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Students who stop by the Loeb Experimental Theater from March 6 to March 9 will find themselves in a surreal world of horror movies, game shows, and a reappearing sink — all part of an experience that might cause them to question their sense of reality in just 90 minutes.

“be cozy,” an original play written and directed by Zach B. Halberstam ’25, is the tale of B-list actress Emily (Maibritt M.M. Henkel ’25), who is acting in the horror flick that could finally give her her big break. When the pressure starts to get to her, she stops sleeping and begins to question reality, creating tension with her obsessively clean, med-school dropout boyfriend Robert (Isaac A. Newman ’25). Meanwhile, Emily’s trivia-loving, couch-crashing younger brother Andrew (Benjamin C. Walter ’26) is preparing for his “big break” — a trivia game show with a cash prize — and her omnipresent horror film co-star Steve (Matine Khalighi ’25) narrates the whole experience.

This meta-production aims to blur the line between production and reality, exploring the all-too-real struggles of feeling stuck, giving too much power to little things, and questioning the truth of one’s surroundings. Although Halberstam has both directed and written for theater separately, this is his first experience directing his own work.

“I can really say what my intention was with the lines,” Halberstam said. “You have a better idea of what the writer’s intention was when you are the writer.”

Having the show’s writer be such a large part of the rehearsal process granted the production team and cast creative breathing room as the show developed. Walter described this collaborative experience by highlighting the interplay between the actors and the original text. He noted that the team often wondered if it was the script that shaped the characters or if the actors’ interpretations of the characters were what really brought the script to life. The unique fluidity of the show created an environment that was both mutually shared and ever-evolving, creating a special experience for all those involved.

“We know that this production that we’ve made is something that is fully ours. It doesn’t just belong to Zach. It also belongs to the actors, the tech team, the designers, and directors. It’s something that feels very, very original, and also very, very dynamic,” stage manager Kyler C. Hoogendoorn-Ecker ’27 said.

This debut show is designed to make the audience reflect. As Newman mentions, the themes in “be cozy” are designed to elicit deep thought and discussion, giving the audience — no matter what state of mind they enter the theater in — something “to latch on to.” The show’s exploration of universal yet complex themes invites people to not only enjoy, but also relate.

“It’s about losing your grasp on what’s real and what’s not through the lens of a horror movie script, but I think it really speaks to also just being young and being confused and being unsure in the world,” Henkel said.

These rich and thought-provoking themes are what Halberstam deeply connected with during the inception of “be cozy,” which he says came to him during a“bout of insomnia.” This philosophy is reflected in the work through both the poignant script and the realistic portrayal of the characters.

“[I thought] about how quickly things can start to feel really, really unsteady, and how we think that there’s so much power to things, and we ascribe so much power to little things, particularly objects that [aren’t] really there, that we can’t justify,” Halberstam said.

“be cozy” is an experimental, eccentric, and deeply authentic show that will keep audiences on their toes with its unexpected intensity and intimate portrayal of personal turmoil. An opportunity to step away from the stress of midterm season, “be cozy” presents a compelling mix of entertainment and thoughtful introspection.

“be cozy” runs at the Loeb Ex from March 6 to March 9.