This is a suburban, adolescent tale of friendship, family, experimenting, and looking for love against the backdrop of Edmonton in the 80s. Inspired by writer Damian Rumph’s Edmonton upbringing, “Meat Loaf Jesus’ is a coming of age story tackling themes of innocence, homosexuality, religion, and classic rock. 
Mark and his Mom have relocated to a co-op community outside of Edmonton. Its most prominent feature is an area known as “the Pipeline,” where local youth go to hang out, do drugs, and have sex. Watching over them all is a one armed Jesus, powerful but ineffectual to stop their lives from exploding like a roller coaster leaving it’s tracks!
Directed by David C. Jones, the play stars Lissa Neptuno, Tarun Keram, Patrick Mercado and Damian Rumph. 
“Meat Loaf Jesus” runs at Studio 16 at 1555 W 7th from September 4 to 14, 2014. Visit www.vancouverfringe.com for more information. 

Artists Profile

Tarun Keram

Age:23
Ethnicity: East Indian
Occupation and/or Company: Actor
Years of experience: 2
Next Performance: September 4 - 15
What is the highlight of your performance? Though I have been in several films and commercials, this is my first play. The highlight of my performance has been exploring ways to stretch my boundaries and expand my actions on the stage.
Future goals as an artist:  Represent South Asian people across the world.

Tarun Keram

Age:23
Ethnicity: East Indian
Occupation and/or Company: Actor
Years of experience: 2
Next Performance: September 4 - 15
What is the highlight of your performance? Though I have been in several films and commercials, this is my first play. The highlight of my performance has been exploring ways to stretch my boundaries and expand my actions on the stage.
Future goals as an artist:  Represent South Asian people across the world.

Lissa Neptuno 

Age: 32
Ethnicity: Asian
Occupation: Actor
Years of experience: 14
Next performance: “Meatloaf Jesus” at the Vancouver Fringe Festival
What is the highlight of your performance? I get to rock out to 80s music.
 Future goals as an artist:  Eventually I want the lead role in a network television series – one where I get to do my own stunts all the time.

Damian Rumph

Age: 41
Ethnicity: Bi-Racial
Occupation: Theatre artist, and teacher and graduate of UBC
Years of experience: 16 years
 Next performance:  I've written the show “Meat Loaf Jesus,” which will have its opening night on September 4th at Studio 16 at Granville and 7th. This show started out as a one man show 7 years ago and the highlight, so far, has been the transformation of the piece from a one man show to a multi-actor theatrical piece. Future goals as an artist: My goal is to continue to create pieces that explore the interconnectedness of the human experience through theatrical presentation. 

If you are an artist and would like to be featured in our newspaper, email: jmann@postpeopleinc.com