EXCLUSIVE! UCCELLINI, a play by Mark Benninghofen directed by Joe Dowling. EF19

Mark Benninghofen’s beautiful new play UCCELLINI, (Little Birds in Italian), examines one extraordinary woman’s battle to survive the last weeks of WWII in occupied Rome, 1944 while struggling to come to terms with her final days in New York City, 2005.

It is an Italian story of art and love, choice and consequence…of memories and the reality lurking just behind them.  Centered on the infamous Via Rasella bombing in March 1944, the play explores the desperate lengths to which ordinary Italians were forced…just to get by and gives voice to one of the three men never identified in the Fosse Ardeatine massacre.

Following a casual reception in the lobby we will present a Staged Reading of the play. This simple, stripped down theater form will focus entirely on the text and the actors...a spectacular cast under the guidance of Internationally renowned director Joe Dowling.  A brief Q&A will follow for those who wish to remain. 

In English. Running time: 95 Minutes. 
Seating is extremely limited for this one-night-only event.

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity
to participate in the earliest stage of
a new play’s life.


BOOK YOUR SEAT

Mark Benninghofen has been an award-winning professional stage, screen and television actor since 1982. After a strong start in New York City, where he appeared Off Broadway in Larry Ketron’s Asian Shade and Fresh Horses at the WPA Theater and Twelfth Night at Lincoln Center, Mark was asked to join the prestigious acting company at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis in 1985. His Guthrie credits include: Juno and the Paycock, Born Yesterday, Appomattox, Time Stands Still, The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide, Great Expectations, St. Joan, Cyrano, The Merry Wives of Windsor. Other Minneapolis credits include: Tyrone and Ralph (Production Ivey Award) at the History Theatre, Compulsion at MJTC, Shooting Star at Park Square, The Hot House for Dark & Stormy Productions and most recently the title role in Sweeney Todd at Theater Latte Da.TV and Film: Movie Stars, Frasier, Drew Carey, Chicago Hope, The Public Domain, Wilson, La Stanza Accanto, Older Than America and Herman, USA. Mark lives in Minnesota with his wife and their two teenaged sons.

Joe Dowling is an Artistic Director. For 20 years (1995-2015), he was artistic director for the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis where he directed productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Playboy of the Western World, Much Ado About Nothing, The Importance of Being Earnest, Julius Caesar, Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth and Amadeus.
He is also well known for his work as Artistic Director of the Abbey Theatre in Ireland. He has directed plays in all the major theatres in Ireland as well as theatres in London, New York, Washington D.C., Montreal, and Alberta and founded the Gaiety School of Acting in 1986 in Dublin, Ireland.

Illusion Theater's mission is to generate theater that illuminates the illusions, myths and realities of our times and to catalyze personal and social change. 
Illusion presents its MainStage Season at the Cowles Center in downtown Minneapolis, Miss Richfield's Annual Holiday Prog'rum in December and The Fresh Ink Series in the summer. Illusion tours in the spring, performing for schools, universities, art series, corporations, faith organizations  and communities.
In its ongoing mission to develop new work that reflects and illuminates our times, Illusion turned to creating specific work that addresses issues important to children and families. Illusion's Educational Program is renowned throughout the state and country for its effective combination of theater and carefully crafted messaging.

WHEN: Monday, November 18, 2019  6:30 pm Lobby Reception, 7:30 pm Reading (running time is 95 min.)

WHERE: Illusion Theater, 528 Hennepin Ave (8th floor), Minneapolis, MN 55403

PRICE: $10 (Member) & $15 (Non-Member); Members, please contact events@theitalianculturalcenter.org or 612 413 3970 to receive the discount code