Kairos Italy Theater, the preeminent Italian theater company in NYC, will present its second In Scena! Italian Theater Festival (www.inscenany.com) in all five boroughs from June 9 to 24, 2014. The event will feature six full productions and four readings. Production highlights include “Hanno tutti ragione” (Everybody’s Right), performed by Iaia Forte, a leading actress in Paolo Sorrentino’s film “The Great Beauty” (Best Foreign Language Film, 2014 Academy Awards). The play is based on a book by Sorrentino. Other programming highlights include a series of plays and readings dealing with soccer, celebrating the 2014 Soccer World Cup.
The In Scena! Festival was inaugurated last year as an official event of “2013 Year of Italian Culture” in the USA, under the auspices of the President of the Italian Republic with the Patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Italy in Washington, D.C. Events were mounted in all five boroughs and included three full productions that were US premieres, three special events and four staged readings, all playing to full houses. In Scena! is Italian for “on stage!” This year, six full productions and four readings are planned. All events will be bilingual.
The festival’s Opening Night will take place from 7:00 PM on June 9 at the Arthur Avenue Market in the Bronx. The evening will be dedicated to playwright Eduardo de Filippo on the 30th Anniversary of his death. Special guest will be Iaia Forte (see above). Opening Night tickets are $75 and include a buffet dinner by featured chef of the Food Network, Chef David Greco, as well as drinks by various sponsors. Tickets are available for sale at www.inscenany.com.
The festival will present the first Mario Fratti Award for emerging Italian authors. A play will be chosen by a panel of experts. The winning play will be translated and staged as a reading on June 23 at 7:00 PM at Theater for the New City (155 First Ave.).
The winning playwright will be presented with an especially created painting made by Victora Febrer, a visual artist who uses wine to create her paintings. The award ceremony will take place on June 24, during the Closing Night, at the Italian Cultural Institute of New York, 686 Park Ave.
The Festival will present workshops with participating artists and it will travel on June 12 to the Embassy of Italy in Washington DC.
The 2014 Edition of In Scena! is presented by KIT-Kairos Italy Theater in collaboration with The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Embassy of Italy in Washington DC, The Italian Cultural Institute in New York, Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimo’, Bernie Wohl Community Center at Goddard Riverside, Calandra Institute for Italian American Studies, Dicapo Opera, the Belmont Business District Development, the National Italian American Foundation, the Arthur Avenue Market Association, The Secret Theater, The Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere, Manducatis Rustica and KIT Italia. Media Sponsors include La Voce di New York and TeatroTeatro.it.
A NOTE ON THE SCHEDULE:
From June 12 to14, the famous Italian musical comedy “Rugantino” returns to New York’s City Center after 50 years. To honor this production, the festival has not scheduled conflicting events for those three days.
LOCATIONS
Manhattan: Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimo at NYU, the Italian Cultural Institute in New York, Bernie Wohl at Goddard Riverside Community Center, Calandra Institute for Italian American Studies, Dicapo Opera, Theater for the New City, TheaterLab
Bronx: Arthur Avenue Market, NYPL Belmont Library and Enrico Fermi Cultural Center
Queens: The Secret Theater
Brooklyn: Triskelion Arts Center
Staten Island: Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere
PLAYS OF THE FESTIVAL
PRODUCTIONS
“Hanno tutti ragione” – Everybody’s Right
June 10, 8:00 pm, Dicapo Opera, 184 E 76th Street, Manhattan
June 12, 7:00 pm, Embassy of Italy, 3000 Whitehaven St. NW, Washington, DC
“Hanno tutti ragione” is performed by Iaia Forte, who played Trumeau in “The Great Beauty” by Paolo Sorrentino (Academy Award, 2014, Best Foreign Language Film). The play is based on Sorrentino’s 2010 novel, “Hanno tutti ragione,” which tells the story of Tony Pagoda, a singer from the far suburbs of Naples. During his long career, he performed on stage across the world’s most important venues, including Radio City Music Hall, where he met Frank Sinatra. A great ladies’ man, cocaine addict and alcoholic, he emigrates to Brazil to start a new life, until he receives an offer he can’t refuse.
