The Observer Newspapers | Herndon Native to Star in One-Man Show

July 4, 2008

Herndon Native to Star in One-Man Show

By Rebecca Plevin
Observer Staff Writer

Herndon native Joe Zarrow will perform "Hold Me, Drill Me, Kiss Me," a one-man, quarter-life crisis story, at the Capital Fringe Festival this month. Zarrow said he is excited to perform his comedy at the independent performing arts festival in Washington, D.C.

Zarrow, who grew up in Herndon and attended Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, wrote and acts in the play, which he describes as a "Woody Allen-ish" story that weaves together his experiences with teaching, Internet dating and dentistry. He has performed the show in Chicago and Winnipeg, Canada, and said audiences seem to respond well to the story and its honest, self-deprecating humor.

Zarrow, a high school English and drama teacher in Chicago, said his job leaves the summers free to act in productions like the fringe festival. He said he enjoys performing in fringe festivals because the shows are short, cheap to attend, and very accessible to the audience.

Artists do not have to audition to participate in the Capital Fringe Festival and Julianne Brienza, executive director of the festival, said she had not seen any of the shows that will be performed at the festival. She said she had only read a blurb about Zarrow's piece in the festival guide and remarked that the show has a catchy title.

Since all artists who apply can perform in the festival, Brienza said she could not guarantee that all the shows would be worth watching. "Some of the shows in the festival are horrible and some of them are really great," she said. Those who attend the fringe festival have to "roll the dice and see where it lands," she said.

Zarrow will perform six shows at the Warehouse Theater-Next Door between July 10 and July 23. Tickets cost $15 and can be bought at capitalfringe.org.