The MW Theatre Company

Zoo
an MW Theatre Production

Synopsis

At the Fringe Festival

Premiere

Reviews

Production Team and Cast Bios

"Zoo" was written by Margarita Manwelyan and Jessica Rotondi.

Zoo Synopsis

As part of an experiment/conspiracy organized by D.o.V.E. (Department of Violence Experimentation) -- four young people, Tanya, Phillip, Caleb and Maureen are trapped in a subway car. By being forced to watch surveillance recordings of private and personal moments in their lives, each one of them has to confront his/her actions and viewpoints on violence. They relive each other�s violent experiences together and begin to recognize their similarities. Thus they are inspired to contend for a more harmonious future.

***This production incorporates the elements of theater, film, dance, music, and visual art to heighten the visceral effect of the storytelling on our audience.

�Reviews.

The play is a rich and sometimes funny, intense and dramatic. Two hours passed as if 15 minutes. I wish I lived in New York so I could go and see it one more time. The production with a big cast, tons of equipment to run, film, light and sound, -- all working together in a perfect harmony -- is not a small achievment for the beginners.
Zoo, by Manwelyan and Rotondi is a direct and compelling antithesis to Jean Paul Sartre's NO EXIT. As in the French existentialist's play, we encounter a realistic rendition of the surreal situation. But while the characters of NO EXIT illustrate the idea, that "hell is other peolpe", the ZOO characters make us think that "it is our inability to reach other people and share with them is what creates hell".
ZOO presents 4 young new-yorkers, trapped in a subway car, where in front of those "others" they are confronted with videotaped images from their own lives. These people became unwilling guinea pigs of the experiment, that some mad scientists concocted to prove the "hell is other peolpe" pattern, and to sell their sensational results to the real-life-drama hungry media. Opposite to their expectations, the subjects are able to find the emotional exit out of the trap.

-- Artistic Director, New Enterprise Theater (Boston, MA)

History.

When MW was first established we had weekly meetings that were open to our friends, to artists, and writers, creative peoples of all sorts. We would get together and discuss the state and role of theater in our modern all-too-pop world. And the more we talked -- the more we acknowledged the need we all felt for a "new" kind of theater. What do WE want to watch on stage? What sorts of characters move US, and others of our generation? And how do we keep the audience from falling asleep in their seats?

And so the idea of "multi-medium" productions was born. ***If we made theater as fast-paced and as varied as the pop entertainment that we cannot help but be saturated with in our modern consumerist society -- if we used those tricks to promote our ideals -- we could perhaps have an audience awake enough to take in our message�***

And what is our message?

We have all felt so much� and so often, the cruelty and injustice of our world. A world which sadly enough does not reflect our highest hopes and ideals. So� what we want is no more and no less than to CHANGE that world, CHANGE OUR WORLD. How do we do that?

By stating what it is we want. By demanding that which we deserve. And by choosing the situations, relationships, and projects which ARE in sync with our high ideals.

We started by looking at current events� or at least the events of which we are made aware by the mass media. We watch CNN, read Newsweek and the New York Times, and again and again we are confronted with the VIOLENCE that is everywhere. The high school shootings, the police brutality, the genocides, the ignorance, the hate, the religious clashes, the genital mutilation, the haves vs. the have-nots� all over the world.

Jessica and I started working on the script which we now call Zoo in May 2000. We finished the first draft on December 2^nd, 2000. We have a lot to say, and we are lucky to have many mediums at our disposal. It is so exciting to be able to mix film, and drama on stage, with dance and songs and music�. We've got the seeds planted, and they have taken root in fertile soil.

We got tons of feedback after the Staged Reading on December 4^th, from our friends, members of our production staff, and mentors. Then it was on to rewrites� rewrites� rewrites� letting all the ideas germinate in our minds, infuse our bodies, and feed our souls... In the words of a respected artist/teacher/mentor, Christine Farrel, "We're really cookin'."

