Mallory/Valerie
nytheatre.com q&a preview by David Marconi
July 17, 2012
What is your job on this show?
Actor & Producer.
Who are your heroes?
Deadpool, Rorschach, and The Sandman are probably my top three heroes. Oh wait, are we not talking about Comic Books? Well then, my heroes are my grandfather Milton Story and my fiancée Bebhinn Zimmerman. Bebhinn is my hero in more of the literal sense. She constantly saves me from myself, she is my rock, and is always there for me when I need her. My grandfather Milt was just a great man. I truly believe most of my artistic qualities and philosophies about life stemmed from his good heart. Milt was an artist, a cartoonist specifically. He was light-hearted, good natured, and probably the most positive force I'd experienced in my life. Without him, I wouldn't have become who I am today. His memory is a constant inspiration.
Why did you want to be part of FringeNYC?
FringeNYC is a chance to showcase the talents of up and coming theatre artists. It's an amazing cultural mix of artists from all over the world. Our theatre company knew this was the perfect opportunity to present our work and connect with other theatre artists. I'm really excited, not only for Mallory/Valerie, but also to see what unique, fresh, and exciting things shine at this year's festival.
In your own words, what do you think this show is about? What will audiences take away with them after seeing it?
Mallory/Valerie is a show about life, addiction, and the effects that humans can have on each other. It's really a roller coaster of emotions. There's a lot of truth in the story of these people. To be honest, I'm not sure what audiences will take away with him. I can only hope that it speaks to everyone on some level or another. It's going to create a plethora of mixed responses. We're not pulling any punches.
Which cartoon character would you identify your show with: Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Mickey Mouse, Marge Simpson?
I guess if I had to choose, I'd say Bugs Bunny. But not the traditional Bugs Bunny. Take the Bugs you know and imagine him recreated by Tim Burton. Make his love of carrots more than a stereotype about rabbit nutrition and twist it into an uncontrollable addiction. Then increase the time he spends in his hole underneath the earth and give him acute agoraphobia. I'd say that version of Bugs would be a great identifier.
If you had ten million dollars that you had to spend on theatrical endeavors, how would you use the money?
With ten million dollars, I'd do my best to bring a freshness back to theatre. Investing properly, my goal would be to break the Broadway mold and really get people excited to see unique theatre shows again. Most people come to shows that have big star-powered names attached to them, that are revivals of beloved shows, or a mixture of both. Meanwhile, a lot of the shows (like the ones you'll see at FringeNYC) go under the radar. I'd really love to get more people to see pieces of theatre that aren't their normal cup of tea.
