In December of 2010, a harrowing incident unfolded during a routine meeting of the Bay District School Board in Panama City, FL. An armed individual disrupted the proceedings, leading to a tense standoff that tragically culminated in him firing upon school board members at close range. In a tragic twist, he subsequently took his own life, sparing others from physical harm.

Choreographer and artist Dayna Hanson drew inspiration from this unsettling event, shaping it into the foundation for her full-length dance theater piece, The Clay Duke, which premiered in December 2013 at On the Boards in Seattle. Hanson's creative journey involved collaborative efforts with her ensemble cast, cultivated during residency periods at MANCC and the Grand Theatre in Groningen, Netherlands, where the work was presented in a workshop format as part of the Noorderzon Festival.