We are looking for Leading Men types, eclectic female character types, and techies! See you on Thursday for auditions.

Creative Director Michael Verderber’s short essay “There is No Hobby: A Defense of Theatre” was published three months ago and was only recently discovered! The essay easily summarizes ZU’s mentality towards production and professionalism.

Read it here on “The Ghost Light” magazine’s website:
http://stlfringeghostlight.tumblr.com/post/103591680128/there-is-no-hobby-a-defense-of-theatre-by-Michael

Since there are always multiple projects lined up for Zero Untitled, there is no rest for the wicked – we have auditions for two short staged readings coming up.  “Textual Overture” is our poetry/live music/short play series that will be coming up on March 25th.  Two of the works presented will be given staged readings; both works have been done by ZU before, but we are starting to bring back a lot of the older works.

Michael Verderber will be directing staged readings (with minimal blocking) for two of his older plays – “Seeing is Misbelieving: The Rorschach Test” (previously staged in 2013) and “Excerpts From a Life Once Lived” (last staged in 2007).  The idea is to cast primarily newer actors, stage managers, etc and reinvent the wheel for the “Seeing…” script, and to celebrate the upcoming publication of “Excerpts From A Life Once Lived” (through Ealain Magazine) which should be released in the next few months.

Although some precasting has already been done, the private auditions will be held on March 10th. Time and location will be announced shortly.

J. Mejia, R. Trujillo, and C. Saldivar in “Rearview”

Our latest production, “Causa Mortis” has wrapped for the run. With a short run of only two shows, the production featured brand new writers (Kim Hardin, Lesley Guerra, and Andrea Morin) and long-time playwrights Beth Marie Cantu, Katherine Orozco, and Julio Martinez.

In addition to new writers, we utilized several new actors: Joshua Osho and Elia Andrade, just to name a few.

Full production details can be found on the show page.

We just added a new tab to our website! The “Playwright’s Connection” page is a resource page for our in-house playwrights and collaborators. So, if you loved a play we produced recently, this resource might help you find the playwright in the event that you want to know more about it or even produce it yourself!

To link is brand new, so keep checking for constant updates!

Guerra with Trujillo in “From Inside”, their first production with ZU.

How long have you been involved with Zero Untitled and what was your first production?

I started Zero Untitled in the fall semester of 2014. I have currently been in ZU for about six months.

What is your best memory of any ZU production?

I would say my best memory of ZU would be the auditions for the One Acts during the fall semester. I sat there alone quietly, not saying anything or volunteering for any auditions. I remember mostly looking at the people and seeing how honestly weird they were. However, I would have never predicted how accepting ZU and its crew are of people.  I would have never assumed how close I would become to these people. Although, my favorite “production” memory would have to be [playing] the White Rabbit for the Dark Tour [in] “The Wonderland Massacre” written by the wonderful Katherine Orozco.

Trujillo as the White Rabbit.

What project or projects are you currently working on with the company?

I am currently working on rehearsing for an Improv group known as Premature Punchline. I am also currently working on a couple of productions for our next event Causa Mortis.

What kind of future project would you like to dabble in?

I would love to do miming and also do a short film of some sort. I would love to also perform in what is known as a Happening.

If you can play any role in any show for ZU, what would it be?

I would love to play some sort of creepy psychotic part. People in ZU see me as such a nice, lovable person, but I want to play a human role that would creep them out in a cringe-worthy type of way. I would also like to be given a chance at a romantic role. Finally, I would also like to be given the opportunity to direct some production for experience.

How do you prepare for a role once you are cast?

My main and most entertaining method for me to prepare for a role is to go out late at night and rehearse my lines out loud in a secluded place.

Trujillo being punished by audience members in “Penalty Hat” in a recent Premature Punchline performance.

What do you expect from the audiences of ZU shows?

Well first I expect them to show up. Although, what I truly expect from the audiences is for them to let us entertain with our creative, original ideas for plays, immersive theatre, poems, and events. I hope that they realize that not all theatrical productions have to be comedic or “happy” to be entertaining. Also, for them to like us on Facebook!

Trujillo (center) after being penalized in the Christmas Textual Overture.

There are a lot of new people in the productions.  What would you tell people that are new to ZU?

Do not be afraid to be yourself. ZU is filled with weird people that have a variety of personalities and interests. I am positive you will find someone to talk to since we are such a diverse group.

Any final statements?

Zero Untitled is the best college-based decision I have made so far. I am truly honored to be a member and I cannot wait to produce my own ideas for ZU. My advice to anyone that is reading this is to give us a try. We may be different when it comes to entertainment, but we entertain to please in our own original ways. And I promise you will make many friends here in this giant family. BE YOU WITH ZU!!

Here are a few pics taken by performers and by the audience at yesterday’s Premature Punchline performance at GatoCon 2015!

More photos will be taken at this afternoon’s performance.

Photographer and makeup artist Beth Marie Cantu putting makeup on Katherine Orozco during the first photo shoot.

Here are just a few behind-the-scenes shots of our two “Causa Mortis” photo shoots.

Slightly blurred photo of model Katherine Orozco readying herself for a photo.

Congratulations to the following playwrights!  The following plays have made it through the first round of acceptance for the “Causa Mortis” production.

• “W-I-S-H” by Beth Marie Cantu
• “Those Present at the Time of My Death” by Kim Hardin
• “Oxidized Coal” by Katherine Orozco
• “Did I Miss Something Big?” by Emanuel Ibanez
• “The Burning of Mary” by Julio Martinez
• “A Girl and Her Monster” by Andrea Martinez
• “Causa Mortis” by Lesley Guerra
• “Rear View” by Katherine Orozco
• “I’ll See You At Heaven’s Gate”by Julio Martinez

However, one or two scripts may be cut, pending tonight’s auditions and availability of actors. Final Official Selections will be made in the next few days.

Thanks to all who submitted as our decision was difficult to make.  Our Call for Submissions was very specific, so if your play was not selected, consider submitting another work for other theatrical avenues.