Tuesday, September 15, 2015

The Rulers: A Sneak Peek into Best of Rule of 7x7

Rule of 7x7 is back, but this time it's a special Best of Edition! Featuring seven fan favorite plays, Best of Rule of 7x7 returns to The Tank on September 24th at 9:30pm. Early bird tickets are $10 or $12 at the door.

The Writers

Name: Chiara Atik

Hometown: San Diego, California

Education: NYU

What edition is your play from?: The very first 7x7 (May 2014)

What were the rules?: 
RULE #1: Somewhere within pages 7-10, a character must repeat a line that ANOTHER character has said within pages 1-4.
RULE #2: Bright sunshine.
RULE #3: At least five years pass between the start and end of the play.
RULE #4: A character has to be concerned with the taking or selecting of a new Facebook picture at some point during the play.
RULE #5: A character must have the name of a Rule of 7x7 playwright.
RULE #6: On page 4, a character gives a brief speech about masturbation.
RULE #7: "If [any celebrity, historical figure, great artist or author] were standing here right now, what do you think [s]he would say about what you just did?" 


Tell us about Chris Sullivan Goes on a Date: It's about a first date...and I don't remember exactly, but I think some of the rules were you had to talk about a Facebook picture (or take one?), and like, a time jump? Alex used my real phone during the show and I still have the picture he took onstage.

Can we expect to see anything different this time around?: I think when it was first performed, the actors were allowed to be on-book!

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: The MC and the popcorn.

Name: Brett Epstein

Hometown: Hamden, CT

Education: Providence College

What edition is your play from?: 7x7: February Edition (Feb 2015)

What were the rules?:
RULE #1: Somewhere on page one: a back-handed compliment, followed by ten seconds of silence.

RULE #2: A character is inappropriately dressed for the occasion.

RULE #3: Math.

RULE #4: At some point someone hugs someone, which has either a negative or positive impact.

RULE #5: Blizzard.

RULE #6: The internet is questioned.

RULE #7: "If you were a Disney character, you'd definitely be _____."

Tell us about Representation: Olivia Stoker and Max Reinhardsen go through an audition for two commercial agents (myself + Rory Kulz) in real-time. Also, you'll learn the name of many types of cats as Max sheds light on The Cat's Meow Tour.

Can we expect to see anything different this time around?: Hopefully we won't break on stage this time. But no promises.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: This reviewer said SNL scouts should stop by! Maybe this time they will!

For more on Brett, visit www.ItsBrett.net

Name: Dan McCabe

Hometown: NYC

Education: Current Writing Fellow at Juilliard

What edition is your play from?: 7x7 Spring Edition (April 2015)

What were the rules?:
RULE #1: Someone does something he/she has seen on YouTube.

RULE #2: Aliens.

RULE #3: Someone hits someone.

RULE #4: Each play must include a flashback.

RULE #5: The color red appears.

RULE #6: Sprinkles.

RULE #7: A list of seven somethings (people, places, adjectives, things to do, etc).

Tell us about Sprinkles & Lloyd: Sprinkles is a clown. Lloyd is an accountant. They're dating.

Can we expect to see anything different this time around?: Since all the rules will be different we can just expect 7 solid shows that stand on their own without a theme connecting them. I've seen all these plays before and I truly think they're great.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: Cause Brett Epstein is the Irving Thalberg of fun theater evenings and this is sure to be the best one yet.

Name: Catya McMullen

Hometown: NYC

Education: UNC Chapel Hill

What edition is your play from?: 7x7: February Edition (Feb 2015)

What were the rules?:
RULE #1: Somewhere on page one: a back-handed compliment, followed by ten seconds of silence.

RULE #2: A character is inappropriately dressed for the occasion.

RULE #3: Math.

RULE #4: At some point someone hugs someone, which has either a negative or positive impact.

RULE #5: Blizzard.

RULE #6: The internet is questioned.

RULE #7: "If you were a Disney character, you'd definitely be _____."

