Three-time Emmy award-winning actor Christian Jules LeBlanc (“The Young and The Restless”) chatted about starring in “The Zoo Story” opposite Matt de Rogatis.
“The Zoo Story” is a one-act play by the late American playwright Edward Albee. This was Albee’s first play and it was written back in 1958.
The show, directed by Theo Devaney, will be performed at the Jersey Shore Arts Center in Asbury Park from September 4th to 6th (for three nights only). This marks LeBlanc and de Rogatis’ reunion from “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” together.
Matt de Rogatis of Ruth Stage, who serves as creative director and producer, will star as Jerry opposite LeBlanc as Peter.
‘The Zoo Story’
On being a part of “The Zoo Story,” LeBlanc remarked, “This is something Matt brought to the table. I’m a big fan of Edward Albee, especially ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ That’s his major work that I know.”
“It’s all about creating new characters and Matt is a master of that,” LeBlanc exclaimed.
Playing Peter in ‘The Zoo Story’
On playing Peter, LeBlanc stated, “It’s a very interesting character and I’m aware that when Albee first wrote this, he considered Peter underdeveloped, so I’ll be underdeveloped, that would be my subtitle.”
“Actually, it’s a really challenging character for me,” he admitted. “We are both very early in the process, and it’s a short ramp-up.”
“The thing I do like about theater is that we still have time to find the character and really do an actor’s work. Sometimes, when the show is so fast, I feel I’m doing a technician’s work,” he elaborated.
The 2024 Tennessee Williams Festival
On being a part of the 2024 Tennesee Williams Festival, LeBlanc said, “It’s like old-fashioned theatre… you have your out-of-town tryouts. It’s a brilliant and affordable idea for Off-Broadway.”
“I think it’s great for the company, especially to establish this kind of process. I love that process,” LeBlanc noted.
“We did the second act of ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ at the Tennessee Williams Festival in New Orleans, and it was interesting because it breathes new life,” he said.
“After you get the stress of going out there, and doing it in front of an audience, the process is really healthy for a play, especially when you are discovering it and it’s new to everybody. I love that process,” he reiterated.
“I always loved doing the second act with Matt,” LeBlanc admitted. “Also, New Orleans is my hometown. It’s another place like New Jersey. It was a blast to show Matt my hometown just like I will learn about New Jersey when I am there doing ‘The Zoo Story’.”
“What was wonderful was that we didn’t have sets at the festival,” he said. “I cannot say enough about producers because we wouldn’t be anywhere without them. It takes a special person to take on the role of the producer.”
“We had an audience that is so appreciative, and live theatre is so wonderful, and that is what ‘Zoo Story’ is going to be like. We are doing this in New Jersey in an even shorter schedule,” LeBlanc acknowledged.
Closing thoughts on ‘The Zoo Story’
For fans and viewers, he said about “The Zoo Story” “I don’t like to overthink or over-analyze it. It’s good to appreciate an author. I knew Tennessee Williams’ work well enough.
“I grew up in that area/region and I knew the accents and I knew those people. Tennessee is like our Shakespeare, so there was a comfort level. There is a lot going on in a Tennessee Williams play,” he said.
“Whenever you are working on plays by such playwrights as William Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams or Edward Albee, the best advice I’ve ever heard is that Albee’s got you,” LeBlanc said.
LeBlanc continued, “Just stop everything else you are doing and just let him take you. Edward Albee has written these two characters, and my best hope is I become this person that when I meet the other person that Matt becomes, you have the basic humanity of these people created by an incredible author, and that makes fire when you clash.”
“You just see the fun of running into these two humans and seeing what happens. Just don’t overthink it,” he underscored.
“If I am Peter and he is Jerry, it’s going to be a hot time in the old town tonight,” LeBlanc expressed.
LeBlanc remembers Eileen Fulton of ‘As the World Turns’
LeBlanc remembered the late actress Eileen Fulton, who passed away on July 14th at the age of 91.
“Eileen Fulton was the first woman to play my mother ever,” he said. “Eileen was the ‘As the World Turns’ diva, but she was so kind to me, and she was a very giving actress. She will be missed.”
To learn more about “The Zoo Story,” check out the official Ruth Stage website.
For more information on Christian Jules LeBlanc, follow him on Instagram.
