Vatican Falls
Written by Frank J. Avella
Directed by Avella AND Carlotta Brentan
Co-Produced by High Voltage
October 27th - November 20th
Based on factual accounts, spanning decades and set against the backdrop of the continuously-swelling Catholic sex abuse scandal, VATICAN FALLS is a sweeping multi-genre work that follows survivor journeys examining the feelings of shame and confusion that ultimately turn to anger and revenge. This fast-paced, non-linear suspense-thriller jets from Boston to Rome to New York to Los Angeles as our radicalized protagonist falls in love with a Vatican operative and, along with his Fellowship, plots vengeance on the institutional power players that allowed the rape and torture of countless children and young adults. The play features three prominent LGBTQ+ characters including the fellowship leader, Vi, whose desire for retribution fuels the group.
Vatican Falls running time is 2 hours and 25 minutes with one intermission.
COVID PROTOCOL:
All attendees and artists will be required to display proof of at least 2 doses of a Covid vaccination before being admitted to the space.
Patrons will also be required to wear masks while indoors at all times.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Frank J. Avella
Co-Directors: Frank J. Avella & Carlotta Brentan
Lighting Design: David Shocket
Costume Design: Shirlee Idzakovich
Movement Choreography: Christine “Cappy” Dow
Casting: Judy Bowman
Social Media: John David West
MEET THE TEAM
FRANK J. AVELLA
AUTHOR AND CO-DIRECTOR
Frank J. Avella recently wrote and directed his first film, the multi-award-winning short “Fig Jam.” He is the recipient of an International Writers Residency at Arte Studio Ginestrelle (Assisi, Italy), a Bogliasco Foundation Fellowship, a Helene Wurlitzer Residency Grant and a NJ State Arts Council Fellowship Award. Frank’s feature length screenplays include “Consent,” “Lured,” and “Screw The Cow” which, along with “Fig Jam” and his new short script, “Happy Boy,” have won 33 awards and are selections/finalists in over 200 Festivals/Contests worldwide. He has written numerous plays including “Vatican Falls,” (2021 O’Neill semifinalist), “Lured” (2018 O’Neill semifinalist, produced in NYC & Rome), “Consent” (2x O’Neill semifinalist) and most recently, “Lockdown.” https://linktr.ee/fjaklute
CARLOTTA BRENTAN
CO-DIRECTOR /CLAUDIA
Carlotta Brentan is a New York-based theater artist specializing in the development of challenging new plays as an actor, producer, director and translator. Stage highlights: World Premieres of Frank J. Avella's Lured, (also co-directed, sold-out runs at Theater for The New City in NYC and OnStage! Festival in Rome), Paolo Bignami’s The Journey I Never Made (also translated from the original Italian, Cherry Lane Theatre), Erik Ehn’s Clover (La MaMa ETC) Carlotta is also a film actor, prolific voiceover artist and award-winning audiobook narrator.
ACE YOUNG
RICCARDO
Actor, Producer, Singer, Songwriter, BMI Pop Award Winner, Broadway star in HAIR & GREASE, Ace Young is a man of many talents. This Grammy Nominated Songwriter has performed for millions on both stage and screen, like American Idol, Bones, World Tours and more. Ace is privileged to share the story of VATICAN FALLS raising awareness and support for survivors everywhere.
ALICE BARRETT-MITCHELL
TERESA
Theatre: Jake’s Women on Broadway, The Plantation, Major Barbara, Doubt, American Clock, Farhenheit 451, Television: "Heels," "The Thing About Pam," "Chicago Med, " "Billions," “Law & Order: SVU,” “Another World”, many other shows and commercials. Film: Soulmates, Choke, Brooklyn’s Finest, Depraved, Weakness, Twelve, 13, among others.
