The Rulers: A Sneek Peak into Rule of 7x7: February Edition

The weather changes from frigid to mild in just a day so it must be February. And another Rule of 7x7 is coming to The Tank! So to get you ready for Thursday's show at 7:00pm and 9:30pm, we have a glimpse into the seven rulers AND the special guest host!

The Guest Host

Name: Rachel Lin

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY via Manchester, UK

Education: BFA, NYU Tisch

As an actor, what has been your favorite 7x7 experience so far?: Rehearsing Jenny Morris's On My Honor directed by Courtney Ulrich with Briana Pozner, Lydian Blossom, and Kristin Friedlander -- we could not keep it together! Those ladies made me laugh so hard, I (secretly) peed my pants a little. Also, working with Ugo Chukwu & Dan McCabe. Those guys are just the best. Also, getting to play a lesbian named "Ronda" written by Abby Rosebrock.  Basically, all of them.

How did you get involved with guest hosting Rule of 7x7?: Brett maintains a highly selective screening process for Rule of 7 hosts. I'm not at liberty to discuss what it entails at length, but I can say that it involves pumpkin flavored coffee drinks, top 100 songs from the 90s, and trips to the Patriot (Tribeca's finest watering hole).

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: Sexy idiots having a great time together.

 Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: Come for the plays. Stay for the party.

For more on Rachel, visit rachelmlin.com

The Rulers

Name: Matt Cox

Hometown: Rowlett, TX

Education: Tarleton State University (Home of the Texans.)

What is your rule?: Texas. (I sense a theme.)

Why did you pick your rule?: I could say something about wanting to find a connection to my upbringing, but really I just thought it would be funny and people could do silly accents.

Tell us about Cool Chefs JR. The Live Season Finale: CCJ: TLSF is about that one part of all full season based reality shows where they are about to announce the winner, but take that one last commercial break right before the results. In CCJ:TLSF, that sequence of events continues happening for 10 years on a children's cooking competition.

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: 7 very different ways to interpret 7 sentences and/ or words. It's always fun to see what some writer's instincts are.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: Because a great time will be had by all.

For more on Matt, visit www.mattcoxland.com

Name: Cary Gitter

Hometown: Leonia, New Jersey

Education: BFA in dramatic writing and MA in English and American literature from NYU

What is your rule?: Judaism.

Why did you pick your rule?: Because I'm Jewish.

Tell us about Circumcision: A young Jewish couple go to see a mohel (a performer of ritual circumcisions) about their unborn son's bris. Chaos ensues.

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: Funny, outrageous short plays by talented writers, performed by fearless casts, helmed by great directors.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: Because it's a fun, raucous night of theater, and it's cheap, and you get a free drink. What better way to spend Thursday night?

Name: Sylvia Khoury

Hometown: Purchase, NY

Education: New School MFA, Med School at Mt. Sinai!

What is your rule?: Clorox Wipes

Why did you pick your rule?: I'm a big fan. Actually, I buy Clorox spray and use it with paper towels. Lasts much longer.

Tell us about Welcome!: I feel like my soul has been laid bare in this one.

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: The programs crinkling as people point to the rules they recognize.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: Because you can spend the whole time thinking about how 7x7=49 like I do.

For more on Sylvia, visit www.sylviakhoury.com

Name: David Meyers

Hometown: Fort Lee, New Jersey

Education: Way too much.

What is your rule?: The line "Did I do that?"

Why did you pick your rule?: Somehow "Family Matters" and Steve Urkel popped into my head. I'm interested to see if anyone uses the line in that context (I didn't).

Tell us about ISIS in Hollywood: ISIS in Hollywood is about a Jewish actor from New York who gets kidnaped by ISIS in Syria. It's a pretty provocative look at ISIS that will hopefully make you both laugh and think. Springtime for Hitler in Syria.

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: I've performed in and attended Rule of 7x7 in the past, and have always been blown away by all the talent onstage. I expect the same next Thursday.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?:  Come on - don't you want to see a comedy about ISIS?

