Celebrate Christmas Italian Style with I Giullari di Piazza's 'LA CANTATA DEI PASTORI' (The Shepherd's Cantata) Based on the traditional Southern Italian play written in the 17th century by Andrea Perrucci and still performed annually in the environs of Naples. Special Winter Solstice Celebration, one show only! Friday December 22nd at 8:00pm Theater for the New City – 155 First Avenue near 10th Street Tickets $ 25.00 www.theaterforthenewcity.net Musical version adapted and directed by Alessandra Belloni Music arranged by John La Barbera and directed by Susan Eberenz Performed in Italian with English narration by La Befana, the good Christmas witch "The music, directed by John La Barbera, is folkish. The adaptation by Alessandra Bellon is geared for action rather than quiet piety. In a climactic battle, Miss Belloni as Mary beat a large drum and sang out while the Angel Gabriel took on the dragon." John Pareles, The New York Times Come back in time to Southern Italy with I GIULLARI DI PIAZZA, the renowned Italian music/theater/dance company, when they present their traditional Southern Italian "La Cantata dei Pastori," (The Shepherd's Cantata) a musical family holiday delight. Join the 14-member cast of specialists in Southern Italian instruments, music and dance, playing such characters as La Befana, the Good Witch of Christmas, Mary and Joseph, the Archangel Gabriel (on stilts), Devils, Demons, and the hilarious commedia dell'arte characters who enact this beloved story of the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, and the triumph of good over evil. The music - tarantellas, villanellas and pastorales - comes from traditional sources, with original music by John La Barbera and directed by Susan Eberenz . Adaptation and stage direction are by Alessandra Belloni. Songs are sung in Italian and old Neapolitan dialect; costuming and music instrumentation is traditional Southern Italian; narration is in English. After the fast paced, over-the-top scenes of devils, angels, commedia dell'arte, and general mayhem, the play ends with Mary and her infant child, joined by the Company, in a reverent performance of the oldest known Neapolitan Christmas song, accompanied by traditional bagpipe (yes, in Italy), (played by guest Giovannagelo de Gennaro, traveling from his home in Apulia, Italy, for these performances). The play is set during Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem, during which the Devil has dispatched demons to stop the birth of Jesus. Along the way, the holy couple's escapades are entwined with the hapless commedia dell'arte character called Razzullo, a comic mischievous Neapolitan scribe who is always hungry and looking for something to eat. The demons, in the meanwhile, conjure up tempests, dragons, and do all they can to stop the birth, but all are under the protection of the Archangel Gabriel (played here, in traditional style, by Mark Mindek, well known stilt dancer Mary and Joseph experience funny, outrageous, and dangerous adventures before they finally reach Bethlehem and Good triumphs over Evil! Cast: Alessandra Belloni – Artistic Director- Mary, vocals, percussion John La Barbera, music directors/composer, classical guitar, mandolin, chitarra battente Susan Eberenz - flute, piccolo, recorders Wilson Montuori- classical and renaissance guitar, mandolin Mara Gerety - violinist as the Devil Serena Davini- percussion and drumset Christa Patton : oboe, Italian Bagpipe Giuseppe De Falco - Neapolitan singer/actor as the commedia dell'arte character Razzullo Joel Briel- La Befana Mark Mindek - stilt dancer as Archangel Gabriel James Karcher - sword fighter, principal devil Francesca Silvano -dancer, shepherdess, devil Peter de Geronimo - shepherd, devil Luca Focella – little Devil , shepherd Luisa Focella -little Angel, shepherdess "La Cantata dei Pastori" is still performed annually during the Christmas season in the environs of Naples. The play was written by Andrea Perrucci (under the pseudonym of Casimiro Ruggiero Ugone), a Sicilian-born, Neap0litan-bred poet/dramatist and well known stage director of his day. His play combines commedia characteristics with those of the Italian medieval sacra rappresentazione. A few of the many HIGHLIGHTS of the show: I Giullari members are masters of the commedia dell'arte style known as "Lazzi," comedic improvisations in commedia dell'arte style, often including grotesque masks, and outrageous props and effects. The Archangel Gabriel appears, in traditional style, on stilts, and is portrayed by longtime company member Mark Mindek, who has appeared in Metropolitan Opera productions, Disney Films, and special events around the world. Gabriel saves the day, as he sword fights with the devil, played by James Karcher, actor and fight director whose broad range of credits include appearances as Benedict Arnold on The History Channel to a role in the movie Munich, directed by Steven Spielberg. The Tempest Scene depicts Mary and Joseph crossing a body of water on their way to Bethlehem and, in true I Giullari di Piazza (the Jesters of the Square) popular street style, their boat is a cardboard cutout fashioned in the shape of a bathtub. Giuseppe De Falco is a commedia dell'arte master and has a special connection with "La Cantata dei Pastori," having seen annual street productions in his native Naples Italy. A musical play presented by the traditional Italian group I Giullari di Piazza - a rarity among Christmas programs; it somehow manages to be both riotously entertaining and curiously haunting, even profound...a vibrant and uproarious performance." Alex Ross, The New York Times www.igiullaridipiazza.com www.alessandrabelloni.com www.youtube.com/alessandrabella7 www.facebook.com/alessandrabelloni/54 www.facebook.com/igiullaridipiazza La Cantata dei Pastori Pulcinella / Razzullo Performed Live on December 12, 2016, Theater For The New City, NYC https://youtu.be/IVosTaNnXYw La Cantata dei Pastori Befana / Marenaresca / Tempest https://youtu.be/y3fQ7KoViOU La Cantata dei Pastori Cuncti Simus Angel fights the Devil and the Dragonhttps://youtu.be/5ZlP-LKULiY La Cantata dei Pastori Mattacino -Angle defeats the Devil https://youtu.be/FhoXG-fFqgE Quanno Nascette Ninno NATIVITY SCENE (finale) https://youtu.be/7VBZprC1iIY
$25