Monday, June 21, 2010

Planet Connections Interview - Jason S. Grossman of Love Me

By Byrne Harrison

Name: Jason S. Grossman
Play: Love Me
Relationship to production: Playwright
Website: www.lovemetheplay.com, www.funnysheesh.com

How did you first get involved in theatre?

I started writing standup and sketch comedy and doing live action serials.

Who are your biggest influences?

Monty Python, Second City, Woody Allen, Mark Twain, Billy Wilder, Rod Serling, The Beatles...

What is your show about?

It's about our never-ending internal struggle between how we think and what we actually do especially when it comes to relationships. We are all our own biggest obstacle when it comes to finding the right person for us. This play is all about me. It's all about you.

What inspired you to write it?

My life. I started writing this play about the never-ending search for love over a decade ago based and then it sat in my drawer in the form of a 4 hour tome. Last year, a dozen years older and just slightly more seasoned, I rewrote it and came up with the ending.

What made you want to perform in an eco-friendly theatre festival like Planet Connections?

Planet Connections is the best possible marriage of presenting innovative live theatre and protecting/respecting/loving our planet. All these productions are learning from each other. I couldn't think of a more glorious creative entity.

Planet Connections is fairly unique in that a portion of the box office for each show is donated to a charity. What charity have you chosen and why?

We chose Big Brothers Big Sister of NYC, because it fits ridiculously well with the play's content. After that, we humbly realized that it is an organization with a fantastic cause.

What's next for you after Planet Connections?

Producing our film pilot/series "Al-Getcha!" about the media's obsession with terrorism and our full length extreme comedy The Guy of 2Z.

And finally, if you could go back in time and meet yourself as a kid, what advice would you give your younger self?

Don't worry so much. Just play. And play.

Love Me
Written by Jason S. Grossman
Directed by Daryl Boling

Running time: 2 hours, with one intermission

Venue: The Robert Moss Theater, 440 Lafayette Street, 3rd floor

Performance dates:
Thurs 6/10 @ 4pm
Sat 6/12 @ 6pm
Wed 6/16 @ 8:30pm
Tues 6/22 @ 8:30pm
Thurs 6/24 @ 4pm
Fri 6/25 @ 8:30pm

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