NYTimes.com: AT the end of a 90-minute conversation Jesse Eisenberg announced that what he really would like to do is write a musical. To which Zoe Kazan responded, “That’s the most impressive thing you’ve said this whole time.” Mr. Eisenberg answered back by listing other comments he had made. “Musical theater totally trumps that,” she retorted.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Jesse Eisenberg and Zoe Kazan Discuss Their Plays
NYTimes.com: AT the end of a 90-minute conversation Jesse Eisenberg announced that what he really would like to do is write a musical. To which Zoe Kazan responded, “That’s the most impressive thing you’ve said this whole time.” Mr. Eisenberg answered back by listing other comments he had made. “Musical theater totally trumps that,” she retorted.
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4 comments:
Play writing. Near to impossible, but that is just my personal experience with writing, which allows me to have so much respect for what these two are doing. I have seen both of these actors perform in movies, not so much in the theater. I think that it will be interesting to see what they have to provide as writers instead of actors. At CMU there is this program that happens called Playground and it is where special talents come out in other places that differ from one's specific major. Not all the time but it does happen and I think that it adds a different perspective to a show.
Reading this article was refreshing from the other articles that I've read because of the dynamic that these two actors have. It is nice for a change to read the banter and the arguments while also getting information about their lives and their art.
I always like to see famous actors branch out into other areas of entertainment, whether it's directing or writing or something else. I've always enjoyed Jesse Eisenberg's performances, and he's always very interesting and funny in interviews. I think he's capable of producing well-written theater; I would definitely see his play if I had the chance. It's also admirable that Eisenberg is willing to explore parts of himself in his writing rather than just throw together something that is guaranteed to get a wide audience so that he can add "playwright" to his credentials.
I agree with Hannah-it's great to see two very visible young stars turn to theatre. Hopefully they can bring their followers with them! Ken Davenport posted a blog about why more actors aren't writing plays a while ago, and cited Zach Braff as an example, among others. I think that if young stars like Braff, Eisenberg, and Kazan can get more non-locals and non-theatre people going to see new work Off-Broadway and elsewhere, maybe theatre can start being cool again (maybe even to the point where the the actors themselves won't denounce seeing something on Broadway because it won't be just for theatregoers!)
It's nice to see actors who want to be playwrights rather than directors. I feel like as a playwright, you have so much more control over the show than a director would, since the work is your brainchild after all. I really respect these two actors for pursuing these plays because they like to write, not because they're out for an ego-boost or something else to add to a resume. It's also satisfying to see how casually Jesse and Zoe interact with one another about their work. Neither tries to trump the other, neither tries to passive-aggressively bash the other. They're simply people. Real people.
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