La Strada
La Strada
US Theatrical Premiere
Written by Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli and Ennio Flaiano
Spanish adaptation by Gerard Vazquez
Directed by Jorge B. Merced with René Buch
Performed in Spanish with English supertitles
CAST
Luis Carlos De la Lombana, Israel Ruiz, Irene Aguilar, Winston Estevez, Nanda Abella, Adela Maria Bolet, María Peyramaure, Stephanie Davis (violin), Jennifer Harder (trumpet), and Adela Maria Bolet.
TEAM
Set & Lighting Design by Jason Sturm
Costume Design by Leni Méndez
Sound Design by Karina Alós
Photography by Michael Palma Mir
VENUE
IATI Theater, NYC
64 E 4th Street
YEAR
2011-2013
ABOUT
Spanish-language stage adaptation of the Oscar-winning 1954 Italian film of the same title, produced by La Strada Company, a new New York–based Spanish theater company. Adapted by Gerard Vázquez from the screenplay by Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli, and Ennio Flaiano and presented with English supertitles.
La Strada tells the story a fey and innocent young woman, Gelsomina (played in Fellini’s classic by Giuletta Massina,) who is sold to a brutish man, Zampanó (played by Anthony Quinn in the film,) who works as a traveling showman. She joins him on the road as a part of his act, enduring physical and emotional pain along the way. Trouble erupts when the pair joins a traveling circus, where they meet a clown who secretly falls in love with the woman.
The adaptation opens with a fitting homage to traveling clown culture as a meta story yearning to become a morality tale yet immersed in the playfulness of it’s storytellers.
The production received multiple theater accolades including Best Direction, Best Spanish Language production, and Best Acting nods to its leads.
_____
Praise for the production:
“…Prismatic Perfection”…”La Strada Shines like a gem. The writing, acting, music, movement, mis en scene are perfect”. Let’s talk Off Broadway by Yvonne Korshack.
“How brave and how wonderfully moving this production of LA STRADA is”. Talk Entertainment by Oscar E. Moore.
“La Strada is an enchanting, cunningly constructed production”Backstage by Lisa Jo Sagolla
“Great actors and fabolous use of music” Theater is Easy by Haytham Elhawary
“Luis Carlos de La Lombana as Zampanò and Nanda Abella as Gelsomina, both of whom bring riveting and passionate performances” Village Voice by Araceli Cruz
“In the hands of this ensemble, Fellini´s story trascends its time and place”.Show Business Weekly by Ethan Kanfer
“Un gran libreto y dirección que dan como resultado una experiencia emocionante, imposible de vivir en un teatro a gran escala. Así es La Strada dirigida por Jorge Merced y Rene Buch”. Alejandra Musi – El Universal (México)