Iaia Forte was born in Naples, graduated from the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, made her theatrical debut opposite the award-winning actor Toni Servillo and began a long collaboration with the theater company Teatri Uniti and some of Italy’s most prominent theatre directors. She was awarded the critics’ prize for best actress in “The Misanthrope” (directed by Toni Servillo) and the ‘Florino Doro’ award of the Societa’ Dantesca. On film, she has worked with Pappi Corsicato (“Il Seme della Discordia”), Peter Greenaway (“The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover”) and many others. She has won two Nastri D’Argento awards, a David award (the ‘Italian Oscar’), a Globo D’Oro award, a Ciak d’oro, as well as a Linea d’Ombra and a Sacher award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
Paolo Sorrentino first emerged on the scene in 2001 as screenwriter and director of “One Man Up” (winner of the Nastro D’Argento award for Best First Time Director, the Ciak D’Oro award for Best Screenplay and the Grolla d’Oro award for Best Leading Actor for Toni Servillo). Ever since then, nearly all of his films have starred Servillo and have been presented at the Cannes International Film Festival. In 2012, he directed Sean Penn in the film “This Must Be The Place.”
“I corteggiatori – amore a colpi di poesia” – The Suitors: Love by Poetry
June 19, 7:00 PM,
Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere, 77 Howard Ave, Staten IslandJune 21, 7:30 PM,
Bernie Wohl Center at Goddard Riverside, 647 Columbus Ave, Manhattan
“I corteggiatori” is written and performed by Vito De Girolamo and Carlo Loiudice.
Two men come face to face in a poetry duel. Like two Commedia Dell’Arte actors, except without the masks, the two protagonists satirize the cliche of the “Italian Macho” through the words of some of the world’s most beautiful love poetry.
Vito de Girolamo and Carlo Loiudice’s paths first crossed in Apulia, Italy and in 2012 the professional union between them came to life as a collaboration between the two actor-authors and directors. They are currently working together while remaining independent artists, Vito in Italy and Carlo in Berlin.
“Mutu” – Silence!
June 17, 8:00 PM, Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimo’ at NYU, 24 W 12th street, Manhattan
June 22, 7:30 PM, Bernie Wohl Center at Goddard Riverside, 647 Columbus Ave, Manhattan
“Mutu,” written by Aldo Rape, directed by Lauro Versari and performed by Aldo Rape and Marco Carlino, was the winner of the Avignon Off Festival 2012 award for Best Foreign Show.
Saro and Salvuccio are brothers, a priest and a mafioso. They have been silent for years because of necessity until one day one can no longer pretend not to know what he knows and needs to rebel.
The story is dedicated to Don Pino Puglisi, a priest killed by the Mafia. Giuseppe “Pino” Puglisi (1937 – 1993) was a Roman Catholic priest in the rough Palermo neighborhood of Brancaccio. He openly challenged the Mafia who controlled the neighborhood and was killed by them on his 56th birthday.
The show is presented by Prima Quinta company. The company was born in 2005, and has followed an experimental path, both in Italy and abroad. Its work focuses on the constant study of the word as contemporary drama, and on the language of the actor’s body. Prima Quinta company works in both theater and film, producing shows with important social themes. The company has received prominent awards both nationally and internationally.
“RaeP”
June 16, 8:00 PM, TheatreLab, 357 W 36th St, Manhattan
June 18, 8:00 PM, Triskelion Arts, 118 N 11th St, Brooklyn
Written by Mauro Santopietro; directed by and with Mauro Santopietro and Tiziano Panici.
“RaeP” is an exploration of language: bodies and words, lights and sets, that become the language of the stage. The theme of the show is safety in the workplace, explored through the story of a blue-collar worker, a casualty of occupational fatality, and through that of a student, caught in the harness of a society that can never guarantee he’ll be employed. “R.A.E.P.” was a finalist for the 2011 Premio Scenario.
Mauro Santopietro, an author and actor in TV and theatre, trained in acting with Anton Milenin, Saverio La Ruina, Nicolaj Karpov, Juri Alschitz and in writing with Vincenzo Cerami and Ruggero Cappuccio. On stage, he’s been directed by Giles Smith, Luca Ronconi and Giancarlo Sepe, among others. In Rome, he collaborates with the Globe Theater, directed by Gigi Proietti, in association with La Sapienza University. Since 2012, he has been managing the Teatro della Dodicesima in Rome.
