Jenna Warriner in Girl’s End. Photo credit: Holly Thomas
Girl’s End: A Guide To the Zombie Apocalypse by Jenna Warriner and Daniel Abrahamson
August 12 – 20 at the Rutherford School Gym
More information: facebook.com/GirlsEndMusical
An interview with Jenna Warriner.
Describe your show in five words.
FUN, Energizing, Inspiring, A Musical.
Okay, now that we’re intrigued… what’s the longer description?
A story about a girl who doesn’t get picked for anyone’s zombie apocalypse survival team so she must survive on her own. It’s a 45 minute musical that traps the audience in a storage unit… like, metaphorically traps the audience. Kind of like how the zombies are a metaphor and the apocalypse is a metaphor and zombie as a ‘meataphor’ is a pun.
How did you go about creating the central/only character in Girls End: A Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse?
She’s me, but sillier. She’s also me, but more honest. I found it very challenging to perform this character without giving her the knowledge of the writer. For example, jokes written by Jenna – the writer – can’t be delivered by Jenna – the actor – as a joke. They must be delivered as honest, genuine thoughts. Thankfully, I had an amazing director on this project to help with all of that. Shanda Bezic truly made this piece what it is. I had no idea the value of a brilliant director, and particularly one like Shanda, who has a great amount of experience directing one woman shows.
You mention in your media release that Girls End: A Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse is “an allegory on young women discovering self-worth.” Can you talk a bit more about how your show does this?
What’s cool about GIRL’S END is, you can watch a show about an apocalypse… Or, you can look deeper and watch as a young woman realizes she is unique and tremendous and inspiring. Her skills may not be common or concrete enough to win her a spot on an apocalypse survival team, but her spirit, what truly matters, is exceptional.
In what ways has Girl’s End: A Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse grown from the original concept to the show today?
It’s been really interesting to have a show tell you what it needs. GIRL’S END was originally part of a workshop festival in October of 2015 and I really thought that the feedback from audiences would be what was most valuable about that experience. The audiences were incredible, and we studied every laugh, listened to every note and were incredibly thankful to all who contributed. And yet, getting a one person show ‘in your body’ by being up, on stage, on your feet, singing the songs and taking that emotional journey- that’s how you realize what it is a show needs. The original concept is now only buried in old, tattered notebooks. This piece we’re bringing to Edmonton Fringe has a mind of its own.
Anything else you want audiences to know about the show?
OMG PLEASE COME.
The 35th Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival is August 11 – 21. Get your tickets at tickets.fringetheatre.ca.