On April 26, 1895 an Italian immigrant from the Lower East Side of New York City, murdered her lover for refusing to marry her. Arrested and convicted of the murder, she was the first woman sentenced to die in the electric chair. The play tells the story of love, betrayal and a code of honor that threatened the sensibilities of Americans. The plight of an immigrant who was the target of exploitation by an abusive man and by a system that treated women as second class citizens sparked a controversial drama with every chapter played out in the newspapers. Suffragettes, anti death penalty and immigration rights advocates all came to Maria`s defense, demanding justice.
“The Innocence of Maria” opens a window to our past that allows an examination of our present.
Cast
John Bateman as Emanuel Friend
Giuseppe De Luca as Domenico Cataldo
*Raissa Dorf as Mrs. Sage
Aileen Lanni as Maria Barbella
*David Licht as Judge Geoff
Anna Mastroianni as Mamma Barbella
*Carmine Raspaolo as Italian Interpreter/Vincenzo Mancuso
Brian Uhrich as Fredrick House
Zoe Watkins – Stage Directions
(* Actor is appearing courtesy of Actors Equity Association)