“Neighbors” (an anti-romantic comedy)
June 15, 8:00 PM, The Secret Theater, 44-02 23rd Street, Long Island City, Queens
June 23, 9:00 PM, Theater for the New City, 155 1st Avenue, Manhattan
Written and performed by Francesco Meola and Irene Turri, directed by Ilaria Ambrogi. Produced by OyesOverseas.
“Neighbors” is a journey into the absurd situations experienced by two Italian immigrants in New York City. They have opposite personalities, but they are both products of a generation with no certainties. Through this anti-romantic comedy, you follow their brilliant and often funny exchanges on sex, relationships and work.
Francesco Meola and Irene Turri live in New York where they arrived in 2012 for a brief period and where they reside and do theater. The play is the result of what they experienced in the first three months of living in New York.
PLAYS DEALING WITH SOCCER
PRODUCTION: “L’Italia s’e desta” – Italy has Arisen
June 11, 8:00 PM, Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimo’ at NYU, 24 W 12 street, Manhattan
June 14, Noon, Belmont Library and Enrico Fermi Cultural Center, 610 E 186th Street at Hughes Ave, Bronx
June 20, 7:30 PM, Bernie Wohl Center at Goddard Riverside, 647 Columbus Ave, Manhattan
The piece is written and directed by Rosario Mastrota and performed by Dalila Desiree Cozzolino. “L’Italia s’e desta” tells the story of Carletta, a Shakespearean village fool, who witnesses the kidnapping by the Calabrese mafia – ‘ndrangheta – of the Italian national soccer team. The army, politicians and journalists, too busy creating a media storm around the event, and blinded by the magnitude of the news, don’t notice her. She’s the only person who knows where the team is hidden – but nobody believes her. The show’s title is a quote from the Italian national hymn.
“L’Italia s’e desta” has been awarded numerous prizes in Italy, including the Teatropia 2012 award (Mafia & Politics themes), the Restart Award at the Politically Incorrect Festival 2013, and Antimafie Dirittinscena Award 2013. It was also a finalist for the prestigious Hystrio Stage Writing award 2012.
The show is presented by Compagnia Ragli theatre company. The company’s name identifies a starting point: the ‘raglio,’ meaning a donkey’s bray, as an evocative sound that represents meaning that begins from noise. Founded by author and director Rosario Mastrota, who trained and worked with famous Italian theater personalities (Motus and Emma Dante among others) and actress Dalila Desiree Cozzolino, who trained at the Centro Internazionale Formazione delle Arti in Cosenza, Calabria, and the Accademia Corrado Pani in Rome. Dalila Desiree Cozzolino was also awarded the 2012 ‘Premio Centro’ Best Actress Award.
“L’Italia s’e desta” is the first play in an original trilogy by the Compagnia Ragli.
READING: “Storia d’amore e di calcio” – A Story of Love and Soccer
June 11, 6:00 PM, Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimo’ at NYU, 24 W 12th street, Manhattan
“Storia d’amore e di calcio,” written by Michele Santeramo takes place in a village in the south of Italy. Today’s immigrants compete in the first-ever clandestine soccer world championship to determine who will have control over the city center for the following year. Italy, Libya, Morocco, Poland, Ukraine and Senegal are the impromptu national teams fighting to become the champions of their suburban world. In the middle of it all is the love story between an Italian midfield player and an Indian girl…
Michele Santeramo was born in Puglia, in the south of Italy, in 1974. He has written more than 14 plays, most of which have been produced and published. He won the Riccione Theater Award 2011 with “Il Guaritore” and in 2013 he was awarded the ANCT Award by the National Italian Critics Association. His first novel, “La Rivincita,” will soon be published by Baldini e Castoldi.
READING: “Santos”
June 17, 6:00 PM, Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimo’ at NYU, 24 W 12th street, Manhattan
“Santos,” written by Mario Gelardi and Giuseppe Miale di Mauro, is based on the short story “Super Santos” by Roberto Saviano, the award-winning author of Gomorrah; “Super Santos” is based on true events.
The story revolves around four youths who are recruited by the Camorra as look-outs: their job is to play soccer in a village square and let the Camorra know when the police, or anyone else suspicious, arrives. Saviano’s story focuses on the ‘careers’ of the youths, among them a rising Camorra Boss, each of whom has to choose between soccer and crime.
OTHER READINGS
“FALLACI, a woman against.”
June 16, 6:00 PM, TheatreLab, 357 W 36th St, Manhattan
Written by Emilia Costantini, translated and adapted by Dave Johnson and Laura Caparrotti.