For more on David, visit www.DavidActs.com

Name: Megan Sass

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio

Education: BFA, Syracuse University

What is your rule?: At some point, someone pretends that an inanimate object is talking to them.

Why did you pick your rule?: Pretending to speak to with inanimate  object is a great way to passively aggressively communicate something sincere to another human being.

Tell us about Clorox, Please: Members of the marketing team at Wet Ones work to outsell Clorox Wipes. And I can't be sure, but I'll bet that my play out-Jews that Jew writer who suggested the rule "Judaism."

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: Chaos, one-liners, sketch-level characters, and some degree of unintended improvisation.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: It is likely that everyone involved; the actors, directors, writers, and producers are all taking some kind of risk. It's a lot of theatre packed into one evening, plus booze.

For more on Megan, visit http://megan-sass.com

Name: Jordan Swisher

Hometown: Lancaster, PA

Education: BA in Theatre/English.

What is your rule?: Someone must recite a complete dinner recipe.

Why did you pick your rule?: I like challenging actors – whether it be through difficult or complicated dialogue or physically demanding roles/actions.

Tell us about What We Found in Texas: My play is about a couple who travel to Texas in search of buried treasure. What they find is surprising but even more surprising is what they do with it.

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: You’re going to see some extremely creative minds putting together some of the most entertaining theatre in the city.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: There is nothing like this anywhere else in NYC that I know of – yeah, you could go see a play or musical – same old stuff. This will be unlike anything you will see anywhere else. Seven completely different short plays all built from the same 7 rules.

For more on Jordan, visit JordanSwisher.com

Name: Monica Trausch

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Education: UC Santa Barbara

What is your rule?: At the start of the play, someone is holding a grudge.

Why did you pick your rule?: Grudges are funny, revealing, and hopefully stir up conflict.

Tell us about End Zone Divas: An all female fantasy football league welcomes two new (unsuspecting) members.

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: Oreos. In my play, at least.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: Lots of creativity, fun, and beer!

The Rulers: A Sneak Peek into Rule of 7x7: (Almost) Summer Edition

To get you prepared for Rule of 7x7: (Almost) Summer Edition, take a little time and get to know the 7 playwrights and the 7 rules! Rule of 7x7: (Almost) Summer Edition plays The Tank, Monday, June 8th at 7:00pm and 9:30pm.

Meet the Writers

Name: Matt Barbot

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Education: Currently pursuing my MFA at Columbia

What is your rule?: "The last line of the play must be identical to the first line."

Why did you pick your rule?: I was interested in the challenge of returning to the start.

Tell us about Privacy: Privacy is a play about how two roommates negotiate their relationship after one is caught in a...compromising situation. Will they be able to move on?

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: Lots of awkward pauses, probably.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: There's something to be said for what happens on stage after each playwright has contributed one unique way to make life difficult for the other six.

For more on Matt, follow him on Twitter @BarbotRobot

Name: Matt Cox

Hometown: Rowlett, Tx

Education: Stella Adler Studio of Acting, UCB Training Center, Tarleton State University.

What is your rule?: The Hamptons

Why did you pick your rule?: I wanted to make sure I included more of a 'where' rule.
The week of sending out the rules I happened to be going to the Hamptons with the Story Pirates, and well... I typed it out.

Tell us about The Madness of Captain Dread: I typically write adventure type stories but I've never managed to do a 10 minute version of one. This is my attempt at that. We follow the Pirate Captain known as Dread as he and his crew sail through the Sea of Madness. A sea known for making people go...mad. Can the captain hang on to his sanity? Or will he murder every member of his crew horribly? One of those happens.

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: some real great interpretations of words.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: It's 7 short plays by great people, full of great actors. That seems like a good reason.

For more Matt, visit http://www.kapowigogo.com/ for tickets to the Kapow-i GoGo marathon at the PIT.