-Margarita M.
12.11.00

Zoo (August 2001 Fringe Festival) Production Staff:

• Director - Jessica Rotondi
• Director of Public Relations - Renee Benson
• Assistant Director - Kate Kita
• Stage Manager - Megan Linde
• Movement Consultant - Jillian Wojciechowski
  
  
• Set Designer - Kara Zeigon
• Costume Designer - Christina Baal
• Lighting Designer - Shaun Fillion
• Sound Designer - Andy Cohen
  
  
• Film Co-Director - Andrew Henry
• Cinematographer - Justin Ott
• Film Editor - Amanda Hughes

Zoo Cast:

• Jeromy Barber (Ensemble)
• Jimmy Bopp (Ensemble)
• Jay Curtis (Phillip)
• M. Donelson (Ensemble)
• Alva French (Tanya)
• Ladan Jafari (Ensemble - April '01 production)
• Haskell King (Caleb)
• Margarita Manwelyan (Maureen)
• Tiffany May (Ensemble - August '01 production)
• Michael Andrews (film - Maurie)
• Andy Brown (film - Seth)
• Emily Gustafson (film - Student)
• Mia Lottringer (film - Joelle)
• Alyson Riffey (film - Newscaster)
• Crystal Williamson (film - Gloria)

Jeromy Barber
Jeromy Barber made his way to New York from Houston, Texas. During the day he works in a church, and by night he is acting in shows like Zoo. He also does film from time to time as he aspires to do it for money. Film. Like all Texans, he loves his mother who will probably come to every performance if she can afford it. If funds are low, he will sneak her backstage and hide her in some curtain, prop, or maybe even on stage. Jeromy also writes music and sings. Like most songwriters, he often finds himself in front of an audience making up songs about riding a tricycle to the dentist, falling down and scraping his knee because he prefers peanut butter sandwiches to washing dishes. While being in New York, Jeromy has fallen in love with improvisation. He takes classes at 2nd City, which has made him a constant frustration to directors and writers on sets and stages all over the city. "Is that in the script?" is a question the constantly comes up around Jeromy. The most important thing about Jeromy is that he is happy. He is close to his Mom, has great friends, a good day-job accompanied by an understanding boss, and gets to pursue all of his dreams with the support of everyone he loves. Although moody, he often smiles.

Renee Benson (email: [email protected])
"It was a stormy night. The kinda night when lightning strikes. And I was hanging with some of my artsy friends..." Erykah Badu
I was born, on a hill not so far away. "I had holes in my shoes and I was crying the blues, and I didn't have no place to stay." (the beginning to the scarecrow's solo from The Wiz.) I guess that is how we all started out. As a native of Jersey (and what), what in reality is an hour and a half drive proved to be 21plus years to get to NYC.
As a child, I graced the runway for Buster Brown (beasty, but true), mooned passers by my house, and stayed on the phone after school everyday for 2 hours talking to Miss Piggy on the Muppet Hotline. None of it did my parents approve of. Especially Miss Piggy. But I always had a feeling that these talents would someday come in handy...
As Ali Benson and the 40 student loans to attend NYU's undergraduate acting program, I had this vision of becoming one of the greatest performers of the world. To perform Shakespeare, Alice Childress, Pearl Cleage and Bertolt Brecht were my desires. I dreamed of singing songs with Whitney (now no one wants to do that), Billie Holiday, and my mother's favorite, Patti LaBelle. So I studied 3 1/2 years: 2 1/2 years at Strasberg, one semester at RADA in London, and a summer semester in Amsterdam with ETW. I was attempting to grab on to all of the resources at NYU. And through my years at school, my dreams became more demanding. I wanted to meet Shakespeare, be pen pals with Alice, share folklore with Pearl, and discuss theater as a medium for political change with my man, Bertolt.
"The kinda night when lightening strikes..." When one is an actor, or dancer, or singer, -- he or she is a performer. Unless one says I want to strive to have a performer perform my work. Unless one says maybe I am the 21 year old Alice Childress, they are still a performer.
"An artist is one who creates, imitates and describes life and all its many forms..." (from my journal entry Jan 15th, 1999.)
"...some of my artsy friends..."
I have done shows. We have all done shows. You know that. I will do more. If you want a list, see my resume. But how many of our own? That is why I am involved with MW Theatre Company, because our goal is to create and to assist others in their personal creative projects. I want our experiences, our ideas to breathe. And breathe they will. There will always be stormy nights in the forecast.
* I thank you for being an artist and allowing me to be unconventional.

