Interrobang Theatre Company to Present LEVELING UP, Begin. 11/5

Rehearsals are underway for The Interrobang Theatre Company's next production, Leveling Up, written by Deborah Zoe Laufer and directed by Sarah Scafidi. In Leveling Up, twenty-something roommates Ian, Chuck, and Zander spend every day locked away in their Las Vegas basement playing video games along with Zander's girlfriend, Jeannie. Ian is a video game master making his living by helping amateur gamers to "level up". When he is approached by the National Security Agency to turn his virtual talents into real time warfare, the line between fantasy and reality blurs. Deborah Zoe Laufer's new, coming-of-age play asks what it really means to connect in a world ruled by screens.

"I had the pleasure of seeing Leveling Up during its workshop phase at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center in Waterford, Connecticut in 2011," says Director Sarah Scafidi. "The play struck me with its honest, realistic nature and biting relevance. Three years later, I find that it still has potency, giving insight into a culture where we would much rather hide behind our virtual, self-made identities-via social media, video games, or otherwise-than face potential failure in the 'real' world beyond our screens."

Launched at the beginning of this year, Interrobang is a brand-new Baltimore based theatre company dedicated to producing high quality, new and contemporary plays that are challenging and exciting for the young actor and director. "We are very excited to tackle our second production ever with Leveling Up," Interrobang Artistic Director, Katie Hileman, says. "I find myself becoming more confident in my role as Artistic Director as Interrobang grows and we continue to work toward bringing new, interesting plays to Baltimore, like Deborah Zoe Laufer's piece. I feel that working with new theatre artists like Sarah has strengthened us all as theatre producers."

Leveling Up will feature Tim German as Ian, Tavish Forsyth as Chuck, Todd Zachwieja as Zander, and Interrobang Co-Founder Jessie Poole as Jeannie.

Leveling Up written by Deborah Zoe Laufer, directed by Sarah Scafidi. Performances that are a part of the Charm City Fringe Festival will run Wednesday, November 5 at 8:30pm; Friday, November 7 at 9pm; Saturday, November 8 at 9pm; and Sunday, November 9 at 5pm. A second week of performances will run Tuesday-Saturday, November 11-15 at 8pm and Sunday, November 16 at 2pm. All performances take place at the Mercury Theatre, 1823 North Charles Street Baltimore, Maryland 21201. Tickets range between $7-12. The Tuesday, November 11 performance is Pay-What-You-Can. For tickets, visit www.interrobangbaltimore.org.