, 168 W. 500 North.

The Fusion project was created by Shawn Fisher, associate professor in Utah State University’s Department of Theater Arts. Fisher and director Richie Call, an assistant professor, worked with the students to write and develop a play called “Woodpecker King of Tacony” in 2013.

Fisher rewrote the play for a professional production, now called “Streetlight Woodpecker.” 

“In terms of the overall themes and storyline, it’s very similar, but the structure and details have changed. At least 60 percent of this play is brand new,” Fisher said.

The play details the life of Benji, a Marine who has returned to his Philadelphia neighborhood after being injured during battle. He has the medals he earned, but also many deep scars and now he must face the emotional wounds he avoided by going to war.

“Benji was challenged throughout his life by a very overbearing father who questioned his masculinity and sexuality,” Fisher said. “Benji’s best friend, Sam, is an openly gay school teacher. With Sam’s help, Benji tries to put the pieces of his life back together after his father’s death,” Fisher said. Benji’s father commits suicide just days after Benji’s return, rendering him homeless. He moves in with Sam, where he tries to face the demons of his life, including his own sexuality.

Salt Lake Acting Company asked Fisher to do a reading of the play and shortly after contacted him to make the production part of the 2015-16 season. SLAC also brought in other USU faculty members for the creative team, with Richie Call (director), Dennis Hassan (set designer/CCA professor), Nancy Hills (costume designer/CCA associate professor) and Adrianne Moore (dialect coach/ head of the Department of Theatre Arts in the CCA). There are also student interns from the CCA working on the production, including Jen Grzybowski (assistant director), Courtney Millecam (assistant costume designer) and Josh Roberts (assistant set designer.)

Fisher is happy to be working with Call because he has been with the play since the beginning.

Grzybowski is also happy with the situation. ” “I have been granted the opportunity to learn firsthand about working in the professional world by participating in the actualization of a beautiful play written and directed by two of my professors,” Grzybowski said.

Grzybowski believes the audience can gain insights from the play about love, acceptance, family, friendship and coping with life.

The show is only for mature audiences. Tickets can be purchased for $24 online at https://tickets.saltlakeactingcompany.org or at the box office. The show starts Wednesday, Feb. 10 and runs through March 6, Wednesdays through Sundays. Start time is 7:30 p.m.