Characters in Search

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KIT-KAIROS ITALY THEATER is internationally recognized as the Italian Theater Company in NY. KIT's mission is to spread Italian Culture and to create an Italian Culture Network in order to maintain and spread the knowledge of Italy in the . KIT has produced more than 20 performances and events over the years, collaborating with Off-Off and Off-Broadway theaters and with US Institutions (The Kitchen, The Fringe Festival, the Abrons Art Center, Casa Italiana Zerilli Marimo’ at NYU, Italian Academy at Columbia University, Film Society at Lincoln Center, Dahesh Museum of Art, NY Hall of Science, the Flea Theatre, Theater for the New City, Montclair State University, Suffolk County Community College, the Bernie West Theater at , the cell theatre, etc). Never-before-translated works by major Italian playwrights have been presented to US audiences, who have grown in appreciation and in number since KIT’s first production in 1997. KIT has also created the Double Theatre Experience, where One-Act plays are performed first in English and then in Italian in the same evening, by different casts. KIT also offers workshops on Commedia dell’Arte and other traditional Italian theater techniques as well as Italian&Theatre classes. In 2013, KIT inaugurated In Scena! Italian Theater Festival NY, the first Italian Theater festival to take place in all 5 Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimo’ at NYU Boroughs. KIT is the Theater Company in residence at Casa Italiana Zerilli- April 29, 2016 Marimo’ at NYU.

A first attempt. As Pirandello says in the Six Characters, it’s just a first LUIGI PIRANDELLO attempt, a rehearsal, an exploration on a issue that is protagonist of our lives and societies. I was in Syros, Greece when someone told me about a version of the Six Characters where the actors where coming from the Luigi Pirandello (Agrigento 28 June 1867 –Rome 10 December 1936) sea. It was summer and Greece, Italy and Turkey were full of bodies coming from the other side of the Mediterranean. That image stayed was an Italian dramatist, novelist, poet and short story writer whose with me, I wanted to explore the idea of having the characters being greatest contributions were his plays. He was awarded the 1934 Nobel immigrants. Yet, what is an immigrant? How many stories one can tell, Prize in Literature for "his almost magical power to turn psychological remember, recall? So we start to tell each other stories of refugees. I analysis into good theatre." Pirandello's works include novels, hundreds asked the actors to choose one story. We work on these stories and of short stories, and about 40 plays, some of which are written then I mixed them up with Pirandello’s words. in Sicilian. Pirandello's tragic farces are often seen as forerunners of the Theatre of the Absurd. Since we started working on the brief presentation you will see today, Europe welcomed refugees, the tree of clothes were created in Iran and other places and Europe went from being welcoming to refusing to accept refugees. Now the borders are closed and most of Europe is talking about building walls… sounds familiar?

Our first attempt made us reflecting upon what is happening to us, as COMING UP WITH KIT human beings and as societies. Pirandello’s words seem to be written for our purpose: are these people real or just the stereotype that is sold to us by many media and politicians? Why can’t we have a dialogue? MAY 2- 16, 2016 What are we afraid of? In Scena! Italian Theater Festival NY

With 5 theater production – 5 Special events - 1 Award Maria De Cotis and the entire NYC! Aileen Lanni Mario Merone Tickets for most full productions are $15. Lorenzo Possanza For more details and tickets visit www.inscenany.com or call 646-850-7056. Directed by Laura Caparrotti Assistant Director Carlotta Brentan ✹✹✹ Set designer Niluka Hotaling JUNE 20, 21, 23 Davenport Theater Black Box 354 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036 The Pirandello project is made possible in part with public funds Characters in search of a country from Creative Engagement, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council NOVEMBER 2016 and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. Vassar College La Mandragola Thanks also to Material for the Arts, Niluka Hotaling and the Pirandello Society of America. For updates, subscribe to KITNews at www.kitheater.com