Preview for Night of New Works – Get to Know the Gamer team

Our Night of New Works opens at the Bryant-Lake Bowl so this very Friday! Here’s one final sneak peek into the process, with the creators and performers of The Gamer’s Guide to the Five Stage of Grief (Oh, and tickets are on sale now!)

NEAL BECKMAN (ANDY)

Were you allowed to play video games when you were little?
Yes, but my mom would hide the controllers during the school season...and then forget where she hid them in the summer. An 8-year drought ensued. Social services did nothing.

Do you consider yourself a "gamer"?
I have the soul of a gamer without the equipment.

Why should people check out GAMER at Night of New Works?
It's imaginative and charming and geeky down to its very core and it still has substance. Those don't often go together.

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BLAKE E. BOLAN (CHELE)

Were you allowed to play video games when you were little?
While there were some computer games in my childhood, I didn't play a proper video game until I was in high school. Needless to say, I've never gotten good at any games. Except at Puzzle Fighter. NOW I WANT TO PLAY PUZZLE FIGHTER.

What's one video game you could play for hours when you were a kid? Why?
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. WHY DID MY TOWEL ALWAYS FALL IN THE HOLE?

Why should people check out GAMER at Night of New Works?
We will sweat for you.

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TANNER CURL (DIRECTOR)

Tell us your first video game memory as a child.
When I was roundabout 7-years-old, my family bought a used computer, a Tandy 100 that operated in DOS. One of the games we had was called Test Drive. I watched my older siblings play it for hours, and every so often, they’d get bored, so I’d get to play...and crash...a lot.

Do you consider yourself a "gamer?"
Uh, no.

Favorite rehearsal moment so far?
I came into the process knowing everyone kinda generally, and the best part has been how well the cast and production team clicked and how much fun we have.

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RUSS DUGGER (PLAYWRIGHT)

Were you allowed to play video games when you were little?
A little more than I probably should have. It didn't do too much irreparable damage, right? Right?

Tell us your first video game memory as a child.
Playing Tetris on the old grey Game Boy that we got my dad for Father's Day!

In your opinion, who's the best video game character (villain also accepted!)?
Robo from Chrono Trigger. I mean c'mon. A robot from the future who is left in the past to help re-plant an entire forest? Someone needs to get James Cameron on that story line.

Do you consider yourself a "gamer?"
Once upon a time I would have. Now, I just don't have the time to really play for hours on end.

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HEIDI JEDLICKA (KELI)

Were you allowed to play video games when you were little?
I didn't know what a video game was until I was 13. So...no?

Tell us your first video game memory as a child.
Watching my BFF play Donkey Kong in the 6th grade. It was cool for, like, 34 seconds.

Have you heard that Lana Del Rey song, Video Game?
Love it. It's my jam.

If you could be any video game character in REAL LIFE who would it be?
The one with the best shoes?

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CLAIRE NADEAU (STAGE MANAGER)

Were you allowed to play video games when you were little?
Well, it's hard to play video games if we weren't allowed to even own a PlayStation thing or whatever...but really, my siblings and I didn't mind.

In your opinion, who's the best video game character (villain also accepted!)?
The queen of clubs from solitaire...because in my mind that makes her Irish!

Have you heard that Lana Del Rey song, Video Game?
For sure! It's pretty good!

If you could be any video game character in REAL LIFE who would it be?
Hmmm...is it rude to say none?

Why should people check out GAMER at Night of New Works?
People should check out GAMER because it's a great comedy, done by some talented artists, and because I say so.  So there.

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ADAM SCARPELLO (THE GAME)

Tell us your first video game memory as a child.
Played Super Mario Bros. for the first time at the age of 5. Thought it was the coolest thing.

What's one video game you could play for hours when you were a kid? Why?
Dragon Warrior. Was better then Legend of Zelda!

In your opinion, who's the best video game character (villain also accepted!)?
Marcus Fenix from Gears of War. Tough SOB that cared.

Favorite rehearsal moment so far?
Oh! The spells!

Why should people check out GAMER at Night of New Works?
For the fake game boobs, of course! And probably for the comedy.


Wanna see more? Join us at the Bryant-Lake Bowl on July 20th, 21st, 27th, and 28th for three new works: A Gamer’s Guide to the Five Stage of Grief, STOP!, and The Golden Carp. Four performances, three shows, and lots of fun! Did we mention tickets are on sale now?

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