The Joel Sinensky-penned play, “Mild, Non-Injurious Physical Contact,” will premiere tonight at 8 in Shanley Pavilion. The dark comedy runs for three days, with performances at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday.

What was the motivation behind this play?

It was a writing exercise for class. We had to write a monologue about a character that would be at odds with what he said and did. I wrote about someone that was performing torture, but in a nice way. I wanted to see how bad it could get without pushing it.

How is writing different from any other theater work you have done?

With writing, you have complete control, but it can be exhausting because you are alone. In acting, you have control, but you are performing with other people. When you direct, you are in charge, but you don’t have control of what is going to happen when it is show time.

You do stand-up. What do you like to joke about when you perform?

I make fun of my own awkwardness; my entire experience with girls in high school had been awkward. I find it cathartic to joke about oneself. Stand-up is a skewed vision of yourself; it is a balance of what is real and what isn’t.

You describe yourself as awkward. What is one of your most awkward moments?

I had to tell my mom I smoked weed in high school. My piece disappeared and I thought she had found it, so I had to ask her about it. It turned out she didn’t have it, and that she knew I smoked because she always smelled it.

In your Rooftop Comedy piece, you said you love watching Planet Earth. What is your favorite part?

The jungle episode: It is so creepy. Most episodes of Planet Earth are about how beautiful our planet is, but the jungle episode is weird and bizarre.

You also poke fun at bumper stickers in your sketches. If you had one, what would it say?

It would say something extremely

happy, like, ” Go Jesus!”

How do you feel about your show this Thursday?

I am very excited. I am expecting people to walk out, and I know my grandparents are going to hate it. Actually, my mom sent out a flyer to all my relatives to tell them about my play. When my aunt got it, she called my mom and said, ” I just want to make sure Joel is doing OK.” What’s funny is that my aunt just got her Ph.D in psychology.