NEC SPE / NEC METU at The Tank

NEC SPE / NEC METU (no hope / no fear) is a collection of two dovetailing solo shows about the Baroque painters Caravaggio and Artemisia Gentileschi. In NEC SPE, Caravaggio confesses his hideous sins to an imagined or ethereal priest after his own brutal and untimely death, possibly searching for forgiveness. But his swagger and violent personality leave us to question whether he truly wants his sins washed away, or whether he would rather justify his actions in the eyes of God and man. In NEC METU, Artemisia Gentileschi recounts her notorious rape and torture in order to reclaim her legacy and illuminate her brilliant life and art. She tells her story with wry wit and humor, offering an alternative and often-neglected perspective on art history and her intimate relationships with some of the world’s greatest artists.

Written by Sara Fellini (winner – 2014 Planet Connections Award for Outstanding New Script, nominated – 2015 NYIT Award for Outstanding Full Length Script) and directed by Pat Diamond (Yale School of Drama, Manhattan School of Music). The cast features Adam Belvo (2015 Planet Connections Outstanding Lead Actor winner, 2016 NYIT Outstanding Lead Actor nominee) and Sara Fellini (2015 Planet Connections Outstanding Lead Actress nominee). The costumes were designed and constructed by Virginia Davis, lighting design is by Mary Ellen Stebbins and the set was constructed by Ian Petersen. The play features original musical compositions by Colt W. Keeney, singer and songwriter for the Austin-based band The Bad Invaders, and a life-sized puppet designed and constructed by Pandora Gastelum of the mudlark public theatre in New Orleans. Photography is by Yvonne Allaway.
Ages: 13 and up (dark themes and adult language)