'Human Paper Doll' Ennio Heads to Arena Stage in D.C.

Arena Stage will host the regional premiere of Ennio, known as "the human paper doll."  His show will play May 22 - June 10 on a modified configuration of the Fichandler Stage. Press opening night is Wednesday, May 23 at 8:00 p.m.

"He races through 50 life-size costumes in only 70 minutes - lampooning politicians, celebrities and historical figures - in a presentation that is part commedia dell'arte, part Disney and fun for all ages. Accompanied by non-stop music, Marchetto creates caricatures of pop-culture icons ranging from Marilyn Monroe to Marilyn Manson, stopping along the way to parody Snow White, Celine Dion, Madonna and more," state prss materials.

A native of Venice, Ennio Marchetto worked in the family business repairing espresso machines until the annual Carnival inspired him to explore his talent for creating costumes and masks. His award-winning show debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and has toured the globe, amazing audiences in more than 60 countries including China, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. Ennio has been nominated for the New York Drama Desk Award and the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Entertainment.

Co-director/Co-designer/Stage Manager Sosthen Hennekam studied costume and fashion design at Studio Berçot in 1986. After viewing one of Marchetto's early shows in Bologna, Hennekam began collaborating with him. Hennekam's fashion background enabled him to develop the show's basic costumes into durable and technically superior creations which could morph from one character to another on stage. Hennekam also designs the soundtrack and lighting for Ennio. He resides in Venice and works as a website designer and collaborates with a Venetian architectural and interior design studio.

"Arena Presents" also brings two special performances to Arena's stages in the 2007/2008 season. The first production, Daniel Beaty's one-man show Emergence-SEE!, returns this July 5 - July 22 for an encore presentation in the Kreeger Theater, having captivated Arena audiences with three sold-out performances in February 2007. In the spring of 2008, the outrageous musical revue Kiki & Herb: Alive on Broadway, co-created and performed by Justin Bond and Kenny Mellman, makes its D.C. debut in the Kreeger March 6 - 23.

Visit www.arenastage.org for tickets and more information.