TUCKER AUST
VI
Tucker Aust (he/him) is a New York based actor and creator. Recent credits include You Can Tell From the Twisted Juniper (Chautauqua Theatre Company), Moonchildren (Theatre 54), and Can't You Tell! (Kraine Theatre, Queerly Frigid Fest Audience Choice Award). He has appeared in several short films, most recently Frank Avella’s Fig Jam. Tucker is also a co-founder of the The Queer Ensemble, a collective of LGBTQ+ performers and artists dedicated to enhancing queer voices in the American Theatre. A graduate of the BFA Acting Program from the University of Southern California, he is represented by Circle of 10 Talent. @tuckeraust | www.thequeerensemble.com
JAMES GRACIA
PETER
James recently graduated, can't wait to be making his Tank debut with Vatican Falls! He is thrilled to be apart of this team and help tell this incredibly important story. He had a blast getting to work on multiple theatrical shows and indie films in college. Theatre credits include: "Exit Strategy", "The Lower Depths", "Wyrd". Film credits include: "Quiet valley", "This table is crooked", "Two-story house", "A Guy Named John". (Tisch Drama '22)
DANNY HILT
CHARLIE
Danny is an actor and writer who can currently be seen as Bomb Tech Aaron Hill on the CBS show, FBI. Other TV and Film credits include: The Deuce, Law & Order: SVU, The Sopranos, Power Book III, What Would You Do, Law & Order, Benji’s Hour (upcoming), American Gangster and the Oscar nominated, Foxcatcher. Some favorite Theater credits include: Good People, Detroit, Straight Faced Lies, Bash, Smiles to Saturn, The Psychiatrist Is Out and King Lear. As a voice over artist he’s voiced national TV commercials, radio and video games. BA Rutgers University.
EDWARD L SIMON
FATHER DAVID
Brooklyn-based actor, singer and writer. Recent theater credits include Claude in Hair (New Repertory Theatre) and Prince Topher in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella (Virginia Repertory Theatre). BFA in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory. Currently developing his first solo play "I and Love and You" to premiere in 2023. Thank you to Judy, Frank and Carlotta for bringing me on. For Ben and my parents. Instagram: @edwardsimon23
Jeremiah Clapp
MATT
JACOPO COSTANTINI
GIANLUCA
Jacopo was born and raised in Italy. He made his debut in an Italian National Theater Tour at age 22 alongside his maestro, Italian famous comedian Lello Arena. Since then he has worked regularly as an actor in cinema and theater. In 2019 Jacopo moved to New York and started working in both Italy and the USA. In 2021 he won Nastro d’Argento as best young actor for his performance as a lead in the successful Italian/Romanian independent film Adventures Italian Style (original title: Est).
RYAN WRIGHT
MONSIGNOR
Theatre: Appointment With Death (Gallery Players), Katzelmacher, USA (The Cell), The Gayest Christmas Pageant Ever (Actors' Playhouse), Browsing (Fringe), Woodhull (Fringe), Small Talk (Manhattan Repertory Theatre). Film/Television: The award winning series The Blessing (www.blessingseries.com), Pro Bono Means Free, Mysteries at the Museum, The Hunt with John Walsh. Thank you Judy Bowman, Frank Avella, and Carlotta Brentan. Love to Jeffery. www.ryandouglaswright.com @ryguybread
TRAVIS LELAND
UNDERSTUDY
Travis is an actor, writer, and producer. Past performances include: Pierre in Natasha…Great Comet of 1812 (Capital City Theater) Charles Bingley in Pride and Prejudice: A New Musical (Amazon Prime), the World Premiere of The Prince of Egypt (TheatreWorks, Silicon Valley), Merrily We Roll Along (Wallis Annenberg), Dir. Michael Arden, and Kristoff/Hans in Disney California Adventure’s Frozen Live at the Hyperion. @travisleland20
ASHLEY GARRETT
HIGH VOLTAGE PRODUCTIONS / PHOTOGRAPHER
Ashley Garrett is an American photographer based in New York. She specializes in production photos for theater, music and dance, and portraits of individuals and groups. A co-founder (with the playwright, director and producer, Frank J. Avella) of High Voltage Productions, Ashley has produced a number of independent and short films, including Fig Jam and Letters from Baghdad. Ashley is excited to be working with Frank in a producing capacity, having photographed many of his plays, including Lured, Consent, and Vatican Falls. www.AshleyGarrett.Photo. @AshleyGarrettPhoto.
