Multiple Pulitzer prize nominee Joyce Carol Oates’ 1990 play, Tone Clusters, comes to the open-air theater Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga Canyon this month.

The two-person play, which is based on the story of a man convicted for murdering a 13 year old girl, is directed by Mike Peebler, and stars Alan Blumenfeld and Katherine James. Tone Clusters, according to Peebler, ” is about the ‘spectacularization’ of tragedy in our culture… It’s about the way we take horrible events and turn them into a product to be consumed, passing instantaneous judgment and dehumanizing those involved in the process.”

The actors, Blumenfeld and James, play the roles of Frank and Emily Gulick respectively — a regular American couple who are thrust into the spotlight when their son is arrested for killing a girl in their neighborhood.

Although “the media” as a collective presence, is not seen on stage, a disembodied voice played by Jeff Wiesen, symbolizes the unseen role of the press.

Uprising host Sonali Kolhatkar spoke with all three actors on September 4, 2013. Watch a video of the interview here:

More details about the play are at www.theatricum.com.

Bipasha Shom recorded this interview.