Dark Hollow: An Appalachian Woyzeck
nytheatre.com q&a preview by Alkis Papoutsis
July 25, 2012
What is your job on this show?
Director.
When did you know you wanted to work in the theater, and why?
Since I was a teenager in Greece. My godfather, Yannis Ritsos, was one of the most popular poets in Greece. Whenever I visited him, there were theatre artists in his house and I was fascinated by the theatre talk.
Have you been part of FringeNYC in the past? If so, how did you particpate? (Be specific! Name shows, etc.)
Yes - In the first years of FringeNYC, I produced "Can I Not Like It" with my company, Wordplay. Now I've returned, almost 15 years later, with the wonderful opportunity to do a classic play in a new way.
In your own words, what do you think this show is about? What will audiences take away with them after seeing it?
Audiences will see an updated version of a classic tale about the effects of deprivation, isolation and exploitation on a human being. What happens to a simple human being when he gets caught up in the web of forces beyond his control? But, far from being depressing, this production also has humor and wonderful music from the Appalachian mountains. We hope the audience will identify not only with the character Woyzeck, but with the whole society the play represents.
Which famous New Jerseyite would like your show the best: Snooki, Bruce Springsteen, Thomas Edison?
Bruce Springsteen - because he is a working class hero who sings about the realities of working class life.
How important is diversity to you in the theater you see/make?
As an educator teaching in an urban environment, I experience diversity every day of my professional life. I think it's important to bring that to the stage.
