Long ago there lived a fisherman's son who spent so long at sea the people called him a "half boy, half fish". But there are stranger things lurking in the waters of the Strait of Messina: ancient myths and terrible dangers…
Featuring an ensemble of eight actors and musicians, Colapesce: An Audio Adventure is an enchanting storytelling album that brings the Sicilian folktale of Colapesce to life with original music, perfect for listeners of all ages.
In the summer of 2016, Trinacria Theatre Company members spent one month in residency in Sicily, living within the local community and learning the legend of the fish-boy who saved the city of Messina. The result was our exciting debut production, La Storia di Colapesce. In this time of distance, we are thrilled to share this powerful tale of courage and community with audiences all over the world.
the story
In a time when earthquakes, tsunamis, and other strange occurrences are wreaking havoc across Sicily, word spreads of a young boy from Messina named Cola—a fisherman’s son who spends so much of his time diving beneath the waves that many call “Colapesce” or “Cola the Fish.” Rumors of Cola’s incredible diving abilities eventually reach Sicily’s Princess. Defying the wishes of her father, the arrogant King, the Princess appeals to Cola to investigate what lies beneath the sea’s surface and find the cause of the destruction. Cola dives deeper and deeper into the Strait of Messina, encountering sirens and sea monsters along the way…until he learns that deep below the water’s surface, something even more sinister threatens the entire island of Sicily.
Colapesce: An Audio Adventure is based on Trinacria’s original script for La Storia di Colapesce, which was created collaboratively by eight multidisciplinary American theatre artists during a month-long residency in Messina, in Northeast Sicily. During that time, company members lived and worked in a small rural community learning about the local language, history, culture, and folklore. La Storia di Colapesce was performed in both Italian and English, and was presented free of charge for the Sicilian public, touring to five locations in the province of Messina in 2016. The performance also toured to New York City and three different locations in Massachusetts, and was featured on Italian public national broadcaster Rai Italia and Rai International.
Encore performances of La Storia di Colapesce were scheduled in the New England area for June 2020, but have been postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19. Proceeds from the sales of Colapesce: An Audio Adventure will support the creative artists and future touring of the stage production.
CREATIVE TEAm
Director & Editor: Quinton Kappel
Music Director & Editor: Sean Devare
Music Composed by Sean Devare & Dario Ladani Sanchez
Audiobook Producer & Consultant: Becky Parker Geist
Executive Producer: Mariagrazia La Fauci
Dramaturgy: Max Sklar
cast
The King, Neptune: Sean Devare
The Princess, Fata Morgana: Clara Francesca
The Narrator: Quinton Kappel
The Mother: Mariagrazia La Fauci
The Barker, Lumiuni: Dario Ladani Sanchez
Colapesce: Tristan Schaffer-Goldman
The Father: Max Sklar
musicians
Violin: Sean Devare
Vocals: Clara Francesca
Guitar: Dario Ladani Sanchez
Mandolin, Bandoneon: Max Sklar
Cello: Valerie Thompson
La Storia di Colapesce was conceived and created collaboratively by 2016 Trinacria Theatre Company founding members Josephine Cooper, Sean Devare, Quinton Kappel, Elena Kritter, Mariagrazia La Fauci, Kathleen Lewis, Dario Ladani Sanchez, and Max Sklar. Script adapted for audio by Quinton Kappel, Mariagrazia La Fauci, Max Sklar, and Sean Devare.
Special thanks to: David Crystal, Iyvon Edebiri, Ehren Hanson, and John Minigan.
THANK YOU TO OUR premiere SPONSORS
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media Coverage For Colapesce: An Audio Adventure
press & Reviews
La Voce di New York: "Trinacria Company, the American Theater Company Inspired by Sicily" by Lenni Lippi
Balarm: "Porta gli americani in Sicilia e fonda una compagnia: la Trinacria Theatre ora gira il mondo" by Rosa Guttila
THE JIM MASTERS SHOW LIVE! Live from Sicily, Italy! SPECIAL GUEST: Mariagrazia La Fauci, Founder & Artistic Director of the Trinacria Theatre Company
praise for Colapesce: An audio Adventure
“Colapesce: an audio adventure smells a little bit like the Mediterranean sea. And that’s because it originated in it. It’s performed in English by American actors but you can imagine the Italian sound of it, because the work was able to absorb some of the local essence. That’s the importance of ‘living the experience’.”
“High quality production. Textured and vivid. It’s more than an audiobook. I was transported right away.... A great combination of prose, acting, theatricality, sound production, and using the audience’s imagination. A marvel.”
“It’s such an evocative, magical piece. Well acted and executed, and great fun to listen to.”
