5 Reasons To Come To My Play “Son of Pong”

I don't know what I'm yelling. Looks like "Cheeseburger! Donkey disco!" Also: I stand during the show. I just felt like having a nice sit when this photo was taken.

1. I tell a story about video games! My dad was a video game junkie. He would sit in his underwear in front of our TV in the basement, and play for hours. His addiction started with Pong and continued until his death. I hated video games because as a kid, I saw no reward in meaningless toil. If you told me then that I’d grow up to be like him, I would have barfed.

“Son of Pong” is a story about growing up. A story about why people play video games.  A story about how the grins of the father shall be visited upon the son. I’ll even tell you how it starts: I’m a grown man dying in an emergency room and the cellphone game “Angry Birds” saves  my life.

2. It’s part of theater festival that’s all about video games! My play is part of Gameplay, which is a yearly celebration of video game performance art. This is what scrappy blog The New York Times said about last years festival. This year is just as awesome. Scoot over and give Gameplay a “like” on ye olde Facebook.

3. You’ll be supporting the arts! “The Brick: for the nerds, outcasts, and mad experimenters of theater. That includes both creators and spectators.” —Time Out New York. I have been working on and off at The Brick since it opened its doors in 2002, because I am a fruitwad dedicated to EXPRESSING MYSELF. The Brick is a non-profit hut of artistic love that supports emerging and established artists and every ticket sold goes to these efforts. We’re just trying to save Western Civilization from itself, that’s all.

4. It’s the first show I’ve put on in two years! The last show I did at The Brick was a live storytelling/audience interview show called Broke. I’ve had many other plays performed here, but “Son of Pong” is the most personal. Probably because I’m also performing it. Live theater is a lot like NASCAR — you never know when there will be a wreck. “Son of Pong” is directed by Michael Gardner, my friend and co-artistic director of The Brick. He’s been making sure there are no random explosions.

5. Pancakes! I will personally make pancakes for everyone who comes to see “Son of Pong.” That’s right. I will come to your domicile and whip you up a stack of delicious pancakes.*

“Son of Pong” plays throughout July at these times:

Sat 7/9, 9pm
Sat 7/16 9pm
Sun 7/17 4pm
Wed 7/20 8pm
Thu 7/28 8pm
Sat 7/30 7pm

Buy tickets in advance here for all of the shows.

*Void where prohibited by law or at discretion of John DeVore.