Rita Costanzi Joines United Solo Theatre Festival, NYC, 10/26

By: Sep. 21, 2011
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A classical harpist who is also a comedic actress? A seasoned and successful performer who expands her comfort zone to explore a new art form? Improbable? Yes! Impossible? No!

Rita Costanzi, an internationally acclaimed musician, has achieved success as a concert performer, recording artist, actor, teacher and composer. She relocated to New York City in 2007, and in one quantum leap, was accepted by Harold Prince's long time Associate, Arthur Masella, to collaborate on a stunning Theatre Piece: a Monologue enhanced by excerpts from the classical solo harp repertoire.

She brings her one-woman show, A Score to Settle, to the United Solo Theatre Festival at Theatre Row in New York City on Wednesday, October 26 at 3 p.m.

Premiered at Festival Vancouver in 2007, A Score to Settle, by Canadian Playwright, Kico Gonzalez-Risso, is a musical monologue for solo harpist. From the initial spark of genius, to the grand plan to change the world, to the final reconciliation of art and life, this extraordinary theatre piece with integrated harp performance is a musician's comic - sometimes bittersweet confrontation with mortality - a personal ‘tell-all' tale of music, passion and a very large instrument. "This remarkable piece reveals Costanzi as a polished, energetic comic actress," said the Vancouver Sun, adding that Ms. Costanzi is "a naturally gifted performer." It has been heralded as "Hilarious, Engaging, Compelling, Sensuous and Deeply Moving!"

Formerly Principal Harp of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the CBC Radio Orchestra, she now devotes her life to solo, theatre and chamber music performances and teaching. As a concerto soloist with orchestras across Canada, as well as invitations from many international festivals in North America, England, Germany, Brazil and Venezuela, she is recognized as "An Artist of rare depth and expression," and has been featured on television and radio programs in Canada, the United States and Brazil.

United Solo Theatre FestivalTM is the world's largest annual international festival for solo performances and is held in New York City.



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