Frances Black Projects to Present COMMEDIA DELL'ARTICHOKE, 2/22-24

Frances Black Project presents, Commedia dell'Artichoke, a bi-monthly show created and performed by Carter Gill and Tommy Russell. Performed in classic commedia dell'arte mask, these two Yale Drama trained actors create a world of characters, such as Pulicinella, Tartaglia and Zanni, who live and work in a pizza shop in New York City. It's a story about following your dreams, being your own boss and the chaos that must ensue. February 22, 23 and 24 at 9:30pm at Artichoke Basille's Pizza, 114 10th Avenue (at 17th Street). General admission tickets are $30 and include a slice and drink of choice. Reserved seating is $40. Tickets are available online at http://www.francesblackprojects.com/#current-projects. The following performances with be April 19 & 20 at Artichoke Basille's.

This site specific and immersive theatre production features original music by accordion player, Matt Dallow and custom masks by Mister Face (maskmaker for Sleep No More). The production is rooted in the 16th century Italian theatre form of commedia dell'arte, which celebrates improvisation. The stock characters and scenarios will remain consistent each month, however the dialogue and references with continually change with the times. The experience is complete with a slice of famous Artichoke Pizza, featured on the Cooking Channel's Pizza Cuz, and a drink of your choosing.

Carter Gill (writer and performer) serves on the faculty as a clown and physical comedy instructor at Pace University, Rider University, NYU Tisch School of the Arts and The Studio New York. He is an Edith Wharton Award Recipient, and trained for several years as a teaching apprentice to Christopher Bayes at Juilliard and Yale School of Drama. New York acting credits: Comedy (Lincoln Center Theatre's Directors' Lab); Sprawl by Joshua Conkel (Soho Rep); Spacebar by Michael Mitnick (Studio 42); Even Maybe Tammy directed by Christopher Bayes (Frances Black Projects & The Flea Theater). Becoming Mary directed by Charlotte Brathwaite (ArtPond). MFA in Acting from Yale School of Drama.

Tommy Russell (writer and performer) was last seen in Seventy Scenes of Halloween (Vaudeville Park). Other New York theater credits include: The Fever by Wallace Shawn (The Shed; Pratt Institute; Brooklyn College); Midsummer: A Study (New Theatre House); Obama Drama (45th St. Theater; Access Theater); On the Night of Anthony's 30th Birthday Party Again (Manhattan Theater Source); Ugo's Last Dance (Medicine Show); Prayer of the Expelled (Soho Think Tank); Nuts and Bolts (Woodstock Fringe). As a director, Tommy's work has been seen in The Gallery and The Hole (NY Theatre Barn) and In the Cypher (Drilling Theater Co). MFA in Acting from Yale School of Drama.

Frances Black Projects (producer), established in 2009, produces small, spirited and unconventional theatrical experiences in New York City. Frances Strauss, is the founder and producer. New York theatre credits include: Becoming Liv Ullman a comedy by Crystal Finn (2013, Artichoke Basille's Pizza); Walled In, a comedy with clown by Zack Fine (2011, IRT Theatre); Co-producer on A Life in the Theatre by David Mamet (2010, Broadway); Even Maybe Tammy, a commedia dell'arte by Christopher Bayes & Company (2009, The Flea). MFA in Theatre Management from Yale School of Drama. www.francesblackprojects.com

Artichoke Basille's Pizza is owned Francis Garcia and Sal Basille, cousins from Staten Island, and nightlife impresarios Jason Strauss and Noah Tepperberg. They have a cult following of fans who line up at their three New York City slice shop locations. The cousins were previously on the Food Network in their own show called Pizza Cuz and are now on the Cooking Channel in Pizza Masters.

Mister Face (Mask Maker) is a mask design studio in Brooklyn, New York founded by mask maker and performer Max Dana. Initially trained as a playwright at Yale University, Max later studied physical theater at the Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris and mask design with Donato Sartori at the Center for Masks and Gestural Structures in Italy. Select clients include: Punchdrunk/Emursive's Sleep No More, Jack Spade, Immediate Medium, Compagnie Bus-a-Trois (France), Theatre de la Commune (France), Naxos Theatre (France), Teatro Percutor (Spain), Lafayette College, and Conservatoire Jean-Phillipe Rameau. http://www.mister-face.com

Matt Dallow (Composer, Accordion & Glockenspiel) is a composer and multi-instrumentalist (accordion, theremin, melodica, synth and guitar) based out of Brooklyn, New York. New York Theatre: Chautauqua!, Caligula Maximus, Richard II on Trapeze, Manuscripts Don´t Burn, Hansel and Gretel, Circus of Circus, and Manuscripts Don't Burn. Bands: What Time is it, Mr. Fox?, This Way to the Egress, World Inferno Friendship Society, Outernational!, The Pendulum Swings, The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players, Big Volcano, Space Robot Scientists, Amour Obscur, The TrummyTones and The Sunnyside Social Club. TV & Film: Law & Order SVU, Bravo's Million Dollar Listing, HBO's Girls and HBO's Banksy Does New York. Around town: Subway stations, The Timothy Convention scavenger hunt, Domino's Sugar Factory photo hunt, Barney's Holiday Window unveiling directed by Baz Luhrmann and Bushwick Burlesque. facebook.com/mattdallowmusic.