Release Date: January 11, 2008
Kennesaw State hosts three nights of laughs with one-man show
Contact: Cheryl Anderson Brown, Assistant Director of Public Relations,
770-499-3417 or cbrown@kennesaw.edu
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Kennesaw, Ga.—The College of the Arts at Kennesaw State University will present the one-man show, “Il Teatro Machiavelli,” at 8 p.m. Jan. 30 through Feb. 1 in Howard Logan Stillwell Theater.
“Il Teatro Machiavelli” is a two-part Italian-style comedic performance featuring masks and puppetry. The first part of the show, “La Commedia Sprezzatura,” puts a unique spin on traditional commedia dell’arte as the impresario, ”Bruno Machiavelli,” deftly leads his company of players through a traditional improvised scenario. “It’s a boisterous whirlwind trip through 400 years of theater history and a good time for all,” says Machiavelli.
The second part of the evening, “The Prince,” is a Punch-and-Judy style puppet show adaptation of Niccoló Machiavelli’s famous treatise on political power; the puppets satirically illuminate salient and practical aspects of the 1532 publication for modern consumption. “All the traditional elements of a Punch and Judy show are there,” Machiavelli says, “But, this is a true story—true to history, and true to my ancestor Niccoló’s writings—except in the end, the Italians win.”
The celebratory atmosphere continues after the double-bill performance when “everyone is invited to stay and discuss the themes, politics and techniques of Machiavelli,” said Vincenzo Tortorici, the creator and performer behind “Il Teatro Machiavelli.” KSU Assistant Professor of Theatre and Performance Studies Harrison Long says, “I’ve been trying to get Vincenzo to KSU for two years. He’ll make you laugh and think at the same time.”
Tortorici, the great-grandson of a Sicilian marionette artist, has taught and performed with several acclaimed theatre organizations including The North Carolina School of the Arts, Georgia Shakespeare, the Atlanta Shakespeare Company, Emory University and the Big Apple Circus Clown Caresm program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. He also serves as the creative director of Polytropic Productions Inc., an organization that presents educational and entertainment services for universities, corporations and festival audiences around the world.
“Il Teatro Machiavelli” will be performed Jan. 30 through Feb. 1 in Stillwell Theater at 8 p.m. Admission is $15. Tickets are available online at www.kennesaw.edu/arts. For more information, call the box office at 770-423-6650.
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Kennesaw State University is a comprehensive, residential institution with a growing student population exceeding 20,000 from 132 countries. The third largest state university out of 35 institutions in the University System of Georgia, KSU offers more than 55 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
The KSU College of the Arts is one of only four Georgia institutions to have achieved full national accreditation for all of its arts programs.