Laura Caparrotti and Donatella Codonesu, with Kairos Italy Theater (KIT), the preeminent Italian theater company in New York City, organized In Scena! Italian Theater Festival NY, the first Italian theater festival, which will take place annually in all five New York City boroughs and beyond. The inaugural festival was in the period June 10 to 20, 2013 and was very successful.All events were free.
In Scena!, Italian for “on stage!,” aims to create an annual celebration of Italian theater, both ‘made in Italy’ and ‘made in the United States.’ The
2013 program included different types of theater that have been presented in Italy plus a sprinkling of Italian theater companies based in the United States that root their work in Italian culture.
Support was provided by the Consulate General of Italy in New York and Ferrero USA Inc. as part of the “2013:Year of Italian Culture in the United States,” an initiative held under the auspices of the President of the Italian Republic, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Italy in Washington with the support of the Corporate Ambassadors ENI and Intesa San Paolo. Other presentations in NY included events at the Metropolitan Museum, at the Lincoln Center Festival and at the Frick Collection.
The festival combines Italian companies from Italy performing shows that are already successful in Italy, staged readings of Italian plays translated into English and shows produced by Italian artists residing in the NY area.
Toplining the 2013 edition of the festival was the New York debut of “Solo Anna,” a tour de force performed by Lidia Vitale, written by Franco D’Alessandro, in which Anna Magnani, the great Italian film star, explores dramatic, funny and touching aspects of her illustrious career and
fascinating life. The piece was presented on the 40th anniversary of the great actress’ death.
The festival included two other full productions that are US premieres, three special events and four staged readings. It ended in an evening of three plays by America’s most famous Italian playwright, Mario Fratti. All events of this festival were completely accessible to English-speaking audiences. The performances were in a combination of English and Italian and the staged readings were in English.
DAY-BY-DAY CALENDAR FOR 2013 IN SCENA! ITALIAN THEATRE FESTIVAL NY
June 8 and 9 – 12-4PM – FIGMENT@Governors Island: PRE-FESTIVAL Voices in the Desert (Voci Nel Deserto)
June 10 – 8PM – Inwood Shakespeare Festival Voices in the Desert (Voci Nel Deserto)
June 11 – 7-9PM – DiCapo Opera, “Celebrating Italian Theater”
June 12 – 7PM – Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere, Solo Anna, written by Franco D’Alessandro, performed by Lidia Vitale, directed by Eva Minemar, produced by Tony
Lepore/La Lupa Fest.
June 13 – 6-9PM – Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò at NYU
6:00 PM: Dealers of Souls (Venditori Di Anime) by Alberto Bassetti
7:30 PM: Solo Anna, written by Franco D’Alessandro, performed by Lidia Vitale, directed by Eva Minemar, produced by Tony Lepore/La Lupa Fest.
June 14 – 6-9PM – Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò at NYU (24 W 12th Street, NY-NY)
6:00 PM: The Fridge (Il Frigo) by Tommaso Avati
7:30 PM: Niuiórc Niuiórc, written, directed and performed by Francesco Foti
June 15 – 2PM – Belmont Library and Enrico Fermi Cultural Center (610 E. 186th Street at Hughes Ave Bronx, NY) Solo Anna, written by Franco D’Alessandro, performed by Lidia Vitale, directed by Eva Minemar, produced by Tony Lepore/La Lupa Fest.
June 16 – 5-7PM- DiCapo Opera,
5PM: Marathon (La Maratona Di New York) by Edoardo Erba, adapted by Israel Horovitz,
6 PM: Jennu Brigannu (Once Upon a Time there were Brigands) by V. Costantino, artistic collaboration Nino Racco, directed by Ernesto Orrico. With Dante de Rose, Manolo Muoio, Ernesto Orrico. Produced by Teatro della Ginestra.
June 17 – 6PM – Italian Cultural Institute (686 Park Avenue, NY, NY) Mornings At Ten To Four (Le Mattine Dieci Alle Quattro) by Luca De Bei,
June 18 – 6PM – Calandra Italian American Institute, Panel/Performance: “Travelling theater: the use of language in theater.” Performances by Teatro della Ginestra and Francesco Foti. Moderated by Lucia Grillo.
June 19 – 2PM The Secret Theater, 44-02 23rd Street, Long Island City, Queens. A Tribute to Mario Fratti: Three one acts by the author of “Nine,” directed by Kevin Albert.
8PM – JACK, 505½ Waverly Avenue, Brooklyn Niuiórc Niuiórc, written, directed and performed by Francesco Foti.
June 20 – 7:30PM – The Secret Theater (44-02 23rd St., Long Island City, NY) A Tribute to Mario Fratti: Three one acts by the author of “Nine,” directed by Kevin Albert.