Author Emilia Costantini imagines a post-mortem interview with the famous and controversial journalist Oriana Fallaci. The material is based on the writings by Oriana Fallaci.
Emilia Costantini is a journalist and theater critic for Corriere della Sera, where she writes on culture and theater. Until 2011 she was a member of the Commissione Cinema del Ministero per i Beni Culturali. Presently she is a member of the literary jury for Premio Roma-Campidoglio, for Premio Le Maschere del Teatro and Premio Pavoncella dedicated to female creativity.
ABOUT THE IN SCENA! FESTIVAL
The 2014 Edition of In Scena! is presented by KIT-Kairos Italy Theater in collaboration with The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Embassy of Italy in Washington DC, The Italian Cultural Institute in New York, in San Francisco and in Chicago, Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimo’, Bernie Wohl Community Center at Goddard Riverside, Calandra Institute for Italian American Studies, Dicapo Opera, the Belmont Business District Development. Media Sponsors include La Voce di New York, ITV Channels.
Staff
Laura Caparrotti, Founding Artistic Director
Donatella Codonesu, Associate Director
Carlotta Brentan, Executive Producer
Festival Committee
Laura Caparrotti, KIT
Donatella Codonesu, KIT
Fabio Troisi, Italian Cultural Institute
Nicola Iervasi, Mare Nostrum Elements
Frank Avella, playwright
Advisory Board
Stefano Albertini, Director, Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimo at NYU
Rocco Sisto, Actor
Dave Johnson, Playwright
Teresa Fiore, Inserra Chair in Italian and Italian American Studies – Montclair State University, NJ
TICKETS AND INFO
Most events $15 for shows and $5 for readings. Toll Free number: 866-207 3465. Info and tickets. www.inscenany.com.
ABOUT KAIROS ITALY THEATER
KIT-KAIROS ITALY THEATER was founded in 2002 in New York and has been in residence at NYU’s Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimo’ since 2012.
KIT’s mission is to create a cultural exchange program between Italy, the US and the international community. The troupe is dedicated to spreading Italian Culture and creating an Italian Culture Network in order to maintain and grow the knowledge of Italy in the States.
Since its founding, KIT has produced theatrical events at The Kitchen, Abrons Arts Center, Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimo,’ Istituto di Cultura a New York, Montclair University and other locations. Since May 2003, KIT has been presenting the DOUBLE THEATRE EXPERIENCE: one act performed first in English and then in Italian. Double Theatre performances have included “Alessia” by Mario Fratti and the US Premiere of “The Papaleo Case” by Ennio Flaiano. Other shows produced by KIT have included “ABC L’Italiano S’Impara Cosi’,” “A Roman Tour” and “How Bread met the Rolling Pin,” “Philosophically Speaking” by Eduardo De Filippo at the Bernie West Theater at Baruch College, “No Escape – 4 monologues” by Dino Buzzati at Cherry Lane Theatre, a recital on writer Italo Calvino, “The Mandrake Root” by Machiavelli and “The Decameron” by Boccaccio.
KIT Inc. is also the representative of the Family De Curtis worldwide and is responsible for the traveling exhibition on Toto’, “Excerpts of a Prince named-Toto’.” In 2005, KIT started classes of Italian and theater for children in the Tri-state area. In 2012, KIT created Teatro Italiano Network, a theater consulting agency and the YoungKIT, a youth division, with which it began the series ItalianClassics@KIT. In 2013, KIT inaugurated the In Scena! Italian Theater Festival NY, the first Italian theater festival to take place in all the five boroughs.
IN SCENA! ITALIAN THEATRE FESTIVAL 2014
CHRONOLOGICAL CALENDAR OF EVENTS
shows $15 – readings $5
opening night tickets $75
BUY a ticket FOR A show, SEE A reading THE SAME DAY FOR FREE
all shows are bilingual or with supertitles – all readings are in english
JUNE 9 – Arthur Avenue Market
7:00 PM OPENING NIGHT
The evening will be dedicated to playwright Eduardo de Filippo on the 30th Anniversary of his death. Special guest will be Iaia Forte, a leading actress in Paolo Sorrentino’s film “The Great Beauty” (Best Foreign Language Film, 2014 Academy Awards.) Opening Night tickets are $75 and include a buffet dinner by Food Network Chef David Greco, as well as drinks by various sponsors. Tickets are available for sale at inscenany.com.
