TWO SISTERS, TWO BROTHERS Makes US Premiere at Theater for The New City, Now thru 6/24

Theater For The New City has announced the American premiere production of Alberto Bassetti's TWO SISTERS, TWO BROTHERS, directed by Mark Schneider and Valentina Fratti. TWO SISTERS, TWO BROTHERS will play a limited engagement at Theater for the New City (155 First Avenue, btw. 9th/10th). Opening Night is tonight, June 9 (8 p.m.).

In these dark comedies, desperation and hope in a surreal world send two pairs of siblings into a vortex of confusion and decision-making.

TWO SISTERS believe they are on a road leading home. Their dreams dashed, they long for a respite, but a secret will derail their journey.

TWO BROTHERS, one, just back from missionary work in India and one who has stayed to attend to family responsibilities, have to decide how best to care for their ailing father.

The production features scenic design by Mark Marcante, costume design by Brooke Cohen, and lighting design by Alex Bartenieff. Jack O'Brien is the sound designer, Victoria Buda and Kristin Skye Hoffman are the assistant directors and Gary Adamsen is the production stage manager.

ALBERTO BASSETTI (Playwright) is a writer mostly noticed and appreciated for his capacity to choose very strong social themes giving to the public surprise and often a possibility to smile too. He started on Theatre in 1989, winning the most important Prizes: Fondi-La Pastora Prize in the same year for "Master State"; IDI-Institute of Italian Drama for "The Burrow" in 1990 and for "The Cage" in 1995; Giuseppe Fava Prize for "The Bridge" and other Prizes for his career. Last month he received the most ancient Italian prize: Premio Vallecorsi for his drama "The two brothers". Some other plays: "Soul sellers", "A man apart", "The womb", "Harem", "The secret of life", "The grindstone", "Two sisters", "The flight of the cock","Entrances", the most of them represented in many different Public ('Teatro Stabile del Friuli-Venezia-Giulia' in Trieste, CTB in Brescia, Teatro Carignano in Torino, Teatro di Roma) or Private Italian theatres. He has worked with including directors: Albertazzi, Calenda, Piccardi, Maltauro, Belli, Sepe, Piccardi, Tatiana Almost all plays are published in books or reviews, and many have been presented on the Radio RAI channels. His play "The burrow" has been represented in different versions in Italy and in Spain (1997 'Grec Festival' in Barcellona and tourneé) and France ('Theatre Nationale de la Colline' in Paris, italian festival). His short monologue "Questions?" was at "Rond Point" in Paris; "Soul Sellers" was at Teatro di Roma, National Drama of Croatia, and in Prague at Narodni Divadlo in 2005 both in Italian and Czech versions; "The cage" was selected at Burgtheater Kasino in Wien in 2007 for the "Fine settimana italiano". His works were included in Festivals in Chile (Festival of European Drama) and Venezuela. His first movie: "Above and below the bridge" (based on his Giuseppe Fava Prize winner play) debuted at the World Film Festival of Montreal. He is also director of documentaries stories for national TV, RAI. He is artistic director of Festival "Quartieri dell'Arte" (with G.M. Cervo) and "Opere Festival"; since 2007 also directs in Rome Teatrolospazio.it

Valentina Fratti (Director) Credits include The Green Manifesto by Anne Berlin and Andy Cohen at nyfringe. By the same team, Revolution, Love Stinks (SPF Abridged Festival, Public Theatre) Little Drummer and Rocky's First Christmas and Pocket Change. Charles Duncombe's Patriot Act at the Castillo Theatre; Jeff Daniels' Apartment 3A; Young Playwrights Festivals at the Cherry Lane Alternative and the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre. At the Miranda Theater Co, which she co founded and where she served as Artistic Director for 12 years, The Book of Wren, Innocent Thoughts, Prostitutki and Near Normal. Readings include : Howling Hilda by Anne Berlin and Andrew Bleckner with Mary Testa, Ginna Carter's Traffic School with Elaine Stritch and Carla Cooks the War with Lynne Cohen. Her plays include Unearthed, The Male Appetite, Jerusalem Mountain, and Shooting Medea. She works with commercial producer Jane Harmon and was the Associate Producer on the Broadway production of Alfred Uhry's The Last Night of Ballyhoo (Tony Award, Best Play). She is on faculty at the New School for Drama. and was the 2008 recipient of the Alice Kaplan Guest Artist Residency at Northwestern Universtity.