TONY DIBERNARDO
SET & PROJECTION DESIGN
Tony is a Brooklyn based scenic designer and artist. He is a resident associate for Derek Mclane Studios where he has worked on a number of Broadway regional, and international productions. Including Moulin Rouge!(tony winner) and MJ the Musical (tony nom) His most recent designs include Rock of Ages (ShortNorthStage), The Trial (Vineyard Theatre) and Working (Delbarton Stage). He is very excited to be making his Tank Debut. Tony is a proud member of USA 829.
DAVID SHOCKET
LIGHTING DESINGER
David is a Lighting Designer, Associate, and Educator for theatre, dance, and event productions. Projects include: The Telling (Waterfire Arts Center, RI); Ballroom with a Twist, Motown with a Twist, Dance to the Movies (Nat’l Tour); Legally Blonde (Hofstra); Eat the Devil (The Tank); Lured (TNC); Suds (ART Cambridge); Spin Off (Riverside Theater); DiscOasis (Asst. Central Park, NYC); Outside Lands Music Festival (Asst. Golden Gate State Park, SF); Grand Horizons (Assoc. B’Way); What the Constitution Means to Me (Assoc. B’Way, Nat’l Tour); Nollywood Dreams (Assoc. MCC); Powerstrip (Assoc. LCT); Usual Girls (Assoc. Roundabout). Professional mentor in lower education for the last 6 years: Packer Collegiate Institute, Friends Academy, Gaston Day School. Mentor, Production & Design Faculty at Pace University. Social: @dshocketld | www.dshocketdesigns.com
SHIRLEE IDZAKOVICH
COSTUME DESIGNER
Shirlee Idzakovich is a professional costumer designer, stylist who works in NYC and LA. She is a Master Tailor that works with Vogue, V Mag, Paper Mag, and national campaigns as well as private with many clients in Hollywood and the music industry.
CHRISTINE “CAPPY” DOW
MOVEMENT CHOREOGRAPHER
JOHN DAVID WEST
SOCIAL MEDIA
John West has appeared in the award-winning short film series "The Lessons" by Alberto Ferreras and "Fig Jam" by Frank J. Avella. This fall you can see him in comedy Hamlet in Harlem at Theater for the New City. In addition to acting, he is a social media manager and photographer. You can follow him on Instagram @johndavidwest www.johndavidwest.com
JUDY BOWMAN
CASTING
CSA’s recent credits include Metra(Flux), Madeline Sayet's Where We Belong(tour), …Chad Deity(Profile Theatre), A Christmas Carol (McCarter), The Great Leap(Cleveland Play House), Incendiary(Woolly Mammoth), and 3 musicals: Light it Up!(CPH); Justice and Nina Simone: Four Women(Arizona Theatre Co). FILM/TV: Hurricane Bianca, One Moment, Separation, Lost Cat Corona, Gold Star, Copenhagen, Redemption in Cherry Springs (Hallmark), & Big Dogs (Amazon). Artios Award nominee. judybowmancasting.com For survivors everywhere. Casting Assistant: Joe Piserchio
ELENA JENSEN
STAGE MANAGER
Elena is a recent graduate of Marymount Manhattan College in Production and Stage Management and Writing for the Stage, and has recently begun her work as a freelance stage manager. They are thrilled to be working on their first production with The Tank and on Vatican Falls! Recent stage management credits include various festivals showcasing new works and artists from all around New York City. email: lenajenss@gmail.com, instagram: lenajenss