VATICAN FALLS Set for Reading Tuesday, March 19

Vatican Falls, Frank J. Avella's epic play set against the backdrop of the Catholic sex abuse scandal, will have a reading presentation on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at 7PM at Alchemical Studios, 104 W 14th St., (between 6th & 7th Avenues), NYC.

Vatican Falls is based on factual accounts and events and follows the life of one abuse survivor who struggles with how those closest to him could damage him the deepest. As the sex abuse scandal grows and more horrific details are released state by state, this story becomes more and more vital to the times we are living in. When will Time be Up for those who harm children?

The epic story centers on Riccardo, an Italian-American based in Rome, Italy, who is a member of SCAR (Survivors of Catholic Abuse Refuge), a group of survivors who initially band together to seek an apology from the Vatican but decide retribution is the only way to counter the Church's unrepentant complicity in the scandal.

The reading is presented by Ashley Garrett and will be directed by Mr. Avella & Carlotta Brentan. The cast will feature Carlotta Brentan, Marc Lombardo, Alice Barrett Mitchell, Jake Robertson, John DiMino, Gianmarco Colucci, Lucas Anderson, Bill Schineller, Tucker Aust and Sam Centrella.

The play runs approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes and will have one intermission.

A white wine reception will follow the performance.

Admission is free and open to the general public. Seating is limited. RSVP via vaticanfalls@gmail.com or call 973-715-2356.

Frank J. Avella is the recipient of a 2018 Bogliasco Foundation Fellowship. He was awarded a 2015 Fellowship Award from the NJ State Council on the Arts, a 2016 Helene Wurlitzer Residency Grant and the Chesley/Bumbalo Foundation Playwright Award for his play Consent, a 2019 O'Neill semifinalist. Lured, about the Russia persecution of gays, was a semifinalist for the 2018 O'Neill, had its world premiere produced by Theater for the New City this past November and featured in the OnStage! American Theater Festival in Rome, Italy this past January. Other plays include: Mad, Iris, Orville Station, For Mamma& Unhinging. Frank is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild.