Doing ‘Dirt’
Astoria actor to star in U.S. production of European play

The European show “Dirt” will make its United States debut on Friday, August 10 at the 11th Annual New York International Fringe Festival and will star Astoria resident Christopher Domig.
Domig, who was born and raised in Salzburg, Austria, moved to Astoria about 14 months ago after having attended graduate school at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and receiving an MFA.
When he was 15 years old, Domig was first exposed to the world of acting. He was cast as Biblo for a city production of “The Hobbit.”
“That just sort of propelled me on to keep auditioning for the plays in high school,” he said.
Before deciding to study acting in college when he came to the United States, Domig was going to pursue studies in psychology and philosophy. However, he said he got “sucked back into a theatre group,” and soon auditioned for grad school. Since graduating, he has played Pip in a national tour of “Great Expectations” and was in a production of “Secrets,” among other roles.
Domig was introduced to “Dirt,” a one-man play written by Robert Schneider in 1992, when he was a senior in high school in Austria and had to read it as an example of a contemporary, relevant play.
“Dirt” is about an illegal Iraqi immigrant named Sad, who makes some of his money by selling roses on the street. As the 30-year-old is living in New York, there is a war going on in Iraq. Domig said that the play deals with racism and the fact that it still exists in today’s society.
“That theme of racism is just a never ending one,” Domig said. “We’re constantly coming to terms with that aspect of our humanity.”
Domig said that he hopes the show’s viewers will recognize that racism is still around and that it needs to be dealt with. He added that, although the play does not offer a solution, it at least raises questions about the way people treat others who are different.
The premiere of “Dirt,” which is also being presented by Dreck Productions and is being directed by David Robinson, will make its debut on Friday, August 10 at 10:45 p.m. at The Players Theatre Loft Space, located at 115 MacDougal Street in Manhattan. The rest of the performances for the show will be Saturday, August 11 at 3:15 p.m., Friday, August 17 at 8 p.m., Saturday, August 18 at 8:45 p.m. Sunday, August 19 at 5 p.m., Tuesday, August 21 at 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday, August 22 at 8 p.m.
Tickets for the show cost $15.
Domig, who said he is looking forward to the premiere of “Dirt,” is already working on another play that he hopes to be able to present during a fringe festival next summer. He also said that he wants to “establish a bi-continental career,” working in the German speaking world and in the United States. Another aspiration of Domig’s is to become involved in the independent film industry.
For more information on “Dirt,” visit www.dirt-nyc.com.