BY KAREN BOSSICK

A new play based on the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection will be read at Town Center West Thursday night.

“patRIOT,” written by local poet and playwright Les Shanahan, will be the subject of a free play reading at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10.

The play deals with a family whose son has turned in his father to the FBI because of his involvement in the 2020 insurrection. None of the family is seeking forgiveness; they just want to understand. One is on the right, one on the left and one in the precarious middle.

Those taking part in the play reading are Rosemary Cody, Marilyn Baybutt, Martha “Beaver” Burke, Charlie Fowler, Mark Howland and Carol Shanahan.

“The library is not just a place for books; it’s a hub for creativity and community engagement and a safe space for diverse voices and perspectives,” said Lyn Drewien, the library’s director. “We are thrilled to host a talented local playwright and local actors whose work reflects the heart and spirit of our town.  It is also vital to fostering open dialogue and artistic expression. This reading is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to connect with the power of storytelling from several points of view.”

Les Shanahan was born on Lummi Island, near Bellingham, Wash. After spending four years with the U.S. Coast Guard, he graduated from the farrier, or horse shoeing, program at Oregon State University.  He also spent 25 years as a ferryboat captain, plying the waters in northwest Washington State.

Shanahan saw his first play at age 51 at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash., and has been going to the theater ever since. He is also a painter and sculptor.

He and Carol, his wife of 40 years, have lived in the Wood River Valley for 26 years.