The Interrobang Theatre Company participates in Charm City Fringe with second production ever, Deborah Zoe Laufer’s new play Leveling Up
Wednesday, October 8, 2014. Baltimore, MD: Rehearsals are underway for The Interrobang Theatre Company’s next production, Leveling Up, written by Deborah Zoe Laufer and directed by Sarah Scafidi. In Leveling Up, twenty-something roommates Ian, Chuck, and Zander spend every day locked away in their Las Vegas basement playing video games along with Zander’s girlfriend, Jeannie. Ian is a video game master making his living by helping amateur gamers to “level up”. When he is approached by the National Security Agency to turn his virtual talents into real time warfare, the line between fantasy and reality blurs. Deborah Zoe Laufer’s new, coming-of-age play asks what it really means to connect in a world ruled by screens.
“I had the pleasure of seeing Leveling Up during its workshop phase at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center in Waterford, Connecticut in 2011,” says Director Sarah Scafidi. “The play struck me with its honest, realistic nature and biting relevance. Three years later, I find that it still has potency, giving insight into a culture where we would much rather hide behind our virtual, self-made identities–via social media, video games, or otherwise–than face potential failure in the ‘real’ world beyond our screens.”
Launched at the beginning of this year, Interrobang is a brand-new Baltimore based theatre company dedicated to producing high quality, new and contemporary plays that are challenging and exciting for the young actor and director. “We are very excited to tackle our second production ever with Leveling Up,” Interrobang Artistic Director, Katie Hileman, says. “I find myself becoming more confident in my role as Artistic Director as Interrobang grows and we continue to work toward bringing new, interesting plays to Baltimore, like Deborah Zoe Laufer’s piece. I feel that working with new theatre artists like Sarah has strengthened us all as theatre producers.”
Leveling Up will feature Tim German as Ian, Tavish Forsyth as Chuck, Todd Zachwieja as Zander, and Interrobang Co-Founder Jessie Poole as Jeannie.
Leveling Up written by Deborah Zoe Laufer, directed by Sarah Scafidi. Performances that are a part of the Charm City Fringe Festival will run Wednesday, November 5 at 8:30pm; Friday, November 7 at 9pm; Saturday, November 8 at 9pm; and Sunday, November 9 at 5pm. A second week of performances will run Tuesday-Saturday, November 11-15 at 8pm and Sunday, November 16 at 2pm. All performances take place at the Mercury Theatre, 1823 North Charles Street Baltimore, Maryland 21201. Tickets range between $7-12. The Tuesday, November 11 performance is Pay-What-You-Can. For tickets, visit www.interrobangbaltimore.org.
About The Interrobang Theatre Company
The Interrobang Theatre Company is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to producing high quality, new and contemporary plays that are challenging and exciting for the young actor and director. Through our work, we want to make the unfamiliar familiar and accessible to our audiences by exploring universal stories of the human experience. It is part of our mission to attract and retain theatre artists to Baltimore by offering professional opportunities, and to establish Baltimore as a vital city in the contemporary theatre scene.
Leveling Up Cast
Ian, Tim German
Chuck, Tavish Forsyth
Zander, Todd Zachwieja
Jeannie, Jessie Poole
Leveling Up Artistic Staff
Playwright, Deborah Zoe Laufer
Director, Sarah Scafidi
Scenic Designer, Andrea Crews
Costume Designer, Bailey Musiol
Lighting Designer, Austin Byrd
Sound Designer, Matt Pagan
Stage Manager, Kristyn Wright
Interrobang Staff
Artistic Director, Katie Hileman
Managing Director, Kiirstn Pagan
Director of Business, Jessie Poole
Director of Development, David Brasington
Development Coordinator, Brady Whealton
Media Contact
Kiirstn Pagan, Interrobang Managing Director
[email protected] | 410.236.3846
