The Tank has announced it will present The Land of Swollen Faces by Paolo Bignami and Hide and Seek by Tobia Rossi in collaboration with Kairos Italy Theater as part of the 2022 Play It Again In Scena!: A Very Special Coming Back Edition of the Italian Theater Festival. Performances are scheduled for May 5-15 at The Tank's Proscenium Theater.
Bignami's The Land of Swollen Faces brings the true story of an industrial workplace accident that happened in Italy to the stage in a single voice narration denouncing the tragedy. Translated by Carlotta Brentan, Laura Caparrotti and Jay Stern will direct the production starring Joseph Franchini and featuring set design by Sarah Edkins.
Hide and Seek by Rossi has also been translated by Carlotte Brentan who will direct. The play about fifteen-year-old Gio who struggles to find acceptance in his family, school, and small town follows the teenager as he runs away to live in a secluded cave. His discovery by a classmate takes the two boys on a dark journey as they search for escape, revenge, and love. Joseph Monseur and Michael Luszczak will star in the production which also features set design by Edkins.
The Land of Swollen Faces won the 2017 Mario Fratti Award while Hide and Seek won the award in 2019. Named after the Broadway playwright, the award has been given annually since 2014 to a never-before-produced play. Winning plays are then translated into English, published, and produced by Kairos Italy Theater in New York.
This year's Play It Again In Scena! festival will take place across New York City's five boroughs from May 3-18. The festival is presented by New York City's Kairos Italy Theater, Italy's KIT Italia, Casa Italian Zerilli-Marimò at NYU.
For tickets and more information, visit TheTankNYC.org.
