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

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!!

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.

Our next production has already begun rehearsals! Our next project is a holiday-themed Textual Overture. What was once a tradition for Premature Punchline, the sleigh reigns have been handed over to the Textual Overture crew.

Since our Christmas shows have been heavily adult-focused, this year’s project will be for families and the kiddos! More information coming soon.

So far, the set list includes plays such as:

“It Never Snows in Texas” written and directed by Beth Marie Cantu

“The Little Match Girl” by Hans Christan Anderson, dir. Michael Verderber

“Thank You, Santa” by Anne Nunley, dir. Beth Marie Cantu

And as always, plenty of Christmas music, poetry, and an open-mic portion! Tentative date is December 19 and 20.

Interested in the upcoming Dark Tour “The Wonderland Massacre”? Our secret BONUS scene (called “Secrets of the Wonderland Ward”) will be performed on Monday November 10 at Cafe 5 from 5:30 – 6:30. The short scene will be performed multiple times, so feel free to come anytime from 5:30 – 6:30.
The bonus scene will provide some secrets of the Ward and tell you how to get “alternate” performances out of the patients. Come to this one-day only mini-event to get special keys to unlock secrets to the full production of “The Wonderland Massacre”.

The full production of “The Wonderland Massacre” will be performed on November 13 and 14 at 7:00 pm in Sam Fore Hall at Texas A&M University – Kingsville.

Audition flyer: rehearsal shots

This October, Zero Untitled will be presenting multiple one act plays, and we need casts to fill them! Anyone is welcome to audition, whether you have tons of experience or none at all. Come by Fore Hall, Room 102 on September 3rd at 7:00 to visit with us and we’ll see where you fit best.

Plays being produced will be from almost any genre, such as comedy, drama, dramedy, western, suspense, etc.

Let us know what you want/like to do.

Additionally, information on our upcoming “The Wonderland Massacre” production and other film and mime projects will be discussed as well.

Zero Untitled celebrates its 10th Anniversary and the publication of the [nonspace] book with a series of plays from the text and a party on Thursday, October 24th at 7:00.

The event will feature three plays and a live performance from Corpus Christi rockers The Blind Owls.  Join us for the food, friends, plays, and live music!

Anyone who has EVER performed or worked with ZU is invited!

Zero Untitled’s latest endeavor, an educational program, gets launched this week.  ZU Education is an 8-class series of workshops that assist in various aspects of theatre, film, writing, and editing.  Classes will be taught be local educators and ZU crew that have extensive experience in their respective fields. 

The workshops are designed to introduce both new and veteran actors to new exercises, techniques, and abilities to further strengthen the community within ZU.  Additionally, all workshops are absolutely free and will be held in various rooms in Sam Fore Hall at the TAMUK campus.

Here is the list of forthcoming workshops.

Sept 12 – “Acting 101 & Meisner Technique” with James Taylor Maupin IV, M.A. (UT Pan American), B.A. (TAMUK) @ 8:00 in the Blue Room.

 (pictured Mr. Maupin)

Oct 10 – “Voice and Facial Expression” with Aaron Salinas (Best Supporting Actor Nominee, CC7D) and Luis Zaragosa.

Oct 25 – “Improvisational Basics” with Heraclio Gonzalez, Jr., B.A. (TAMUK), H.M. King HS Theatre teacher

Nov 20 – “Mime Basics” with Michael Verderber, M.A. (TAMUK), Lecturer at TAMUK

Dec 4 – “Poetic Writing” with Julio Martinez, B.A. (TAMUK)

 (pictured, Mr. Verderber’s Mime Class first held in the summer)

SPRING

February – “Movement” with Katherine Orozco, B.A. (Best Actress Nominee, San Antonio Horrific Film Festival)

March – “Proper Presentation” with Nicholas Zaragosa

TBA – “Flyer Design and Production” with Anissa Medina, Photography for play anthologies

Members of Zero Untitled has a very busy weekend of Feb 16-17.  On Saturday, ZU members attended a writing workshop of distinguished playwright/performance artist/activist Sharon Bridgforth in the Blue Room.  Bridgforth’s workshop focused primarily on stream of consciousness writing and delving deep into the psyche.

ZU members at Sharon Bridgforth workshop.

 In addition to the two-hour long workshop, members had to run back to GATOcon III, an anime/comic/videogame convention held at the Union on the campus of TAMUK for a performance of Premature Punchline at 2 pm.  The performance featured a revival of last year’s “It’s Not Very Effective” by Miguel Venegas.

On Sunday at the con, another group of PP members performed a different show      

Other pics from the performances: 

PPers fighting for the win in “Penalty Hat”.