You know Zach Flock as the Erie Playhouse Executive Director, but this season you’ll meet him as the director of THE DA VINCI CODE after years of writing, directing, producing and performing with venues including Dramashop, Gannon University’s Schuster Theatre and others.
Read on for a quick Q&A inspired by our recent coverage in the Erie Reader ahead of opening weekend!
First time directing at the Playhouse – what else have you worked on?
This is my first time solo directing for the Playhouse! I assistant-directed BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL here in 2023, and I have about 20 previous directing credits, including FUN HOME and THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME at Dramashop, and MACBETH and KING LEAR for Gannon University’s Shakespeare Summer Nights.
Is this the first time THE DA VINCI CODE has been performed at the Playhouse?
We’re one of the first community theatres anywhere to stage THE DA VINCI CODE. It premiered in 2022 in the UK, and then had its North American debut in 2023 at the Ogunquit Playhouse. It’s exciting to bring this to the Erie Playhouse stage for the first time!
What inspired you to bring this show to the Playhouse Mainstage?
We aim to do shows that appeal to our regular subscribers, and that also attract new audiences. Certainly, with the popularity of the novel and the movie, there’s potential to bring in people who might not normally attend the theatre.
We saw a similar effect with our recent productions of MISERY and THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, and a lot of newcomers really loved those productions. The theme of our season is Soaring Tales And Epic Adventures, and THE DA VINCI CODE definitely checks those boxes.
How does the show differ from Dan Brown’s novel and the movie adaptation?
The script for the play is adapted from the novel, not the movie, so it’s definitely not a word-for-word adaptation from screen to stage.
The experience of consuming a novel versus watching a play is quite different, and the playwrights definitely considered that. I think fans of the novel will notice some elements that are dropped or pared down for the stage, but the play certainly stands on its own. It’s also a sprawling movie, jumping from country to country, with many characters. The play is more concise and it’s a ten-person cast, but it doesn’t skimp on adventure.
You don’t need to know the book or movie to become enraptured by the characters and follow them on their quest.
What has been your favorite part about working on this show?
It’s a really captivating story, and the script allows us to embrace the theatricality and do some cool design work, especially with projections. We’re sort of pushing our own boundaries a bit.
I love collaborating, and working with local visual artist Britty Lea on the projection design is so much fun and brings an entirely different dimension to the work. Plus, our scenic & lighting designer, Nico Lombardo, our scene shop manager, Brendan Daugherty, and our costume designer, Ryan Ingram, have really embraced the uniqueness and the collaborative nature of this production.
What has your experience been like working alongside the cast? Is anyone making their debut?
It’s a small ensemble compared to most Playhouse shows, with just ten people in the cast. Most of the cast has been on the Playhouse stage before, and two cast members are making their debut (J.P. Driscoll and Petra Shearer).
I love actors who work hard and who are willing to play, and that’s definitely true of this ensemble. It’s really a collaboration, and because many of the cast members play multiple roles, everybody has a lot to do.
To me, this is really a great summer show. It’s incredibly entertaining, with moments of humor, a lot of heart, and a great mystery to unravel. Whether someone is familiar with the book or movie, or coming in cold, it’s a story that will grab their attention from the start and not let go until the very end.