Jimmy Bopp
The "late bloomer." Hailing from the birthplace of suburbia, Levittown, Long Island. Jimmy was the shy, "quiet kid," and bowling ace through out his school days. It wasn't until after college, when he discovered an Adult Education Acting Class, that he tossed his bowling shoes aside and fell in love with acting. After gracing the background of many films Jimmy made another important discovery, the Atlantic Theater Company's Acting School. After completing the 2 year Professional program at the Atlantic in May 2000, Jimmy has worked on an independent film and with the 24-Hour Play Group. Now he's discovered the crazy girls of the MW and is excited to be a part of their first production. What's next?...... Only time will tell.

Andy Brown
Andy Brown is an actor, writer, and filmmaker. Since moving to NYC from Colorado 8 years ago he has performed in many shows in and around the city. He is a co-founder of 5 of a Kind (NYC based children's theater company), and co-founder/V.P. of AuditionsInteractive.com.

Andy Cohen
First of all, let me give a BIG thank you to Jessica, Renee, and Margarita for the opportunity to participate and contribute to Zoo!
How did I come to hear about this project? Through the internet, the same way you are hearing about me.
And how did I come to doing sound design? It came to me as a natural extension of the work I do as a composer. My current ambition is to write music for Broadway shows; until the "big break" comes along, I need some opportunities to use the computer and recording studio equipment I've accumulated over the years to express myself in creative ways. And I can think of nothing more enjoyable than doing sound design and writing music for theater pieces...O.K., sure, I'd love to drop in some drum loops and mix out a killer hip-hop track for the-artist-formerly-known-as Puff Daddy, but I'll have to wait until I finish the symphony I'm writing for the New York Philharmonic first.
And how did I come to composing music? Despite that no one in my family is a professional (or even competent) musician, I developed a love of music from an early age. And after playing numerous instruments in numerous orchestras, jazz combos, and rock pop and folk bands, I realized that I had more fun writing the music than just playing it. And after 6 years of music studies and two degrees, here I am putting my skills and experience to good use.
And how did I come to be? Mix a sperm and an egg, and I kinda think you know the rest.

Jay Curtis
Jay is from Houston, TX, where he last appeared as Fred in the Alley Theatre's, "A Christmas Carol." Young Aulden in the film, "The Pirate Island of Jean Laffite," playing daily in Galveston. www.jasoncurtis.net. Thank you, Donelle.

Shaun Fillion
(Lighting Designer) Internships: New York Theater Workshop, Ontological Theater, Performing Garage; Lights: HERE, Mambu Mines, The Henry St. Settlement Theater, The Red Room, The Access Theater, Playwrights Horizons Theater School, The Piano Store, The Experimental Theater Wing, National Dance Institute. See him in the lead of Abe Lebewohl Triangle, the first week of May, ETW!

Alva French
Alva French was born in Paris, France and raised in NYC and Albany, NY. After working for Elektra Records for 4 years, she decided to pursue greener pastures in film & theatre production and performance. She currently consults for the Brooklyn Academy of Music as registrar of their 3rd annual Kids Film Festival and as production coordinator of the Royal National Theatre's NYC school tour of A Midsummer Night's Dream. She is a graduate of NYU where she studied French and Cinema Studies.

Ladan Jafari
Ladan Jafari, a native of Albuquerque, New Mexico(yes, it-really is a state) and a recent graduate of Syracuse University is happy to be a part of the MW theatre company.- She has enjoyed playing such roles as Maureen(Beauty Queen of Leenane ), Marguerite(Red Noses), Adriana(Comedy of Errors) and many other-snazzy women. She dedicates this performance to her parents because they're really really fantastic.

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