Up Close With Playwright Matt Schatz — A Funny, Shy Guy; his 'The Tallest Building in the World' is Currently in Previews at Luna Stage

The world beat a path to the doors of the World Trade Center towers when they opened in 1973, then the tallest building in the world and, as playwright Matt Schatz reminds us, a staggering marvel of engineering and, well, chutzpah. Schatz's "The Tallest Building in the World," is a dramatic and comedic retelling of how the building came to be. The show, in previews now at Luna Stage Theater Company in the Valley Arts District of West Orange, opens Friday, April 22, and runs through Sunday, May 15.

The spotlight is on Schatz, who also writes books as well as songs-both words and music — and sometimes even performs them.

Q. Matt, what would you like to say about the play, what can audiences expect?

A. I tried to write an exciting, entertaining play that, while based on actual historical events, is both very theatrical and also has a lot of myself in it. Though this play is about the designing and building of the World Trade Center's Twin Towers, it's not really a 9/11 play. I was certainly influenced and affected by those events and want to honor them any way I can. But my play takes place in the 1960s and is more about relationships: relationships between the people who build tall buildings, those against tall buildings, between buildings and people, and even between the buildings themselves. Skyscrapers are powerful things. They have the power to delight and provoke; they have the ability to be modern and timeless. I'm not sure that a play about the building of skyscrapers is as powerful as all of that, but I hope people will come and see for themselves.

Q. This is the play's world premiere. How did you and the play come to the attention of Luna Stage?

A. My best friend from Carnegie Mellon's MFA Dramatic Writing Program — Kevin Christopher Snipes — had a reading of his wonderful play “Small Gods” at Luna in their old space in Montclair. Kevin introduced me to Artistic Director Jane Mandel and told her about my play. I sent it to Cheryl Katz, the director of play development at Luna, and they invited me to have a reading of the play in October 2009 which seemed to go very well. A few months later I met with Cheryl and Jane and they told me they were interested in producing it in their regular season.  

Q. You have been at most of "The Tallest Building in the World's" rehearsals. What has been your input before and during rehearsals?

A. I had input in terms of casting. I have ideas about everything, but my director Troy Miller is really smart and is usually one step ahead of me. Directing, like acting is something I'm baffled by. The cast and the rest of the creative team are also all really smart and good at what they do, so I'm learning to keep my mouth shut for the most part and let everyone do their jobs. My main job at rehearsals so far has consisted of the cutting a line here and there. And eating Chinese food, which I'm good at it.

Q. What can you tell us about your early years; how did you become interested in playwrighting?

A. I was a creative kid. Also, maybe a weird kid. I loved to draw and drew really well from a very young age.The first things I remember writing were picture books that I would illustrate. I wrote a series of those called "The Man in the Can" about a guy who worked at a soup cannery. I also have always made up clever little songs and rhymes and have has an interest in music. All through high school I wanted to make movies, but even then I knew I was probably too shy to be a director. But I knew I could be a writer. My best friend Bob Yula told me about a new screenwriting major at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. We applied together, both got in and went. It was an intense program, but I really took to it — as did Bob, but at some point I started becoming interested in plays. I would go to used bookstores in Philly and look for plays with cool covers or interesting titles. Unlike the novels I bought, I'd actually read them because plays are usually short and there's not a lot of words on the page. Honestly, I think I fell in love with the idea of being a playwright before falling in love with the theater. That would come a little later. But based on the sort of screenplays I wrote, it seemed to suit my sensibilities.

Q. What are your hopes for "The Tallest Building in the World"? 

A. So many hopes for it. But in a nutshell, this is its first production; I hope it's not its last. I also hope that it's funny.

"The Tallest Building in the World" is in previews Saturday and Sunday afternoon. The show opens Friday, April 22, and closes on Sunday, May 15. Performances are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 to $30 and can be bought online at the Luna Stage website, www.lunastage.org, or call (973) 395-5551. Luna Stage is at 555 Valley Road, West Orange.