Dora Lanier

Dora Lanier is a Seattle based actor, writer, director, and teacher celebrating her thirtieth year of working as a theater artist. Favorite roles include Shirley in the one woman play Shirley Valentine for the Merc Playhouse in Twisp, WA, thirteen years of performing Wanda Flipplefairy for the Snohomish County PUD and Hovstad in Enemy of the People, Sod House Theater of Minnesota.

An active member of several improv troupes, Dora has “played” along with Events on the Edge; Renton, WA, It’s a Mystery; Seattle, WA, Jet City Improv; Seattle, WA, Unexpected Productions; Seattle, WA, Capital City Mystery Players; Austin, TX, and the Gender Bender Project; Madison, WI.  Working with real live stories Dora performed Playback Theater with Threshold Ensemble and Playback Theater Northwest. Dora is a proud graduate of the Unexpected Productions Improvisation School completing all levels of training.

“Professor Dora” has taught acting, movement, improvisation, and theater history for various institutions including:  Highline Community College, University of Texas, University of Montana, Western Washington University and Antioch College. Going by “Miss Dora” her teaching artist credits include directing school musicals at Meadowdale Middle School, and a myriad of break camps/after school classes for UW Summer Day, Youth Theater Northwest, Broadway Bound, Seattle Public Theater, Studio East, and Second Story Repertory Theater.

As a writer Dora created educational assembly plays and storytelling whimsy for Seattle City Light, Republic Services, King County Parks, King County Solid Waste, and Snohomish County Waste Management. She is the script doctor and writer for It’s a Mystery scripts/scenarios. Playwright works in progress include 7,433 Days of Silence- Based on the experiences of Pennie Saum an adult survivor of childhood abuse.