June 10 – Dicapo Opera, 184 E 76th Street, Manhattan
8:00 PM – SHOW: “Hanno tutti ragione” – Everybody’s Right
Performed by Iaia Forte, based on the novel by Paolo Sorrentino (Academy Award, 2014, Best Foreign Language Film).
June 11 – Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimo’ at NYU, 24 W 12 street, Manhattan
6:00 PM READING: “Storia d’amore e di calcio” – A Story of Love and Soccer
Written by Michele Santeramo
8:00 PM SHOW: “L’Italia s’e desta” – Italy has Arisen
Written and directed by Rosario Mastrota, performed by Dalila Desiree Cozzolino.
June 12 – Embassy of Italy, 3000 Whitehaven St NW, Washington, DC
7:00 pm SHOW: “Hanno tutti ragione” – Everybody’s Right
Performed by Iaia Forte, based on the novel by Paolo Sorrentino (Academy Award, 2014, Best Foreign Language Film).
June 14 – Belmont Library and Enrico Fermi Cultural Center, 610 E 186th Street at Hughes Ave, Bronx – free admission
NOON SHOW: “L’Italia s’e desta” – Italy has Arisen
Written and directed by Rosario Mastrota, performed by Dalila Desiree Cozzolino.
June 15 – The Secret Theater, 44-02 23rd Street, Long Island City, Queens
8:00 pm “Neighbors” (an anti-romantic comedy)
Written and performed by Francesco Meola and Irene Turri
Directed by Ilaria Ambrogi
June 16 – TheatreLab, 357 W 36th St, Manhattan
6:00 PM READING: “FALLACI, a woman against.”
Written by Emilia Costantini – translated and adapted by Dave Johnson and Laura Caparrotti
8:00 PM SHOW: “RaeP”
Written by Mauro Santopietro; directed by and with Mauro Santopietro and Tiziano Panici.
June 17 – Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimo’ at NYU, 24 W 12 street, Manhattan
6:00 PM READING: “Santos”
Written by Mario Gelardi and Giuseppe Miale di Mauro, based on the short story “Super Santos” by Roberto Saviano, the award-winning author of Gomorrah – translated and adapted by Dave Johnson and Laura Caparrotti
8:00 PM SHOW: “Mutu” – “Silence!”
Written by Aldo Rape, directed by Lauro Versari and performed by Aldo Rape and Marco Carlino – winner of the Avignon Off Festival 2012 award for Best Foreign Show.
June 18 – Triskelion Arts, 118 N 11th St, Brooklyn
8:00 PM SHOW: “RaeP”
Written by Mauro Santopietro; directed by and with Mauro Santopietro and Tiziano Panici.
June 19 – Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere, 77 Howard Ave, Staten Island
7:00 PM SHOW: “I corteggiatori – amore a colpi di poesia” – The Suitors: Love by Poetry
Written and performed by Vito De Girolamo and Carlo Loiudice.
June 20 – Bernie Wohl Center at Goddard Riverside, 647 Columbus Ave, Manhattan
7:30PM SHOW: “L’Italia s’e desta” – Italy has Arisen
Written and directed by Rosario Mastrota, performed by Dalila Desiree Cozzolino.
June 21 – Bernie Wohl Center at Goddard Riverside, 647 Columbus Ave, Manhattan
7:30PM SHOW: “I corteggiatori – amore a colpi di poesia” – The Suitors: Love by Poetry
Written and performed by Vito De Girolamo and Carlo Loiudice.
June 22 – BERNIE Wohl Center at Goddard Riverside, 647 Columbus Ave, Manhattan
7:30PM SHOW: “Mutu” – “Silence!”
Written by Aldo Rape, directed by Lauro Versari and performed by Aldo Rape and Marco Carlino – winner of the Avignon Off Festival 2012 award for Best Foreign Show.
June 23 – Theater for the New City, 155 1st Avenue, Manhattan
7:00 PM reading Mario Fratti Award Winner
9:00 pm “Neighbors” (an anti-romantic comedy)
Written and performed by Francesco Meola and Irene Turri
Directed by Ilaria Ambrogi
JUNE 24 – ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE, 686 park avenue, manhattan
6:00 PM: CLOSING NIGHT – AWARD CEREMONY and Arrivederci al 2015.
