Sunday, June 3, 2012

Planet Connections Interview - Lenny Schwartz of "Accidental Incest: Someone For Everyone"

By Byrne Harrison

Name: Lenny Schwartz
Show: “Accidental Incest: Someone For Everyone”
Relationship to production: Writer/ Director

How did you first get involved in theatre?

I had two choices where I came from: crack cocaine or theatre. I chose theatre. Writing, directing…it fills the hole, the dark spot we all have in our souls. Some people choose the crack cocaine…I chose the theatre.  And I never regretted it.

Who are your biggest influences?

Burt Bacharach, Rick Santorum, George W. Bush, and Snooki…for providing us all with unintentional laughs throughout the years!

What is your show about?

Sex, drugs, nudity, and sex. But with heart.

Here’s the synopsis!

“Accidental Incest Someone for Everyone" is a new play about two of the biggest douchebags in existence who meet and fall in love. And their love and sex starts turning them into better people. Problem is they turn out to be brother and sister. A comedy about the choices we make and the hypocrisy we live in, "Incest" does indeed have "Something for Everyone!" Not for children.

What inspired you to write it?

This play scares the living hell out of me…so I had to do it. A coworker, Linda Barone at Trinity Rep, suggested the title “Accidental Incest” …and it was too rich a title not to write a play about it.

That and I am mentally ill, and I started writing and this is what came out. I’m sorry everyone. I’m so sorry.

Who are your collaborators and how long have you been working with them?

Well, I would like to say here that “Incest” wouldn’t be happening without the people I work with. . These are the people who made “Incest” happen. And the audience…without them “Incest” will be nothing!

In all seriousness, Jim Belanger is my producer and is the best producer a schmuck like me can ask for. Same for Lloyd Felix, our associate producer at Daydream, and Caitlin Murphy, our resident stage manager.

We have been working together for over ten years. It’s like we’re all related.

Why was it important to you to be part of Planet Connections?

Why? Because Planet Connections is awesome! They are in my humble opinion, the most progressive theatre festival out there! Great people, great talent, wonderful experience each time. I am very lucky to be a part of it. And I say this without sleeping with any of them. Though playwright Duncan Pflaster and I came close one time. But I digress.

Planet Connections donates a portion of the box office for each show to a charity.  What charity has your production chosen and why?

RAINN. Because in all seriousness, they are the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network.  They do great work. And it is an honor to be working alongside them. We worked with them last year for “Fidelity,” a show we did for Planet Connections, and I was so happy working with them…again great people who do incredible work.

What's next for you after Planet Connections?

Most likely jail.

So see “Accidental Incest: Someone for Everyone” before they put me in the big house!

And if not I have a film I wrote coming out directed by underground filmmaker icon Richard Griffin called “Murder University”…and I wrote his next feature as well shooting in the winter as well for his company Scorpio Film Releasing and producers Ted Marr and Kristin Kayala.

Oh, and I’m writing a bio play about the Marx Brothers to direct in the fall.

If you could do one thing to change the world, what would it be?

Ban myself from teaching in public schools.

For more information (if you dare), visit planetconnections.org/accidental-incest-someone-for-everyone

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