Fratellanza to Bring THE MUTE QUIRE to Ireland and China

The Mute Quire, a theater piece created by Fratellanza, premiered in Michigan to critical acclaim and sold-out houses in 2012. Fratellanza has rewritten The Mute Quire and, as an international ensemble from America, China and Italy, has been chosen to perform it at the Galway and Macau Fringe Festivals. The baffling but true events surrounding the printing of Shakespeare's First Folio, are told in afreewheeling story of a blind printer, his illiterate apprentice, and a buffoonish actor from the King's Men. Highly kinetic and poetic, The Mute Quire reasserts the raucous and the popular in Shakespeare, against the counter-forces of individualism and profit.

A collaboration between brothers Jim and Paul Manganello, Fratellanza is committed to generating live theater with physical rigor and imagination. This new, international production introduces two members, actor Andrea Fabi (Italy),and director Mok Sin Tang (China).

"Reminded me of just how wonderful, entertaining, engaging and dynamic theater can be." - Damn Arbor, 2012

Best Original Production - Detroit's Rogue Critic, 2012

The Mute Quire was written by Jim and Paul Manganello and directed by Mok Sin Tang with original music by Michael Malis.

July 16-27, 2014, 3:00 p.m.

Galway Fringe Festival, Galway, Ireland

November 2014 (dates and times TBD)

Macau Fringe Festival, Macau, China

BIOGRAPHIES

Jim Manganello (writer and performer) graduated from the University of Michigan, where he directed Richard II, Measure for Measure, The Goat or Who is Sylvia? and Equus. As a visiting student, in 2007, Jim directed J.M. Synge's The Well of the Saints for DramSoc at University College Dublin. In Chicago, Jimworked with theatres such as the Goodman, Redmoon, Next, Writers', and Remy Bumppo. He directed his own movement-theater adaptation of War and Peace at Chicago's Viaduct Theater in May 2011. Jim is a graduate of École internationale de Théâtre Lassaâd in Brussels.

Paul Manganello (co-writer and performer) founded and co-directs Fratellanza. He performs both traditional text theatre and original work. He acted in Wanton Displays of Affection at the 2010 New York Fringe Festival. In April 2011, he wrote and performed Zealous Whig, a one-man show about the Italian revolutionary Filippo Mazzei. For Fratellanza, he co-created The Mute Quire in 2012, and String Up the Moon in 2013, both in the Detroit area. Paul has studied at Scuola Teatro Dimitri in Switzerland, with Philippe Gaulier in Paris, and at École internationale de Théâtre Lassaâd in Brussels.

Andrea Fabi (performer) studied with Teatro San Leonardo in Viterbo andOrvieto's Theatre Laboratory; and with William Kentridge and Jango Edwards, among others. He acted with Compagnia Tetraedro Teatrale and University Theater Center, Viterbo, and performed in Rome with King Kong Studio and Arte Studio, where he wrote and directed his first piece. For Fratelli Cane, a company he co-founded, he wrote and directed Cinque Pezzi Facili, which was performed in the Fringe of the Spoleto Festival, Italy. Andrea is a graduate of École internationale de Théâtre Lassaâd.

Mok Sin Teng (director) works as a director, actress, and arts-in-education facilitator. She is president of Comuna de Pedra, a performance group in Macau, China. She graduated from École internationale de Théâtre Lassaâd in Belgium and University of Macau, English General Program. She has directed over 15 performing art pieces, varying from physical and dance theatre, drama, musicals, children's theatre, and experimental black-box theatre.

Mike Malis (composer) is a pianist and composer based in Detroit. He studied with eminent jazz pianists Bess Bonnier and Geri Allen, and represented the University of Michigan at the Kennedy Center "Conservatory Project" concert series. Mike maintains a full performance schedule, playing with many jazz luminaries. Simultaneously, he composes for film and theatre scores, and acts as a musical director. Mike has designed scores for Fratellanza's productions, The Mute Quire and String Up the Moon.