Louisville-area theater fans can learn more about the project and support the students’ trip at a fundraiser Oct. 17.
Three UofL students will join the cast of “Qu,” a new play by Nobel Prize-winning Italian playwright and performer Dario Fo, debuting at the International Expo in Milan, Italy, in summer 2015.
The Fo Project Informational Gala will feature performances by UofL Theatre students and faculty inspired by their work in Italy including an informational showcase, a storytelling workshop, a screening of documentary footage about the project and food from Selena’s Willow Lake Tavern.
The gala will be held from 7-9 p.m., Friday, Oct. 17, at Bigelow Hall in the Miller Information Technology Center at UofL. The gala is free and open to the public. Donations will be accepted.
The June performance in Milan is the conclusion of a multi-year endeavor called The Fo Project, created through the Accademia dell’Arte and the Civica Scuola di Teatro Paolo Grassi in Italy. UofL Assistant Professor of Theatre Erin Crites is a faculty liaison with The Fo Project and has been working with the group for three years.
“The Fo Project is a cross-cultural research project and collaboration between young artists from Italy, Brazil, Canada and the United States,” Crites said. “Our students will get to practice the art of commedia dell’arte and epic storytelling and, through their contributions, will shape the newest work by Nobel Prize winning playwright Dario Fo.”
The play, “Qu,” is based on a story by famous Chinese poet Lu Xun and tells the tale of an outcast and his adventures. It combines tragedy and comedy, and classical and contemporary theatre featuring actors, dancers, musicians and acrobats. The UofL students will play multiple roles.
For more information on The Fo Project and the gala, visit foproject.com.