Name: Brett Epstein

Hometown: Hamden, CT

Education: Providence College (BA-- Theatre, Writing)

What is your rule?: "Her breasts felt like ___" or "His penis looked like ___."

Why did you pick your rule?: I love rules where the playwrights fill in the blank. AND I gave them a choice of breast or penis. Can't wait to see seven different (and I'm sure thoughtful and inspired) responses to what a breast could feel like/a penis could look like.

Tell us about Now & Then: The Male Version: It's inspired by the 1995 gem Now & Then. This (brilliant-yet-overly-sentimental) movie is about four (female) childhood friends from Shelby, Indiana who are reunited as adults. I used to watch it literally all the time. In my play, the characters are male. BAM.

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: A free beer in your hand.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: No Rule Of is like a prior Rule Of. Different rules, writers, plays & creative teams every single time. It's a fun, hilarious theater party.

For more on Brett, visit www.ItsBrett.net, www.vimeo.com/channels/notbrothers and follow him on Twitter @ItsBrettDotNet


Name: Dan McCabe

Hometown: NYC

Education: Some

What is your rule?: In one line of dialogue a single word must be repeated 7 times.

Why did you pick your rule?: I though it'd be fun to see how many different ways a single word could be spoken.

Tell us about Hard Time For Real Hamptonites: It's about a duo of Hampton locals, hanging on the beach.

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: Da Ruckus.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: It's always such a blast; a fun, supportive community with laughs and beers.  Come check us out!

Name: Donaldo Prescod

Hometown: Boston, MA

Education: MFA in Acting from The New School for Drama

What is your rule?: At some point in the play someone has to take pills.

Why did you pick your rule?: People pop pills for so many reasons so it'll be fun to see what the other writers come up with.

Tell us about Black People Are Dangerous: It is a dark comedy about race and serial killers, those two things together are rarely addressed and should be more often.

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: Hilarity and camaraderie.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: It is always a good night of theater, and it's only getting stronger.

For more on Donaldo, visit www.donaldoprescod.com


Name: Jordan Swisher

Hometown: Lancaster, PA

Education: BA in Theatre

What is your rule?: "Jamboree"

Why did you pick your rule?: I love unusual or uncommon words. I haven't heard someone say Jamboree in a long time - so why not bring it back around and take it for a spin.

Tell us about Jamboree Jackson Joins the Circus: It's a goofy little piece about a 13 year old girl with aspirations to join the circus.

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: You're going to see 7 tremendously different plays that all were formed from the same 7 ingredients. It's like going to a restaurant and having seven courses, but the restaurant only had seven things in their fridge but they had these 7 crazy brilliant chefs so the courses ended up being way different in unexpected and beautiful ways and then the restaurant gets a ton of buzz on blogs and Twitter and then it gets all the Michelin Stars and becomes the most famous restaurant in NYC and the world. So really, who knows exactly what you'll see, but I promise some of it will make you laugh and some of it will make you feel and all of it will leave you feeling satisfied...just like that restaurant.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: See above restaurant analogy but also - Rule Of's bring in the most amazing up and coming writers, directors, and actors in the City. Come see these people before they end up living in mansions in LA in between filming their next big budget blockbusters, or before you have to wait an hour by the stage door to catch them after their hit Broadway show. Or maybe they are normally just really busy so it can be hard to get to see them but you know they're going to be at Rule Of 7x7 on Monday June 8th - so that's another reason!

For more on Jordan, visit JordanSwisher.com

Name: Stephanie Swirsky

Hometown: Lincroft, New Jersey

Education: BA: NYU, MFA: USC

What is your rule?: Diane

Why did you pick your rule?: The name "Diane" came to my mind, and I wrote it down.

Tell us about Lower: My play, Lower is about a 29-year-old (former) dancer trying to start up her own workout class in her hometown in New Jersey. She's holding a free class and only her younger sister shows up. It's about reframing failure.

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: Lots of talent

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: So much talent

For more on Stephanie, visit stephanieswirsky.com