The Buzz Intro Interview | Outlawed & Out-Of-The-Box Productions

Responder: Obie Outlaw, Founder & Playwright
Name of Company: Outlawed & Out-Of-The-Box Productions
Name of Show: Flame & Filament

“There was once upon a time that people were terrified of electricity – something we heavily depend on today. By re-contextualizing that fear and introducing a non-binary character, I hope to show that we need not be afraid of change – even if it’s uncomfortable.”

Why should people see your show?

Because in the words of people who’ve seen it –

“It’s a love story centered around growth and change.”

“It’s a show that knows no boundaries despite the time period and it’s a story with all sorts of twists and turns. You will sit on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens.”

“It’s a play that encourages looking beyond your biases to embrace new ideas and discover new truths about the world that can lead to radical change. Whether that change is on a more revolutionary scale that affects society, or on a more interpersonal scale that affects the bonds we thought we knew that have only begun to flourish.”

“This show is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. It shows us that we need to acknowledge the past to reach our future and appreciate our present while finding joy in the in-between.”

“It shines a spotlight on a society that existed in shadow and secrets and shows us that the world is a layered place.”

And I believe it’s a story that must be told now. This is what you need to hear – need to see and experience – in order to evolve into your highest self. This show is different, like nothing you’ve ever known before.

Come to feel hopeful, joyful, connected, and ALIVE.

What about festivals intrigues you? And why the Atlanta Fringe?

I LOVE festivals. Absolutely love getting to run around and see a ton of different shows/events/exhibits and connect with new, like-minded people over this one, transient experience we’ve shared together. Some of my friendships have started off as a chance meeting at a festival only to bloom into something deeper. I had the opportunity to attend the 2022 ATL Fringe Festival and immediately knew, “I need to be a part of this.” Luckily enough, here I am!

What inspired you to create this?

I wrote FLAME & FILAMENT because I needed to. This story has been heavy on my heart and deep within my mind for too long, and I am beyond ecstatic to finally share it!! The script itself has been percolating for about 5 years and started with a little spark of inspiration I had at university. “What if someone asked for a light and two different light sources turned on at the same time?” That provided the science and time period of this show, but it wasn’t until I finally came out as non-binary that the rest of this story really started to click.

As technology advances and our society changes because of it, people tend to freak out. I’ll be honest, AI and VR freak me out a little bit because they’re new and have the potential to radically change our world for better or for worse. There was once upon a time that people were terrified of electricity – something we heavily depend on today. By re-contextualizing that fear and introducing a non-binary character, I hope to show that we need not be afraid of change – even if it’s uncomfortable. Change can be good if we let it be.

Life has been weird the last few years, to say the least. How has the “real world” affected the art you’re creating?

It has created a sense of urgency – I feel I need to tell these stories now. As if writing what is in my heart and on my mind is the most important thing I can do right now.

What have you learned from working on your show so far?

That it is better to have it done than have it perfect and I have more friends who believe in me than I thought I did.

There’s a mysterious stranger in the back row of your show, wearing a big ol’ N95 mask and a baseball cap and there’s something weirdly familiar about them, and then they come up afterwards to tell you they loved your show. In your WILDEST DREAMS, who is this mysterious stranger? (Bonus points if your mysterious stranger is an Atlanta celeb.)

Freddie Ashley, Artistic Director of Actor’s Express and fellow USM alum!

Fringes are the place to really push the boundaries so we gotta ask: are you inviting your family to this show are “Hey, maybe sit this one out you guys…”

I am inviting LITERALLY EVERYONE I KNOW to come and see this show. Come one, come all – this story is for y’all!

Will your show change the world?

Maybe. At the very least, it will change my world.

Zoom meetings: dress up head to toe or Donald Duck it?

100% Donald Duck/Winnie the Pooh it – unless I anticipate I’ll need to get up or move around for any reason.

We’re making an excellent Fringey Feelings playlist. Describe your show in two or three songs we can add to keep the jams flowing.

OMG – how perfect! I’ve created a playlist for my show (which you can find following the Spotify link below), but if I could only pick three here they are:

How Bad We Need Each Other by Marc Scibilia