Fred Piegonski, Executive Assistant to the President  
               Los Angeles City College, 855 N. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90029 
                           (323) 953-4000  ext. 2243      piegonfg@lacitycollege.edu                            

                      For Immediate Release:  October 6, 2006

Playwright Sean Huze along with members of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America will take part in a panel discussion about their war experiences, after the 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, performance of Huze’s play, “The Sand Storm:  Stories from the Front,” at LA City College’s Caminito Theatre at 855 N. Vermont in Hollywood.  Director Louie Piday will moderate.

Mr. Huze’s play is being presented as part of the two act bill “Theatre of Operations,” along with Eve Ensler’s play, “Necessary Targets,” Oct. 6 to Oct 14 at the college.
 

LACC Theatre Academy actors portray soldiers in “The Sand Storm.”

A day after 9/11, Mr. Huze, an actor in Hollywood, walked into the Marine Corps Recruiting Station at Sunset and La Brea in Hollywood and enlisted in the U.S. Marines.   His first-hand experiences in the War in Iraq serve as the basis for his one-act.

Mr.  Huze, who  attended the North Carolina School of the Arts and the University of Louisiana Lafayette, served in the Marines from 2001 to 2005.  In 2003 he deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  His battalion saw action from Nasirya to Tikrit and was singled out for its tenacity, courage and effectiveness.  The enemy bestowed the name “destroyers” upon them and they were among the most feared units the Iraqis faced.  Mr. Huze was awarded a Certificate of Commendation citing his “courage and self sacrifice throughout sustained combat operations” while in Iraq.  He received an honorable discharge in March of 2005.

Upon returning from Iraq,  Mr. Huze authored “The Sand Storm”  which played in Washington, D.C. after two successful productions in LA, and “Weasel” which made its debut in 2005 at the Kennedy Center.  His third play, “The Dragon Slayer,” which tackles post-traumatic stress disorder brought on by the experience of combat in Iraq, will have its world premiere in LA in 2007.  His first short film project, “Homecoming,” has been submitted to Sundance Film Festival for 2007.  Mr. Huze continues to work as a writer for stage and film, a military consultant, and an actor.  A previous production of “The Sand Storm”  garnered an Editor’s Pick by “The Washington Post” which stated:  “his writing percolates with military lingo and the stories exhibit a wrenching specificity that smacks of first-hand experience….”

Ms. Ensler’s “Targets” also focuses on a war related theme--this time war’s aftermath, as a psychiatrist and human rights worker travel to Bosnia to help women confront their memories of war.  Directed by Louie Piday, performances will be given Oct. 6-14, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday, at 7:15 p.m.; and matinees on Saturday at 2 p.m.  For tickets call (323) 664-2787.

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