East Meadow Florist Moonlighting as a Playwright

For Christopher Hackert, sleep is overrated.

The East Meadow native doesn't get much of it these days running a florist business by day and writing, directing and sometimes acting in plays by night.

Hackert has owned East Meadow Florist for the past 17 years, having worked at the shop for nearly three decades. When just a kid, he began writing his own illustrated comic books and short stories and went on to produce his first one-act play for a theater company owned by East Meadow residents.

"The first play I ever had produced was a one-act play called 'Matchworks' for a theater company called Middle Class American Productions, owned by East Meadow residents John and Joni Blenn," he said. "I went on to write for MCAP for many years and eventually acted as well."

Hackert wrote and directed his latest project, "Don't Forget to Write," a 30-minute dark comedy about a widowed mother trying to make ends meet and is exasperated with her unemployed adult son. "When she gives him a final ultimatum, we will see if he rises to the challenge or faces the consequences," he said.

Bare Bones Theater Company will feature Hackert's work in Northport Oct. 10-20 when it presents "THREE," an evening of one-act plays. ("Your Life Is a Feature Film" written by Alan Minieri and directed by Stan Katz and "Specter" written by Don Nigro and directed by Richie Applebaum will also be featured.) Click here for showtimes.

Hackert took several creative writing classes in college and numerous acting classes and workshops at Bare Bones. Approximately 20 of his original works have been produced all over Long Island - some with Middle Class American Productions and some as part of local play festivals. Recently, he was named Playwright in Residence for the South Shore Theater Experience in West Islip.

When asked if he'd ever consider writing a play about East Meadow, Hackert said he "almost never writes from real life." "Most of my plays are comedies that I just start writing and see where it goes," he said. "I almost never start with a complete idea."

The multi-talented businessman has to be at the florist six days a week, often between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. His day is far from over though. After dark, he's usually rehearsing or performing until 10 p.m. or later.

For Hackert, the long days are worth it. "The hardest thing about putting your own original works out there is finding an audience willing to take a chance on the unknown," he said. "People like to go out and see tried and true favorites, so it's always nice when people give new writers a chance to showcase their work."