Tell us about Dick Blizzard: Sadie's life has fallen apart so she's spending a little too much time watching Netflix in her underwear. Her roommate, Malcolm decides what she needs to rocket her out of her depression is sex. What results? A dick blizzard.

Can we expect to see anything different this time around?: A few members of the original Dick Blizzard team are doing other shows that conflict so Michael Raine, a director I work with a lot, is stepping in, as are Alex Haynes and Ariana Siegel-two of the funniest working actors I know. We'll miss the old team, but are excited about the new one.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: It's really fun. What I love about events like Rule of is that the entire creative and producing team, along with the audience are completely enthusiastic. They're also all drunk, which helps.

For more on Catya, visit www.catyamcmullen.com


Name: Jenny Morris 


Hometown: Largo, Florida 


Education: FSU Theatre

What edition is your play from?: 7x7 Spring Edition (April 2015)

What were the rules?:
RULE #1: Someone does something he/she has seen on YouTube.

RULE #2: Aliens.

RULE #3: Someone hits someone.

RULE #4: Each play must include a flashback.

RULE #5: The color red appears.

RULE #6: Sprinkles.

RULE #7: A list of seven somethings (people, places, adjectives, things to do, etc).


Tell us about On My Honor: Four former girls scouts reunite at the wake of their troupe leader. 


Can we expect to see anything different this time around?: Yes, some shiny new faces! 


Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: There is a great deal of love and excitement that goes into each of these ten minutes, which makes for a great night of theatre. Like, really great. Like, bring-an-extra-pair-of-socks-cause-your-original-pair-might-be-knocked-off kind of great.



Name: Donaldo Prescod


Hometown: Boston


Education: MFA in Acting, BA in Cinema


What edition is your play from?: 7x7 Almost Summer Edition (June 2015)


What were the rules?:

RULE #1: The last line of the play must be identical to the first line.

RULE #2: Diane.

RULE #3: Jamboree.

RULE #4: During one line of dialogue, a single word must be repeated seven times.

RULE #5: "Her breasts felt like ____" OR "His penis looked like ____."

RULE #6: At some point, pills are taken.

RULE #7: The Hamptons.

FAN FAVORITE BONUS RULE: One character must attempt to tell a joke, but not be allowed to get to the punchline.


Tell us about Black People Are Dangerous: Black People Are Dangerous is a dark comedy about race and serial killers.


Can we expect to see anything different this time around?: Yes, this time the play is just a two-hander with a new ending.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: You should check out Rule of 7x7 because it never disappoints, and it's one of the more inventive theatrical festivals in NYC.

For more on Donaldo, visit www.DonaldoPrescod.com

Name: Colin Waitt

Hometown: St. Cloud, MN

Education: Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (Masters), University of Minnestoa--Twin Cities (BA)

What edition is your play from?: 7x7 Spring Edition (April 2015)

What were the rules?:
RULE #1: Someone does something he/she has seen on YouTube.

RULE #2: Aliens.

RULE #3: Someone hits someone.

RULE #4: Each play must include a flashback.

RULE #5: The color red appears.

RULE #6: Sprinkles.

RULE #7: A list of seven somethings (people, places, adjectives, things to do, etc).

Tell us about Pilot Light: It's a comedic tragedy.  It concerns three grown brothers standing outside of their childhood home in rural Minnesota as they debate which one will go inside and blow out the pilot light in the furnace so they can collect the insurance money.

Can we expect to see anything different this time around?: I've made some tweaks that tailor things a little more to the work the actors (Ryan Stinnet, Zac Moon, Evan Maltby) did when this first performed in April.  I also think it's a little funnier.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?:  Great theater you can actually afford?  Yes please.  Also, before the show you can pay $5 to get your photo taken by an Elmo in Times Square, afterward you can get a cocktail at TGI Friday's, which is next to the theater.  Rule of is great, but the experience surrounding it is what makes it so unique.

For more on Colin, visit www.colinwaitt.com