By Keri Hayes

Arizona Daily Wildcat

Renowned writer Susan Miller will perform the chronicle of her personal struggle with breast cancer in the first of One In Ten Theatre Company's guest artist series.

Miller, who has written for the television series "L.A. Law," "Thirtysomething" and "Trials of Rosie O'Neill," is a part-time faculty member of NYU's Dramatic Writing Program and has taught at UCLA and Penn State. She also wrote "Confessions of a Female Disorder," which was produced by One In Ten during the 1991 season.

Miller has just returned from the Humana-Festival in Louisville, Kentucky, the premier gathering place for playwrights to showcase their work. Many plays go on from the festival to Broadway, L.A. and other prime locations.

"My Left Breast," which Miller will perform for One In Ten, deals with how her battle with breast cancer and a mastectomy brought into focus other aspects of her life, specifically her personal relationships, said Rhonda Halquist, a member of the artistic direction collective for One In Ten.

"The play deals not with cancer itself, but with what that feeling of mortality did to her, how it made her feel, how it governed the rest of her life," Halquist said.

Miller's writing was decribed as excellent and incredibly funny by another One In Ten member, Kim Lowry.

"She turned this episode in her life into something full of humor Ä parts of it are hilarious," Lowry said.

One In Ten will hold a benefit show for the YWCA Breast Cancer Education Program on the third night of Miller's performance. Halquist said the theater company has tried to do this for every show they have held in their six years of existence.

One In Ten received partial funding for its guest artist series from the Arizona Commission On the Arts. Lowry said she hopes they will receive the grant again next year so that One In Ten can continue to bring talented playwrights to Tucson.

My Left Breast will run 8 p.m., May 5-6 at Historic Y Theatre, 738 North 5th Ave. A special benefit performance will run May 7 at the same time. Tickets for the first two performances are $9, $15 for the benefit, and may be purchased at Antigone Books or from One In Ten. For more information call 770-9279.

One In Ten Theatre Company will also host a new genre performance art show featuring UA artists April 30 and May 1 at 8 p.m. at the Historic Y Theatre. Admission is free. Read Next Article