"It's about being entertained."

"It's not 'come, listen and learn.' It's about being entertained."

Since the play's title, Danny Casolaro Died for You, doesn't read as "come be entertained," we asked production manager Ted Vitale what he meant by his statement. Here's what he had to say.

Us: What is it about this production that makes for an evening of entertainment?

Ted: We threw every bell and whistle at this production. We are using all of our technology.

We use the projector for every scene. Sometimes it takes up the entire stage, sometimes it's just a small window we want to project. The projector is 7000 lumens and it cuts through the lights. We use it in all of our lighting effects.

Us: Any cool sound effects?

Ted: It's in 7.1 surround sound. You never know where the sound's going to come from. sometimes it's coming from behind you, sometimes from onstage, sometimes from off stage. It's pretty cool.

We wanted to make it theatrical. One of the things we did with this one is it's all open. You see all the rigging, you see how we went about putting everything together. you see the lights, you see the rigging holding up the set.

We have 8 different booms - an upright lighting position - some of which are 14 feet tall. You are allowed to see those - all the side-lighting. It's an interesting way to go about putting the show together and it's an interesting show to watch because of that. If you're interested in technology and multi-media, this is a really great show to see.

Us: What about the set?

Ted:
In keeping with our technology theme, the stage (floor) itself is painted like a computer circuit board.

We have a working stove, a working oven, a working sink. They actually cook onstage at the top of the show. Don't come too hungry because the place smells like garlic almost right away and stays that way for most of the show. They're literally cooking garlic on the stage. Often you'll see a stove on stage but it's not working. Ours works.

Us: Are people concerned about the "..Died for You" part?

Ted: Some people are concerned it's a little left wing preachy, and it really isn't. Yes, it was Danny Casolaro. It's his cousin who wrote the show. But he allows you to make up your own mind. There's a fantastic closing monologue - the whole point of it is to encourage you to make up your own mind.

Us: What happens to Danny?

Ted: In the end, it comes as a very big surprise - which is part of the idea of the show. When it does happen, you're not ready for it. There's no giant, dramatic scene. All of a sudden there it is, because that's the way it was in real life. All of the sudden he was gone. He (Dominc Orlando)'s allowing you to have the same feelings that the family did. And that's the way it is in the play. All of the sudden he's gone.

Nobody knows why. In a lot of respects, nobody knows why.