Zombies
nytheatre.com q&a preview by Salvatore Brienik
September 23, 2012
What is your job on this show?
Plawright and Producer.
What type of theater do you like most to work on?
I love shows that are focused on the characters, where there is a message to the piece but the play doesn't pound you over the head with it every two minutes, and where later scenes inspire audiences to think back to earlier scenes and have little "aha!" moments.
Who is more important in the theater: the actor, the playwright, or the director?
The playwright is the foundation, on which the director builds a framework that the actors fill out and decorate. All are vital, but a strong foundation is the key to longevity (says the playwright).
In your own words, what do you think this show is about? What will audiences take away with them after seeing it?
This show is about how no matter what the circumstances, people never stop being people. Although it's called ZOMBIES, it's really about the 5 human and 1 feline survivors. My hope is for audiences to walk away feeling that while the scenario was fiction, those were real people on stage.
Which “S” word best describes your show: SMOOTH, SEXY, SMART, SURPRISING?
Smart. Far smarter than your average survival horror comedy (and I say that as a huge fan of the genre).
Can theater bring about societal change? Why or why not?
All media, theater included, has the chance to hold up a mirror to society. Giving audiences a communal experience though which they can discuss issues that they may not otherwise be able to is a great responsibility, and something the theater should continue to do. There is also the chance to have a literal impact, which is why $2 from every ticket sold for this show is donated to Food Bank for NYC (because Hunger Never Dies).
