LEHIGH VALLEY —How does a “recovering” actor give up the theatre' In this case, the answer is - by putting on a show!Fresh from it’s world premiere at the Capitol Fringe festival in Washington, DC, Selkie Theatre presents '12 Steps', a smart, provocatively funny new piece written and performed by writer/actor Richard Sautter. 12 Steps will be presented upstairs at the Ice House in Bethlehem as part of the IceHouse Tonight series on Saturday, September 10 at 8pm and Sunday, September 11 at 3pm.
In 12 Steps, Richard Sautter takes to the stage - in order to give it up. After more than two decades in the punishing world of show business, Sautter has decided that the theatre is an addiction rather than a career. Using humor and sharp observation skills, he undergoes the 12 Steps of addiction recovery, making a show out of his quest to – well, quit doing shows. 
“To me,” Sautter says, “theatre at its best raises difficult questions while making people laugh. That’s exactly what this piece is designed to do.”“12 Steps grew out of conversations with theatre friends,” Sautter relates. “We just kept talking about how hard things were. Jobs are so scarce, and the hoops you have to jump through to get them are ridiculous. To pursue a career as an actor is constantly damaging to your ego and your bank account. Finally, someone asked, ‘Why do we do this to ourselves'’ One friend said that we were all addicts. He was probably joking, but the idea stuck with me.”The show was a popular and critical success at the Capitol Fringe this past July, and Sautter received a Faculty Creativity Award for it from McDaniel College, where the show was developed.“Solo shows in small venues are a high-stakes venture for both the performer and the audience. 12 Steps gets it right: it connects right from the start with humor, depth, and sincerity. Simply put, it’s a joy to watch.” -- Dante Atkins at dctheatrescene.com:“(Sautter)'s a charming storyteller, allowing hints of vulnerability to shine through even as his character keeps things light.” -- Amanda Erickson at washingtonpost.comBut the IceHouse shows are also a special homecoming for Sautter, who worked as an actor for 15 years in the Lehigh Valley, before moving to the Gettysburg area in 2005. It also marks a reunion with Selkie directors George Miller and Kate Scuffle, who Sautter worked with at the original Theatre Outlet, where he delighted audiences with his performances in Dancing At Lughnasa, The Baltimore Waltz, Ibsen’s Ghosts, and many more.Selkie Theatre presents Richard Sautter in '12 Steps' on for two performances only, on Saturday, September 10 at 8pm and Sunday, September 11 at 3pm, as part of The IceHouse Tonight series. (www.icehousetonight.com, facebook.com/12stepstheshow).
A meet-the-artist reception follows each performance. Tickets are $15/$12 student & senior. Tickets can be reserved at: 484-212-1804 or
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ABOUT THE ARTISTOver the course of a twenty year acting career, Richard Sautter’s experience includes regional theatre, summer stock, fringe festivals, and touring companies. He has appeared regionally on stages including The Theatre Outlet, Touchstone, and the Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre, as well as Hedgerow Theatre, Cumberland Theatre, and the Totem Pole Playhouse. Richard teaches at McDaniel College and Gettysburg College, and has taught at Messiah College and Penn State Lehigh Valley. He has written and toured several works of solo theatre, and has performed as a stand-up comedian in various locales in Virginia. A member of Actors’ Equity, the Voice & Speech Trainers Association and the Mid-America Theatre Conference, Richard lived and worked in the Lehigh Valley for 15 years before relocating to the Gettysburg area in 2005.ABOUT THE ICEHOUSE TONIGHTThe IceHouse Tonight series features an eclectic blend of performance styles, including music, dance, theatre, film, and spoken word, all at the historic Charles Brown Ice House on Sand Island in Bethlehem. The series is dedicated to celebrating and sustaining the work of our regional arts organizations as well as new and emerging regional artists. (www.icehousetonight.com)