“Well done. The editing and sound mixing was incredible. It did NOT sound like you guys were playing your parts all over the world. ... Exceptional! It was seamless as though you guys were in a studio proper... and the acting [is] superb.”
meet the team
BECKY PARKER GEIST (audiobook producer) has a long history of theatre-making, including several productions Off Broadway with companies such as Ars Nova, NY Theatre Workshop, and Signature, as well as in the San Francisco Bay Area. She co-founded two touring theatre companies, EDEN2 Theater Ensemble (children's theatre) and Chaucer Theatre. She began in the audiobook industry in 1981 as a narrator, fell in love with it, and is now the CEO of her own audiobook production and marketing company, Pro Audio Voices. At PAV they especially love producing audiobooks with full casts, music and sound effects. Becky has a deep passion for helping great stories come alive - making the world a better place one story at a time. ProAudioVoices.com
SEAN DEVARE (music director & composer, voice actor, musician) is a New York-based multidisciplinary performer, designer, musician, writer and director. He is currently a SUITE/Space fellow at Mabou Mines for his solo show 'First Violin,' which premiered at HERE Arts Center and United SoloFestival. Sean’s work explores questions of cultural inheritance and hybridization through reinterpreting Asian diasporic performance traditions, from mask-making and shadow puppetry to Carnatic violin. He has performed in NYC at BAM, Signature, Target Margin, The Flea and more. Founding member of Trinacria Theatre Company and The Transit Ensemble. MFA Sarah Lawrence College, BFA RISD. www.seandevare.com
CLARA FRANCESCA (voice actor, musician) is a Sicilian-Melbournian stage/screen actor, writer, director, producer and playwright, specializing in solo theatre performances.Winner of Best Actress at Melbourne Arts Centre Fairfax stage for Susan Who? and continues to tour Manifesting Mrs Marx (Best Performance Art SaraSolo Winner, Outstanding Solo Performance & Outstanding Original Script Nominee IT Awards NYC). www.clarafrancesca.com @clar_esca
QUINTON KAPPEL (director, adapter, voice actor) is an interdisciplinary artist and storyteller. A stage actor, visual artist, and filmmaker with a growing portfolio of voice work, he holds a BFA in Film & Animation from Tufts University & SMFA and works in Boston as an award winning video editor. He is thrilled to be diving once more into this beautiful story and is honored to be at the helm of its intimate retelling. www.quintonkappel.com
MARIAGRAZIA LA FAUCI (executive producer, voice actor) is a theatre director, teaching artist, performer, and the founding Artistic Director of Trinacria Theatre Company. She is passionate about the collaborative creative process. Mariagrazia received her BA from Brown University and her MA with Distinction in Theatre Directing from LAMDA in London. www.mariagrazialafauci.com
DARIO LADANI SANCHEZ (composer, voice actor, musician) is thrilled to be returning to this story! He previously collaborated with Trinacria on La Storia di Colapesce and Una Storia di Fantasma. Recent work includes: Tomorrow Will Be Sunday, The Voices Project (Chautauqua Theater Company); Hand to God (Speakeasy Stage); Juliet and Romeo (The Brick); and readings at the Huntington and Two River Theatre. Dario is an alum of the Yale School of Drama, the British American Drama Academy, and Northeastern University.
TRISTAN SCHAFFER-GOLDMAN (voice actor) is a NYC-based performer with a passion for physical theatre. Tristan recently returned from 4 years abroad where he earned an MFA in Physical Theatre from the Accademia dell'Arte in Arezzo, Italy and an MA in Classical Acting from LAMDA in London. This is Tristan's first time working with Trinacria Theatre Company and he's excited to be part of such a beautiful, funny, and moving project. For more information please visit www.tristansg.com.
MAX SKLAR (dramaturge, voice actor, musician) is an actor and dramaturg from Salem MA. He has been working with Trinacria since 2016. Other work in acting and historical interpretation include work with Still Small Theatre Company, History Alive!, and the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. In the fall he will begin his studies for his MDiv at Yale Divinity school. He is a postulant for holy orders with the Episcopal diocese of Massachusetts.
VALERIE THOMPSON (musician) is a Boston-based celllist/composer/songwriter/improviser who has performed nationally and internationally in rock bands, string quartets, chamber folk ensembles and as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. State Department. A cellist versed in multiple genres, Valerie currently tours with Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards and the MIDI-Marimba/cello duo, Goli. Valerie holds a Bachelors of Music in Music Performance from the Berklee College of Music and a Masters of Music in Contemporary Improvisation from the New England Conservatory. Fun Fact: Valerie can also be seen in the 100th episode of WB’s Gossip Girl.
rehearsal & performance photos from La Storia di Colapesce
Click to enlarge and for photo details.
