Name: Sam Gooley
Hometown: Baltimore Maryland
Education: East Carolina University
Select Credits: Bethesda and Air Force 525 (WorkShop Theater Company); The Argument, Wonderful World, and Dark Rapture (The Attic); Dream Wedding (Manhattan Repertory Theatre); and Best Party Ever (Richard Shepard Theatre). Sam co-wrote and directed Fat Man Tapping at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.
Why theater?: Well, I saw a production of Heidi when I was 10 at a local theatre in my hometown and I got a crush on the girl that played Heidi, so I went and auditioned for their next show so I could meet her but got sucked into the life of the theatre instead. But, the thing I love most about it is, the chance to be able to explore a story and see where it can go every night. Every night can be a different adventure. It’s one of the most thrilling and satisfying experiences I’ve have had and I think it’s also what makes Theater so exciting.
Tell us about This One Time in Last Chance?: It’s about two lifelong best friends who devise a perfect plan pay off some of their massive debts by setting up a drug deal in a local Motel. However, when they arrive at the motel, they find a dead man in their room and have to figure out where he came from before the other drug dealers show up. I think it’s a story a lot of people can relate to.
What inspired you to write This One Time in Last Chance?: The original idea actually came from a short film I made with my best friends when I was 15 about two friends finding a dead man in their apartment. That idea always fascinated me and stayed with me for all these years. Fast forward to last year, I wanted to explore the idea of just because you grow up with someone, that doesn’t make them your best friend but with that alone, I was having massive writer’s block. So, for some reason, I decided to integrate those two ideas and it just seem to work (I think).
What kind of theater speaks to you?: That’s an interesting question because I think that any type of theater can speak to me if it’s well done. I like being surprised by shows. Our Town at the barrow street theatre a couple years ago surprises the hell out of me. I couldn’t sleep after that show. It was brilliantly done.
If you could compare yourself to any playwright, who would it be?: I don’t think I want to compare myself with any playwright cause I don’t think I’m that good. However, I’m very influenced by the work of Martin McDonough. He is a writer that tells his stories without mercy yet he can shock his audience into laughing about anything.
What’s it like to be a part of FringeNYC?: It’s been a very interesting yet amazing thrill ride. Being able to work with my theatre company (THE ATTIC) on this project has also been a real treat.
What show have you recommended to your friends?: The Normal Heart and The Motherfucker With The Hat (which both closed!) But, War Horse and The Book of Mormon are both incredible and deserving of their awards. Also, I really want to check out Sleep No More.
What’s up next?: The next season with the Attic and working on my next play that is so secretive I don’t even know what it is.
For more information on This One Time in Last Chance, please visit http://www.theatticpresents.org/
