An Interview With Kore Actor Zak Hamrick

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KORE Written by Gabrielle Orcha, directed by Jessica Johnson, featuring Zak Hamrick, Katie Langwell, and Heather Nicole Bronson runs July 9th - 24th, 2021.

This production tells the story of Persephone who is 29, unemployed, broke, and trying to figure out what to do next. She's living with her mother, who's driving her crazy. Enter Hades - the attractive bad boy who might just offer the escape she needs. The question is - what is Persephone willing to give up for her freedom?

We reached out to Zak about what working on this production has been like for him.

1. What drew you to this play and to telling this particular modernized version of the Persephone myth?

I love that Hades feels like the Manic Pixie Dream Boy (Depressed Demon Nightmare Boy?). He’s got a character arc, but his most important role is to enable Persephone’s growth, which feels like a great play on the original mythos. And, obviously, who can pass up playing a Greek god?

2. Do you relate to your character? How similar / different are you?

I'd certainly like to be described as having piercing eyes and rugged good looks, but Hades' actions are manipulative, predatory, selfish. He's afraid of his own emotions and reluctant to let down his guard. I can relate to having flaws, but refusing to work on them until the right Queen of the Underworld comes along? Get a therapist, buddy.

3. What's your favorite line in your show? Why?

"Do you have GPS?" "No. I don't believe in GPS." "What's to believe in?" "I don't know." I'm not sure how Gabrielle so perfectly distilled every mother on Earth into this precise interaction, but wow.

4. If you had to choose between living in the Upperworld and Underworld, what would you choose and why?

Underworld for life. Mostly for Kate Beckinsale, but also because I had a very big ska phase and will absolutely be going to hell for it.

5. Who is your favorite mythological character in this play and why? (Demeter, Hades, Hecate, Persephone)

Hecate is a goddess of magic, witchcraft, night, the moon, crossroads, and doorways. She’s powerful and mysterious, she keeps you safe in liminal spaces and loves dogs. Everything about her is cool, how could I pick anyone else?

6. Do you believe that life is guided by fate (a series of events that happen to you) or free will (a series of events that you have a part in creating)?

Idk man, I am literally just vibing.

7. How did you get into theatre?

I was often tangential to it in school, but was a band geek instead. I always intended to try it but sort of thought I'd missed the opportunity. I saw several plays when I moved to Asheville, then finally marched myself into a season audition with MPP in 2019. A week later, I'd been cast in two shows for the summer and it’s felt like a dream come true ever since.

8. How is working with The Magnetic different from working with other theatres?

This is my third production with Magnetic, and it feels like working on the bleeding edge of theatre. It's always modern, experimental, collaborative. Everyone is so dedicated to creating a new experience, and I hope to work with Magnetic as often as they'll have me.

9. If you were going out to a local bar on a Monday night, which bar would it be, and what would you be drinking?

Odditorium! I love that place any day of the week. And they’ve always got some whacky cocktail you can’t get anywhere else, so I'd probably start with that.

10. Do you have any upcoming projects that we should check out?

I'm very excited to join Different Strokes PAC in Roe, planned for their 2022 season!

Biography

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Zak began acting in 2019, and this will be his tenth performance since. You may have recently seen him with The Magnetic Theatre in Court of the Grandchildren, or in something i cared about! Past credits include work with the Montford Park Players, Nemesis Theatre, and virtually with Different Strokes PAC. He’d like to especially thank director Jessica Johnson, playwright Gabrielle Orcha, and the fantastic production team that has done so much to bring this pantheon to life. Much love to his partner Eliza, brother Luke, mother Josephine, and all of the friends, lovers, and enemies that have supported him along the way.

Grab your tickets for KORE here: https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=124802