All good things must come to an end.
In the blink of an eye, The Video Games "East Coast" at the 2016 NYC International Fringe Festival has come to a close, and what a ride this has been.
From the moment I saw the audition listing on Actor's Access, I knew I wanted this role more than other submissions. Between the excessive stage combat and having to memorize a number of different scenarios (as the lines changed depending on audience votes), it was clear this was a challenge I would be more than ecstatic to take on.
As stated by Zak Risinger in his review on Theatre Is Easy, "The Video Games is not your normal
night at the theatre." Before the shows began, spectators were often surprised to see us video game characters, out and about, campaigning for our survival. This was one of my favorite parts of the show, and the stakes were quite high: everyone knows Pikachu, Princess Peach, Link & Donkey Kong, but Lady Yuna not so much. I took this time to give the console members (audience) an ultimatum: Lady Yuna is a summoner who 'sends' the souls of the dead to the Farplane (aka, afterlife or heaven), otherwise they turn into 'fiends' (or MONSTERS if you will). Should Lady Yuna die, I could not guarantee that the souls of the other 10 soon to be dead players wouldn't come after the console members.
Basically, vote for Lady Yuna, or you might die.
My high-stakes story came quite in handy, as I managed to survive the first 3 deaths at every show, and I even WON the coveted title of Player One in the first show! (Also due to the fact that I dragged my fiancé to every single performance.) Other winners of this year's Video Games "East Coast" edition include Wigglytuff (1st time ever!), Link, Master Chief and Pikachu.
This opportunity has been beyond a blessing. From rehearsals, to backstage and all the way to Governor's Island, I had a plethora of laughs and unforgettable memories with our incredible cast & crew.
I look forward to following the future endeavors and journey of this original & unique show!
Long Live the Console!
