AdA (Author directing Author)-an evening comprised of new one act plays by American playwright Neil LaBute and Italian playwright Marco Calvani, in which each playwright will direct the other's work-will be presented by La MaMa at the Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.) in Manhattan, with preview performances starting September 28 prior to an official press opening Sunday, September 30. Both plays are receiving their American premieres and will be performed on the same program at every performance of AdA. The cast met the press yesterday and you can check out photo coverage below!
The celebrated stage and film actor Larry Pine stars in Mr. LaBute's play LOVELY HEAD, directed by Mr. Calvani. LaBute's LOVELY HEAD is the story of a contemporary love affair, a bizarre love centered on the obsession of a man for a girl (played by Gia Crovatin).
The Oscar winning actress and four-time Tony nominee Estelle Parsons stars in Mr. Calvani's play THINGS OF THIS WORLD directed by Mr. LaBute. Calvani's THINGS OF THIS WORLD concerns a woman and her put-upon butler as a dinner for guests is prepared: amidst commands, regrets, little cruelties and a lack of tenderness, their frayed relationship and bankrupt existences are revealed.
This unique and international collaboration between Neil LaBute and Marco Calvani was developed at La MaMa Umbria, the company's annual summer season of development and workshops in Italy. It premiered at the Spoleto Festival dei 2Mondi (with Italian actors) and subsequently at Fringe Madrid (with Spanish actors). Both plays focus on family life through the lens of American and Italian societies and highlight Mr. LaBute's and Mr. Calvani's respective penchants for writing about the dark side of human nature, along with their different approaches to writing and directing for the theatre.
Scheduled September 28- October 14, AdA will perform Wednesday – Saturday at 7:30 and Saturday and Sunday at 2:30. Tickets are $18/$13 Student & Seniors and can be purchased by calling the La MaMa box office at 212 475 7710 or online at www.lamama.org.
Photo Credit: Kevin Thomas Garcia
Estelle Parsons and Craig Bierko
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