Legendary Commedia dell’Arte performer, maestro, and maskmaker, Antonio Fava presents his signature show, performing lazzi from the life, death, and resurrection of Pulcinella, the stock character he inherited from his father and one of comedy’s most beloved scoundrels.

The following is an excerpt from Maestro Fava's press release:
War, unfortunately, is a timeless and universal situation experienced by all cultures and peoples-- it is also a classic situation for the Commedia dell’Arte. Pulcinella’s War, by Antonio Fava, features Pulcinella and Zazzà: two masks, of the oldest and longest lasting comic theatrical tradition still on the boards - the Commedia dell’Arte, with almost five centuries of uninterrupted history.

Pulcinella’s War tells the comic story of Pulcinella who goes to war not for glory or honor but to solve his problem of love. To Pulcinella, war appears as a refuge, a solution, a form of intentional, planned suicide. The audience follows Pulcinella’s exploits and his relationship with Zazzà, the woman who is his match.

Fava gained a passion for Commedia dell'Arte through his father, a famous Pulcinella in Scandale, Calabria, Italy. From this, he would go on to become the world's leading teacher and director in the Rennaisance art-form so few know about or even understand. In 1980, he created the International School for Comic Acting in Reggio Emilia, Italy for the purpose of teaching and training performers from around the world in Commedia, Masks, Mask-making, Opera Regia, Tragedy and the original variety show.

It is Stolen Chair's great pleasure to announce that Antonio Fava, one of the greatest living masters of Commedia dell'Arte, will be returning to New York in just a few short weeks to offer two masterclasses to theatre professionals.

Maestro Fava will introduce participants to the traditional art-form of Commedia dell'Arte and teach use and meaning of the mask, fixed typologies and characters including Old People, Lovers, Zanni, and Captains, and the functions, gestures and behaviors of each. As a grand finale for the workshop, all students will participate in a presentation of an improvised Commedia scenario.

This year, Maestro Fava will be offering one introductory class and one class for intermediate students, so that those with prior training in the art-form can develop their skills even further.

Reserve your space today at www.stolenchair.org/fava.html!

No cover. No "suggested donation." No drink minimum. For one night only, Stolen Chair will not be asking for your hard-earned cash! We just want to party and meet the wonderful people (that's you!) who helped make Kill Me Like You Mean It so successful.

There will be drink specials (8-10pm), merchandise galore, Stolen Chair's "Greatest Hits" playing on the bar's television, the first public announcement of our next collective creation, and a raffle in which you can win an unforgettable night with the Chair of your choice (okay, not really, but you can win lots of other Stolen Chair goodies!).

Stolen Chair's Co-Artistic Director Jon Stancato weighs in on intellectual property and the development of the company's newest collective creation over in blogland.