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: All Hallow's Eve-dition

Halloween is just around the corner as is another edition of Rule of 7x7: All Hallow's Eve-dition. Before you head to The Tank, check out the writers for this month's edition!

The Rulers

Name: Jon Caren

Hometown: Los Angeles

Education: Vassar, Julliard

What is your rule?: A whisper on page 4.

Why did you pick your rule?: Because I hate when people talk loudly.

Tell us about BUSHWHACK SHARE, PRIVATE ROOM: Bushwhack Share, Private Room is a play about a guy who AirBNB’s his apartment to a couple from Sweden and we all know what happens when you AirBNB your apartment, right?

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: Sex and violence.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: Because you will leave feeling smarter, more cultured, and a humanitarian.

What is your Halloween costume this year?: The same as last year because I never wore it. Movie theater employee.  Stand near me if you like popcorn.

For more on Jon, visit www.jonathancaren.com

Name: Dylan Dawson

Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Education: NYU Tisch School of the Arts

What is your rule?: A bathroom item is used as a weapon.

Why did you pick your rule?: I'm hoping someone gets creative with a plunger.

Tell us about HAUNTED PORNO: Theater is sacred. It can illuminate certain truths about what it means to be human and lift the curtain on those secret places where dreams are made. And that is why I wrote "Haunted Porno."

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: In my case, a boner.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: Because theater is sacred, etc, etc, boners.

What is your Halloween costume this year?: I have an Italian Stallion boxing robe and a Mr. T doll, so probably "Rocky 3." Again.

For more on Dylan, visit www.dylanjdawson.com

Name: Brett Epstein

Hometown: Hamden, CT

Education: Providence College

What is your rule?: Someone is very, very, very scared on the last page.

Why did you pick your rule?: HALLOWEEN!!!!!

Tell us about I CAN FEEL YOU BREATHE: The title is based on that classic Faith Hill ballad. That's all I can legally say at this point in time.

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: People dressed up, hanging out on the stage, a spooky drink (that we're still devising), rules. What you won't see is scripts. Because it's an #Off-Book affair.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: It would mean a lot to ME.

What is your Halloween costume this year?: An NYC playwright. Just kidding. What if I was serious about that.

For more on Brett, visit www.itsbrett.net

Name: Ken Greller

Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland

Education: NYU

What is your rule?: Real estate.

Why did you pick your rule?: I read Curbed and still get StreetEasy alerts even though I moved in July and never want to move again. I'm a sick individual.

Tell us about PIT CITY: It's about Baltimore, where I'm from, and - going off of my own rule (because theatre is about community but it's also about ME) these strange spaces in often marginalized parts of the city where (largely white) kids would gather for music shows. I don't really know anything about music, and I never have, but the Baltimore music scene is pretty substantial. Most of the members of Animal Collective and Yeasayer went to my high school, and I think I saw Beach House in a basement with a trashcan filled with beer before they were famous. My best friend for a while in high school was part of a "noise band," so my dad would begrudgingly drive me to these shows, and I never really understood a lot of it.

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: I am honestly so bad at writing ten minute plays, and especially bad at writing "challenges" and things like that, but I think this set of rules is so enticing and funny and weird that I'd have to imagine you're going to see seven really fun, really different plays that don't feel like a bunch of "exercises."

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: You get to sample the work of seven playwrights and seven directors and god knows how many actors! It's like drinking a green juice but for theatrical consumption. Or getting an appetizer platter. Those are two different metaphors, it just sort of depends what you want to get out of it.

What is your Halloween costume this year?: I'm going as a "Verified" (someone whose existence is deemed, well, verifiable, by Twitter).

Name: Monet Hurst-Mendoza

Hometown: Pasadena, CA

Education: B.A. Theatre Arts, Marymount Manhattan College

What is your rule?: Someone recounts a childhood trauma that deeply affects them to this day

Why did you pick your rule?: I'm fascinated by how traumatic events shape humanity.

Tell us about STOCKHOLM SYNDROME: A LOVE STORY: The title comes from an actual One Direction song. It's kind of nutty that someone had an idea for this song with that title in mind, and then wrote corresponding lyrics for tweens (and girls like me who grew up on boy bands) to listen to. Also, I've always wanted to write a play about a secret society devoted to boy bands. The Skull & Bows is actually what my old roommates and I used to call the last apartment we all lived in together. We never sacrificed boy bands members, but I do recall being inebriated on several occasions and forcing them to learn N'SYNC choreography from me.

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: Witchcraft, Boyband hysteria, synchronized dance moves.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: Because everyone who is working on 7x7 is magic. And everyone needs magic in their lives.

What is your Halloween costume this year?: I don't normally dress up for Halloween anymore. Call me lame, but I'd much rather be at home watching scary movies instead. But I do have Halloween pajamas - so maybe I'll just wear those and some kind of animal ears!

For more on Monet, visit http://risingcircle.org

Name: Sylvia Khoury

Hometown: Purchase, NY

Education: BA, Columbia University; MFA, New School for Drama; Currently: Medical School at Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai

What is your rule?: Someone has to say "I would turn back if I were you."

Why did you pick your rule?: It's nice and creepy for Halloweentime.

Tell us about NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: I was always scared of the Egyptian Wing at the Met growing up. This play grew out of that!

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: Proof that Brett Epstein should host the Oscars.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: It's really, really exciting when you recognize a rule.

What is your Halloween costume this year?: I haven't committed to anything yet, but Bellatrix Lestrange is my forever backup.

For more on Sylivia, visit www.sylviakhoury.com

Name: Gianmarco Soresi

Hometown: Potomac, MD but I tell people DC to sound cool.

Education: Worthless.

What is your rule?: Faith.

Why did you pick your rule?: As adverse as I am to astrology, The Secret, and Pope visits, I unfortunately have my own faith(s), which I'd define as beliefs sans evidence, that if I ever was forced to articulate would probably sound equally ridiculous. I imagine we all have such beliefs, some more fleeting than others, only be verbalized by the extremest of circumstances or several strong beers. I hope my rule conjures the former in these plays and inspires the latter once they're done.

Tell us about ORIGINAL RITUAL: You never forget your first.

What can we expect to see at Rule of 7x7?: Given the impending holiday and Brett's rule ("someone is very, very, very scared on the last page"), some really fucked up shit.

Why should we check out Rule of 7x7?: Because everything Kristin McCarthy Parker touches turns to gold.

What is your Halloween costume this year?: Young Jeff Goldblum (Lies. Once as a child I went trick-or-treating dressed as a hippie. The resident at one home said to me, "Why hello there, are you supposed to be a boy?" I don't do costumes anymore.)

For more on Gianmarco, visit www.GianmarcoSoresi.com