30 Days Of NYMF: Day 7 Crazy, Just Like Me

Day 7 Crazy, Just Like Me

By Rob Intile, Jr.

Executive Producer for Crazy, Just Like Me

It isn't often that I pick up a new script and am immediately engrossed by the world the author creates. It also isn't often that I tap my foot to every song on the demo recording. To say I was pleasantly surprised when I first read Crazy, Just Like me is a terrible understatement. The piece is invigorating. The piece is relatable. It's always a pleasure to work with Drew Gasparini, the talented and ambitious composer/lyricist/book writer of the show, and I couldn't wait to start working on the NYMF production.

Still, like any good relationship, there is always room to grow and improve. We held a private reading with the director and some trusted "people of the theatre" to figure out what could be stronger. The resulting gab session that ensued was nothing short of magical and very true to the sit-com-esque world of the play Drew created. Everyone jumped on the characters, taking sides with one or the other, reminiscent of the lines drawn by lovers and haters of Cathy and Jamie in The Last 5 Years. Bingo! We had a show that would evoke a strong reaction! Some of the people in the room were getting crazy in their defense of one character or prosecution of another. We were proving the world of Drew's show true to the core!

I asked Drew where the heck he got the ideas for this script. He told me that, "Everyone is a little bit crazy. I started creating Crazy, Just Like Me when I was 19 and it was a time when really important things started to come to light. The thing that makes us the most crazy is love. Love seems to be something that takes the longest to figure out no matter who you are or how you were raised."

True story, Drew.

To buy tickets or to learn more about Crazy, Just Like Me go to www.nymf.org/crazyjustlikeme or call 212-352-3101