“Wolf Play” by Hansol Jung kicks off our fall 2026 production season and runs for a single week at UB, from October 2 – 4, 2026. Tickets are $10-$25, plus fees: https://www.ticketmaster.com/search?q=into+the+woods+ub+center+for+the+arts

“Wolf Play” by Hansol Jung centers on Jeenu, a young Korean boy whose life is upended when his adoptive father, Peter, arranges for him to live with Robin and her spouse, Ash. After learning more about Jeenu's new home, Peter begins to question the decision and seeks to reinsert himself into the child's life.

The play uses a unique theatrical device in which the child character, Jeenu, is represented by a puppet, while Wolf operates the puppet and often speaks for or narrates Jeenu's thoughts and feelings. Wolf serves as Jeenu's narrator, protector, and alter ego, giving voice to Jeenu's fears, hopes, and determination to define himself on his own terms.

As Ash, a devoted boxer, develops a deep connection with Jeenu, conflicts arise among the adults over responsibility, love, and parental rights. The story ultimately explores identity, attachment, and the often-complicated ways people seek connection, security, and acceptance. Through a blend of humor, heightened theatricality, and emotional drama, the play examines what it means to belong to a family.

Anderson Maziero, a freshman Music Theatre student from Bethpage, Long Island, is thrilled to be playing the role of Wolf/Jeenu in Wolf Play, his first college theatrical production. Passionate about all areas of the performing arts, both physical and theatrical, he is grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such a talented cast and crew.

For people who are unfamiliar with “Wolf Play,” how would you introduce both the play and your character, Wolf/Jeenu?

The show “Wolf Play” revolves around the many ways in which mistakes can strengthen or tear down relationships, despite what the intentions may be, given from the perspective of a six-year-old boy who may not understand what half of those words even mean. The story follows a queer couple struggling to appease societal norms while also introducing their adopted son, Jeenu, to a household of which he is unfamiliar. Jeenu/Wolf, my character, is a young Korean boy who struggles to communicate through regular language, instead using the guise of a wolf to adapt to his new environments as well as to validate his feelings of being different from others.

What were your first impressions about the play and your character when you read the script?

When I first read the script, I was so excited to have so many nuanced, emotional, and comedic aspects all in one character, as well as having the chance to handle my very own puppet for the first time! The lengths of the monologues also definitely took me by surprise at first!

What misconceptions might audiences have about Wolf?

Two misconceptions I have been asked to clarify a lot are that Jeenu is not an actual wolf, and the character Jeenu is not literally carrying a puppet wherever he goes. The name Wolf was chosen by Jeenu himself, identifying him with wild wolves who are adaptable, cunning and brave. All things which Jeenu admires but struggles to attain as himself. Jeenu is also not a ventriloquist. The existence of the puppet as well as me, the puppeteer, gives the audience a dual physical visual of how adults often see Jeenu. As a small boy pretending to be a wolf (the puppet), as well as who he is on the inside, a kind and capable person who simply needs a guise to hide behind to truly be himself (the puppeteer).

This role seems demanding physically, requiring you to both puppeteer Wolf and learn boxing as part of Jeenu's relationship with Ash. How familiar were you with puppetry and boxing before being cast, and what has the rehearsal process been like in developing those skills?

Coming into the role, I had no real experience with puppeteer work, but I was more than thrilled to get right to work on learning. As for boxing, I managed to attain 11 years of Taekwondo martial arts which certainly helped me not only catch onto the new martial art, but also to strengthen my legs for how much lunging and squatting such a short puppet actually requires!

The play seems to explore what makes a family beyond biology or legal definitions. How does Wolf fit into that conversation?

Wolf is not a biological member of the family the play follows; he was not even born in the same country. Despite having wildly different backgrounds and understandings of the world, Jeenu finds a kind of care and trust in this family which he has not yet experienced in his few years.

The play deals with some heavy themes, but audiences also mention its dark humor. Do you feel that there are comedic elements, and if so, how does comedy help to tell this story?

The show definitely has many different comedic moments within more heavy themes. The comedy helps retain the childlike perspective that the show follows, allowing the audience to sit in a more comfortable, happy space contrasting the heavier themes that Jeenu is put through.

Were there scenes that proved more emotionally demanding than you expected? Or, conversely, were there scenes that were not as difficult as expected?

The addition of director and cast mate perspectives definitely helped me better understand the emotional depths which some scenes really required. The existence of the puppet and even my opening monologue imply much more about the character than I first anticipated.

What made you decide to study acting at the University at Buffalo? Did you also study acting in high school?

UB's theatre program allows me to combine both performance and prop design and backstage work into my schedule. I have a love for working on both sides of the curtain and Buffalo has allowed me to pursue both. Acting itself has also been a vital aspect of my life; without taking the risk of stepping onto a stage I never would have been able to overcome the social fears that held me back previously in life.

What has this production taught you personally?

For one, the production has taught me how to strengthen my legs by squatting down to a puppet's height for several hours at a time, but also the very real struggles faced by many immigrant and LGBTQIA+ groups.

Is there anything else you would like potential patrons to know about the show?

It's well worth the money to come see! It's funny, emotional, and educational all in one!