Unearthing the Mythic: Kyle Walker on *Shapeshifter* and the Power of Storytelling.

We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with playwright and director Kyle Walker to discuss his latest production, *Shapeshifter*, and the creative journey that brought it to life.

Set against the hauntingly beautiful wilderness of Valdez, Alaska, *Shapeshifter* follows a group of hikers who encounter a mythical creature from Alaskan folklore. Walker drew inspiration for the play from a hike in Valdez, where he heard the story of the Kushtaka, also known as the Otter Man—a shapeshifting being rooted in Alaska Native legend. This spark of inspiration grew after a visit to the crumbling stamp mill ruins along the Mineral Creek Trail. “The isolation and haunting beauty of the ruins provided the perfect setting for my play,” Walker recalls. “Everything fell into place after that.”

While the tone of *Shapeshifter* leans towards the dramatic, it incorporates the kind of tension and levity often found in classic horror stories. “There are lighter moments woven in to balance the weight,” he explains. At its core, the play explores deeper themes: identity, transformation, and isolation. “What does isolation force us to confront about ourselves? What would we change if we could? And what are we willing to sacrifice to become who we want to be?” These questions propel the narrative, and Walker discovered in his research that shapeshifting legends exist in cultures around the world—evidence that humanity has long grappled with these existential fears.

Though the first draft of *Shapeshifter* came together easily over a single summer, bringing it to the stage took over five years. This journey included numerous rewrites, each informed by deeper research and unexpected discoveries. A significant turning point in the process occurred when Walker was introduced to Diane Selanoff through the Valdez Native Tribe. Through her, he learned about Nantinaq—a shapeshifting figure from the Sugpiaq and Alutiiq traditions. This connection added a new layer to the play, enhancing its cultural authenticity and fostering community collaboration. Selanoff even agreed to participate in a post-show Q&A with other community members, enriching the experience for audiences and illuminating the stories that inspired the play.

Walker’s creative process typically begins with the story itself. "Sometimes it's only a fragment—a setting, a character—but it always starts there," he explains. From that initial idea, the story reveals how it wants to be told: on stage, on the page, or perhaps in another medium entirely.

Originating from a small town in Michigan, Walker has lived in Valdez with his wife, Molly, for about seven years. He enjoys hiking and cross-country skiing, which continue to inspire his stories. Influenced by writers like Stephen King and Ira Levin, he emphasizes the importance of maintaining a writing schedule while finding his unique voice.

Beyond *Shapeshifter*, Walker is launching the Glacier Strider Players, a new community theatre group in Valdez. The name reflects the resilience of early gold prospectors who shaped the community's history.

Walker encourages aspiring playwrights to “start small” and listen to the world around them for inspiration. As he says, all stories begin by asking, “What if?” so keep questioning, and your stories will find you.