Following five-star success and sell out shows at Edinburgh Fringe and New York City Fringe, Meg Chizek’s one-woman hit show How to Give Up on Your Dreams, is heading to London’s Greenwich Theatre this 4-8th November.
Walking away isn't always bad, sometimes it's the most powerful thing you can do. Join the laughter, storytelling, and unexpected dance moves in Meg Chizek’s hilarious and vulnerable quest to find her purpose in life. As she twirls through rejection, chassés into conformity, and even joins a dance cult - every pirouette leaves her with existential dread, forcing her to answer the ultimate question: what happens when your dreams don’t come true?
Meg Chizek is a New York City based comedian, actor, producer and is self-proclaimed to be ‘the most charismatic person on this planet,’ whose quirky nature and vibrant energy is ‘sure to charm the pants off any crowd.’ Meg recently performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Knockouts Comedy Festival and has appeared on The Daily Show. She is the producer of The Cat’s Meow, a monthly female variety show featured in the New York Times. How To Give Up on Your Dreams sold out audiences at the New York Fringe Festival and Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and is excited to be debuting Off West End at Greenwich Theatre this November. Critics say she ‘knows how to work her audience.’
We sat down with Meg to talk about the show.
What can you tell me about How To Give Up On Your Dreams?
How To Give Up on Your Dreams is about a life long dream not working out the way you planned. As a creative child growing up in a small town, dance was my outlet. From a young age I knew that I wanted to be a professional dancer. I moved to New York to live out my Broadway Dreams, only to find that dreams don’t always work out the way you planned and that changing paths in life, while not easy, can be oh so rewarding.
This show is about finding your purpose in life and accepting yourself. With many deep cut theater references and energetic dance breaks sprinkled throughout, this show has a lot of heart and humor to charm any crowd.
How would you describe the style of the show?
This solo show is humorous and heartfelt. Audiences will laugh, cry and want to get up and dance. There are a lot of fun elements to the show including characters, choreography and pop quizzes that keep the audience on their toes the entire 60 minutes. It is a theatrical grab bag with smart joke writing and impeccable comedic timing.
What inspired you to create this show?
I always wanted to write about dance. It meant so much to me and was the biggest part of my life for a long time. I felt a lot of big emotions around giving up on my dream to be a dancer, a dream I had held on to since I was 10 years old. Shame, guilt, regret.
I wanted to explore the identity crisis a lot of artists and people go through when changing paths in their lives. I figured I couldn’t be the only one experiencing this weird type of loss that comes with giving up on a dream.
How did you approach developing the show?
I took a few solo show writing classes that helped me form the overall structure. At first I didn’t know what the story I wanted to tell was. I just started writing little vignettes about my experiences as a dancer.
I LOVE shows that combine elements of theater and comedy such as Oh Hello, Oh Mary, and POTUS. I knew I wanted the show to be theatrical, not just me and a microphone. Including dance, music and costumes was always a must. Over time, the show has continued to grow and change with every run, adding more fun and whimsical elements including character work and giveaways.
How do you reflect on runs in New York and Edinburgh with the show?
I am proud of how the New York and Edinburgh Fringe have gone. Having audience members in tears at the end of the show, telling me they really resonated with the material, makes me feel euphoric. To be able to connect with someone on a deeply personal level through art is why I do it.
The show has evolved so much over the years and I feel it keeps getting stronger after each run. It truly is a growing piece of art, and it is not the same show that debuted in Edinburgh last summer.
How has this show helped in your own personal life journey?
This show has been very cathartic for me. I feel like it has helped me find my voice as an actor/ comedian. Doing stand up taught me that things don’t always need to be super polished and art needs an audience to grow. While theater has taught me to be over prepared and always on. I feel like this show marries the two in a cohesive way.
How do you mentally and physically prepare yourself for a performance?
On a perfect show day, I would have time to workout and journal in the morning. Fitness helps me feel grounded in my body and journaling helps me clear my mind. I have a pump up playlist that includes a lot of Chappell Roan and showtunes that I like to listen to before shows. I also must stretch because there is a bit of dancing involved and I am no longer in my 20s. And I have a nervous habit of applying way too much blush and highlighter backstage. I will be backstage caking it on until the curtain goes up.
What was the first piece of theatre you saw that had a big impact on you?
Phantom of the Opera, which I talk about in How To Give Up on Your Dreams, was the first show I was epically obsessed with. I watched the Emmy Rossum DVD twice a day for 2 weeks straight. I loved the fantasy behind the world they built and was hypnotized by the score. It felt magical, the hidden tunnels and otherworldliness of it all.
What keeps you inspired?
Seeing shows and theater whenever I can! I love seeing everything from Broadway to indie experimental readings. I love seeing what my friends are working on. I just love live theater and will watch anything. And my cat is always my inspiration.
What would you hope someone takes away from seeing the show?
It’s okay to give up on your dreams and find new ones. Changing paths doesn’t make you a failure, we are allowed to change and grow into the best versions of ourselves.
How to Give Up on Your Dreams is performing at Greenwich Theatre, Studio at 7.30pm from 4
- 8th November. Tickets are available to purchase online from the venue website
greenwichtheatre.org.uk, or the venue box office 02088 587755.
Instagram: @giveup_show and @megsi_lee
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