La MaMa Blogs: 6 QUESTIONS: Dick Zigun

Monday, October 27, 2014

6 QUESTIONS: Dick Zigun

Photo by Steve Solomonson

Dick Zigun is a man who wears many literal and figurative hats: Un-official mayor of Coney Island and Founder of Coney Island USA, Playwright (MFA, Yale School of Drama & New Dramatists Alumni) and founder of Fun House Philosophers - Coney Island's resident theatre company. His new play, Dead End, Dummy, is playing now at Coney Island and comes to La Mama on November 7th.

1. What was the initial inspiration for writing DEAD END, DUMMY?
The challenge was to use the techniques of vaudeville to tell the story of the death of vaudeville.

2. What should audiences expect from the show?
Ventriloquism & a fanatic ventriloquist's descent into madness & vaudeville hell.

3. Who or what inspires you?
Coney Island Freaks, Charlie McCarthy, Jerry Mahoney.

4. Do you think of your work as political?
Not political as in 'who to vote for,' but theatrically political. I'm defending vaudeville & sideshow dramaturgy as equal to Stanislavsky or Elizabethan dramaturgy.

5. How would you describe your aesthetic?
I'm a Fun House Philosopher and the permanently unelected Mayor of Coney Island.

6. What does working at La MaMa mean to you?
Manhattan respectability at last in my old age - bet you didn't know I was a serious experimental playwright.


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La MaMa presents:

Dead End, Dummy

written by Dick Zigun
directed by Trav S.D.

November 7 - November 14, 2014 
Friday & Saturday @ 10pm / Sunday @ 6pm

The Club
74A East 4th Street 

(Between Bowery and Second Avenue)
New York, NY 10003

Tickets: $18 Adults; $13 Students/Seniors. Ten tickets priced at $10 each are available for every performance, in advance only via web, phone or at the box office. Not available day of show. 

For Tickets and Info: CLICK HERE

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