Zeke Poiro of Leonardtown, right, plays Wallace, an obnoxious, hard-drinking, ex-jock, against characters, from left, Charles Whatley of La Plata as Carl and Jeremy Hunter of La Plata as Hoyt in the College of Southern Maryland Cause Theatre production of “Adult American Males,”
When Zeke Poiro, of Leonardtown, steps on the stage he admits to being a little nervous, which seems ironic for an active-duty officer with 15 years of military service. “When I’m strapped into a rocket going 700 mph, I’m okay with that. Walking onstage in front of 30 people who are expecting to be entertained? I’m still nervous.”
A Navy test pilot flying out of Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Poiro, 37, is playing the role of Wallace in the College of Southern Maryland Cause Theatre’s production of “Adult American Males,” Feb. 5-7.
Poiro, a lieutenant commander who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, says that acting is not a fear for his life, but rather, the fear of winning over the audience. He participated in high school theater but had a 20-year gap until he auditioned for a one-act play written by his wife, Kay. While Poiro didn’t get a part in that play, he did rekindle his interest in theater and subsequently landed a part in the Newtowne Player’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors.” The people he worked with in community theater suggested he try out for productions at CSM.
“[Acting] is very different from the life I lead as an engineer where everything is concrete—it serves a need I didn’t realize I had,” Poiro said of theater’s ability to provide a creative outlet.
“Adult American Males” follows four high school buddies who meet at a cabin for their 10th annual reunion. Poiro’s character Wallace was a football star who is obnoxious, drinks too much, treats his friends poorly and can’t make the transition from high school jock to responsible adult.
“Adult American Males” performances are at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5, and 8 p.m., Feb. 6-7, at the La Plata Campus, Fine Arts (FA) Center Theatre. This show is for audiences 18 years and older due to subject matter. Tickets are $5. For information, contact bxoffc@csmd.edu, 301-934-7828 or www.csmd.edu/Arts.
