Interactive Play THE WTYT 960 BILLBOARD SITTERS Comes to Bucks County Tonight
Internationally acclaimed filmmaker Zeke Zelker is bringing his latest project, The WTYT 960 Billboard Sitters, which was inspired by real events in 1981, to the Bucks County Playhouse this month.
When four lucky people asked to be put on a pedestal, they had no idea what they were getting themselves into. The WTYT960 Billboard Sitters follows the struggles of four individuals eager for a change as they compete for a local radio station's grand prize of "nine-sixty" thousand dollars and a mobile home. The objective is simple: all they have to do is outlast the others while they live on a catwalk in front of a billboard - no matter how long it takes. Josh, a down on his luck laborer; Shelby, a twenty-something artist; Ellen, a widowed stroke victim; and Clark, a wannabe rock star, soon find that long nights, crazed fans, and endless media attention make the contest even more difficult than they ever imagined. As the contest rages on, the station's motivations come into question as the contestants find themselves increasingly isolated from the outside world and the ones they love. Are the contestants simply making themselves into attractions in a modern day freak show? Or can they remain real people amid modern media's ever-present "here and now" portrayals? Join us to find out what lengths each contestant will go to in order to survive!
The production is an immersive, interactive play that allows audience members to become a part of the story. Through social media, the audience will have the opportunity to participate in the action and impact the storyline. The audience is encouraged to download a free mobile app developed by iDreamMachine. The app will allow for seamless communication with the characters throughout the show. This level of audience engagement and participation has never before been attempted on the stage. There are other surprises that will keep the audience engaged and immersed in the story.
"The play is inspired by a real billboard sitting contest I recall from my youth but I wanted to tell the story in current day. In our harried world, we get our information in bits and bytes. The WTYT960 Billboard Sitters is about the difference between reality and perceived reality. It comes down to unedited reality versus how in today's world we craft our own autobiographies through social media. The play pulls back the skin of perception by leading the audience to walk the fine line between truth and fiction. Our play isn't a passive experience; it's an engaging one. I believe we're entering a new frontier in storytelling and I'm excited to be a part of it," states Zelker.
The WTYT960 Billboard Sitters will debut at the Bucks County Playhouse for a run today, October 8-11, 2014. Tickets are available for sale at www.bcptheater.org.
Zelker's play is part of a larger project that includes a web series and feature film. Each medium presents a unique spin on the overarching story. More information concerning each aspect of the project can be found at billboardmovie.com.
Zeke has been on the bleeding edge of the transmedia movement where instead of simply creating a linear storyline, he creates story worlds. He produced the first transmedia project at the Sundance Film Festival and most recently produced part of David Cronenberg's Body/Mind/Change. He has also taught classes at Lehigh University and lectures about the cross marketing power that transmedia creates for storytellers and marketers alike. His latest film InSearchOf is in the top 10 all time viewed dramas on Hulu.
|
Lynette Sheard: With John Lee and Friends Morris Museum (8/29-8/29) |
|
Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street The Actors Studio of New Jersey (10/16-10/25) |
|
Xian Zhang Conducts Mozart New Jersey Performing Arts Center (4/01-4/01) |
|
Into the Woods JR Bell Theater (8/27-8/28) |
|
Frozen Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre at the Count Basie Center (2/12-2/14) |
|
Nacho Ate Spiderman New Jersey Repertory Company (10/01-10/25) |
|
Neruda Songs and Poulenc's Gloria State Theatre New Jersey (4/18-4/18) |
|
The Rocky Horror Picture Show Spooktacular Tour with Barry Bostwick Scottish Rite Auditorium (10/04-10/04) |
|
ODC/Dance Stockton University Performing Arts Center (10/09-10/09) |
|
Season Finale: Ravel's Boléro with Xian Zhang New Jersey Performing Arts Center (6/10-6/10) |