A Sneak Preview of this Weekend's Southeast Premiere of TRIASSIC PARQ

This weekend, dinosaurs are taking over Chapel Hill. Presented by Wagon Wheel Arts, catch Triassic Parq at the Kenan Theatre at the Center for Dramatic Art in Chapel Hill. I had the chance to peek in on a rehearsal and talk to a few cast members to get a glimpse of what audiences will see this coming weekend.

A self-declared "not-parody," Triassic Parq follows the dinosaurs from a similarly-named film and tells their side of the story, and it's absolutely nothing like what you might expect. These gender-bending dinos deal with everything from their first taste of freedom to rebelling against the faith they once had, with plenty of rock and roll to go with it. After successful ventures at the New York International Fringe Festival and Off-Broadway, these raptors are ready for their premiere in the Southeast.

When I chatted with actor Nilan Johnson, whose character is named Velociraptor of Faith, it became clear that Triassic Parq is a quirky take on the classic theme of coming-of-age. Describing his character as a religious zealot who channels Liza, the Velociraptor of Faith uses the "power of persuasion and misdirection" to influence the other dinosaurs. The dinosaurs initially worship the laboratory deity, but once the fence loses power and they escape, everything changes. I also had the chance to sit down with Jackson Bloom, who, as I was surprised to find out, plays Morgan Freeman - yes, that Morgan Freeman. Bloom describes the show as "irreverent," and points out that the show crosses many lines, and is "not just a spoof," but so much more. When asked to describe the show in three words, Bloom said, "sex, drugs, rock & roll..." and dinosaurs, apparently.

Triassic Parq's rock score will be helmed by local band Bears in the City. Performances are August 22 and 23 at 8 pm, August 24 at 6 pm and 10:30 pm, and August 25 at 5 pm. For tickets and more information, visit www.TriassicParqNC.com.

Photo Credit: Paul Davis