Current Economic Conditions

Current Economic Conditions

By Don Zolidis

Directed by Brian Fonesca

Originally produced at The Phoenix Theatre, Indianapolis, IN.

January 5, 2012 through February 5, 2012

About the Premiere Production: Current Economic Conditions: A Comedy is a six-actor, 12-character black comedy set in the present day suburbs. Lily Booker is trained as a writer and, at the play’s beginning, has an entry-level job at a publishing company. She learns her job is being eliminated; she can stay on as an unpaid intern or quit. Rather than go backwards in her career from a paying position to an unpaid one, she leaves, and begins a journey that will take her through sillier and sillier scenarios as she moves back with her parents (at the age of 26), contemplates graduate school, and goes on failed job interviews while her parents judge her for owning grown-up lingerie and staying out at night. She meets Charles, who is on a similar path in life. The two begin an awkward but hopeful romance. Ultimately, Lily gives up her integrity and creates a false resume in her attempt to fight “current economic conditions.” This is how she ends up as a financial analyst with Goldman Sachs. An epilogue finds her back at her former publishing company presenting the manuscript of “The Belly of the Beast,” her memoir of her 22 days at Goldman Sachs.



Artistic Statement: 
According to Producing Director Bryan Fonseca, “Current Economic Conditions is a delightful, entertaining play with a serious social message about how skewed our society’s perceptions of our work force have become. The black comedy keeps the play from being preachy while still getting the message across with a little ‘sting.’ The play’s central character represents a millennial mindset – a little nihilistic, and not at all confident that there’s a place in our society or economy for people her age. Lily’s parents, by contrast, are Generation Js, at the tail end of the Baby Boomer era, and they believe that they have inherent worth and place in society. Again, the contrast creates humor but also drives home a point about our society’s shifting attitudes. Hence we believe that this play deserves a place in the American repertoire as a smart, meaningful snapshot of our particular time and place.”


Grant Statement:
According to Managing Director Sharon Gamble, “The Edgerton Foundation’s generous grant of $8,000 allows us to add our full creative team for an extra rehearsal week, extending our three weeks of rehearsal to four weeks and allowing us to deepen all of our production components.”



Director: Brian Fonesca

Set Design: James Gloss

Lighting Design: Laura Glover



Additional Funders:
The Shubert Foundation, Christel DeHaan Family Foundation