Life Is A Play! Discover More About Theatre With The MAD Joseph Zaitouny

It’s always a source of inspiration hearing about artists pursuing their goals, passions and dreams; this is what makes Joseph Zaitouny a source of inspiration!

How do you define yourself?
I am an actor. I care about finding connections with others and exploring the human condition through art.

How did you get into acting? Has it always been a passion?
When I was younger, I was in the boy scouts and we used to create plays for the people in our town; it was the most fun I’ve ever had. It was especially rewarding to see how much people were enjoying our shows. This made me very happy and I’ve loved performing ever since.

What was the most exciting role you’ve ever played?
In 2015, I was part of The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov where I played the young student Peter Trofimov. It was the most challenging and exciting role I’ve ever played, not only because of my love of Chekhov’s work, but also because Trofimov is someone who is trying to find his way in a world that he’s also in conflict with.

Who are your biggest influences/muses?
As an actor, Daniel Day Lewis has been one of my biggest influences, and I find so much joy in watching him work. Anton Chekhov and Maria Irene Fornes have also had a deep effect on my own process as a writer and on my perception of the world.

Favorite play and movie?
“Tango Palace” by Maria Irene Fornes is an exceptional play that I had the opportunity to produce, direct, and perform it back in 2013. “Successful Life of Three” (also by Fornes) and “Escape From Happiness” by George Walker are some of the funniest plays I’ve ever read. I love all of Anton Chekhov’s short stories. “Illusions” by Ivan Vyrypaev is a brilliant take on life, love, and theatre. Last but not least, “Zoo Story” by Edward Albee is a great piece of work and I’m currently re-discovering more plays by this wonderful playwright. As for movies, the list is very long but the ones I never get tired of watching are “Shine” by Scott Hicks, “My Left Foot” by Jim Sheridan, “There Will Be Blood” by Paul Thomas Anderson, “The Shinning” by Stanley Kubrick, “Doubt” by John Patrick Shanely, “Flawless” by Joel Schumacher, and “Gangs of New York” by Martin Scorsese. As a comedy fan, one of my favorite comedic actors is Steve Carell and I enjoy watching him in everything!

What are some of your future plans?
I currently have a Feature Film in pre-production, and will be working on two more plays this year. One of my passion projects is Stand-up, but until now, I’ve never found the time to sit down and create a solo piece. This year promises to be a busy one, but more importantly, I hope that people can connect with the work.