Studio Dante Presents 'Safe' Beginning June 10th

Studio Dante, founded in 2003 by Michael and Victoria Imperioli, proudly presents Ron Fitzgerald's SAFE, directed by Zetna Fuentes in a limited Off-Broadway engagement running Tuesday, June 10 - Saturday, June 28.  This production, featuring Patch Darragh, Alfredo Narciso and Jess Weixler marks the final production in Studio Dante's 2007-2008 season.  Opening Night is set for Saturday, June 14 at 8:00 PM.

Ginger, Van and Muzzy are relative strangers bound by self-destructive tendencies and The Common desire for a fresh start.  From Mobile to Chicago, they travel from city to city, doing whatever it takes to survive.  As Ginger and Van's relationship intensifies so do their troubles, and Muzzy begins some soul searching of his own.  Told through interwoven accounts, this play by Ron Fitzgerald chronicles the lives of three outcasts on a quest for somewhere to feel "Safe."

Ron Fitzgerald's plays include Cyclone, which had an extended run at Studio Dante, Parts Unknown, The River, Hair of the Dog, Jem & I, and an adaptation of The Diaries of Adam and Eve by Mark Twain.  His short play Rats was part of the critically-acclaimed "Vengeance" at the stageFARM last fall.  Cyclone and Parts Unknown were originally presented at The National Playwrights Conference.  He attended The Juilliard School on a Playwriting Fellowship with Marsha Norman and Christopher Durang and was twice awarded The LeCompte du Nouy Grant from The Lincoln Center Foundation.  He is also the recipient of the John Golden Award from Columbia University and a Tennessee Williams Fellowship from The University of the South.  He is currently a Story Editor for the hit Showtime series "Weeds."  

Zetna Fuentes' work with Studio Dante includes co-director (with Michael Imperioli) of Francine Volpe's The Given and Late Fragment.  Other directing credits include Eduardo Machado's Crossing the Border, Don Nigro's The Mary Celeste, Mike Batistick's Beer and Earrings and Port Authority Throwdown (staged reading). Assistant director credits at Studio Dante include From Riverdale to Riverhead, Chicken, Dark Yellow, Henry Flamethrowa and Ponies, directed by Nick Sandow and Cyclone directed by Brain Mertes.  Additional assistant credits include Dirty Works and The Pitchfork Disney, both directed by Kevin Kittle and Bold Girls directed by Ludovica Villar-Hauser.  Other directing credits include CBS' "Guiding Light" and ABC's "One Life To Live".  Previously, Fuentes worked in documentary and non-fiction programming fulfilling a variety of responsibilities, including directing, writing and producing on-air promotions.  For IFC, she worked on original programs including the "Focus" series, "Beyond Borders" and several "Making Of" programs, including producing "The Making of Casa de los Babys."  Fuentes directed and produced the upcoming "Who Runs the Dance" - a documentary on reggae Sound System culture. She is the recipient of the 2006 Groundbreaking Latina in the Arts Award from the National Association of Latina Leaders (NALL) and Catalina Magazine.

SAFE features Patch Darragh (Broadway:Crimes of the Heart, Roundabout; Off B'way: The Ruby Sunrise, Public Theater), Alfredo Narciso (B'way: A Streetcar Named Desire, Roundabout; Off B'way: Drunken City, Playwrights Horizon) and Jess Weixler (Film:Teeth, Jury Acting Prize at Sundance) and includes Set and Costume Design by Victoria Imperioli and Lighting Design by Tony Giovannetti, both Studio Dante resident designers.  Sound Design is by David M. Lawson.

Studio Dante, built by Michael and Victoria Imperioli, was conceived and built to house progressive new plays in a setting inspired by the grand architecture and design of traditional 19th Century venues.  For the last decade Michael Imperioli has produced, directed and acted on New York stages.  For Studio Dante, he directed the company's inaugural production Baptism by Fire, as well as Late Fragment, The Given and Studio Dante's most recent production, the critically acclaimed Sisters, Such Devoted Sisters.  He also begins production this month on his first feature film as a writer/director, Hungry Ghost, which is shooting in and around New York City.  Studio Dante is the latest installment of Victoria Imperioli's design work.  Having studied architecture and design at the School of Visual Arts & NYU, she has been involved in various projects in the US and Europe since the early 90s.  Victoria developed a distinct and admired style of her own, which led to her work's exposure in Architectural Digest.  Studio Dante is committed to producing writers that inhabit a fresh point of view and have the courage to investigate difficult emotional terrain.  Past productions: Baptism By Fire (2004), Ponies (2004), Henry Flamethrowa (2005), Late Fragment (2005), the critically acclaimed Cyclone by Ron Fitzgerald (2006 - Obie Award), Julia Jordan's Dark Yellow (2006 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize Finalist), The Given (2006 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize Finalist), Mike Batistick's Chicken (2007), Anastasia Traina's From Riverdale to Riverhead (2007), Sam Marks' The Joke (2007) and most recently, Russell Barr's Sisters, Such Devoted Sisters.  Studio Dante is the recipient of the New York State 2006 and 2007 Initiative Grant as well as a 2007 NYSCA grant.

SAFE will play Tuesday - Saturday at 8:00 PM from June 10-28.  Studio Dante is located at 257 West 29th Street between 7th & 8th Avenues.  Tickets are $35.00 and may be arranged through Smarttix at www.smarttix.com or by calling (212) 868-4444.  For more information, visit www.studiodante.com.

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