The theater and the state of things, according to Massimiliano Bruno

What is the state of affairs of Italian theatre, dramaturgy, direction, performers? Try to give an answer to these questions Massimiliano Bruno who brings the second part of “The state of things” to the stage at the Parioli in Rome, from 15 to 26 Januarya show that follows the one that debuted in 2023 in the same place.

On stage, Massimiliano Bruno who is also director of Parioli, will bring 30 new talents from Italian theater and cinema. Actresses and actors who will face an important stage next to the one who, for some of them, was a teacher at the “Scenic Arts Laboratory”. The director is Massimiliano Bruno himself with Sara Baccarini. In the 2025 staging there will not be the same artists as the previous version and even the monologues and dialogues will be novelties specifically written by various authors and, in some cases, reinterpretations of already published works by important writers.

“On stage – explained the director during a press conference – they are there 30 young actors who give life to different characters. The title gives the idea: ‘The state of things’ is an attempt to show how we are placed at the level of young authors, young directors and young actors. We have kids ranging from 25 to 40 years old and I think it’s a great opportunity for them to perform on the Parioli stage, which is one of the most prestigious theaters in Italy. The news this year is that I signed the co-direction together with Sara Baccarini who last year was assistant director. But it is a direction of the format – he said again – of the container of the show because then inside, our directors each created a small show of 10, 12, 15 minutes where we tell lots of stories with different tones.”

Last time, Bruno had brought on stage pieces written by him for other actors, this time the texts are written by ten authors and there are other directors who put them on stage. A format that it proposes within itself a sort of theatrical shorts. What will be staged will be “stories that want to make you smile, others will be melancholy or romantic, and there will be dramatic stories”, Bruno said again.

Over the course of the two weeks, monologues will also alternate with pieces written by them: “This gives me particular pleasure – underlined Massimiliano Bruno – because they are actors that I chose by seeing them perform the Grand Slam which is a demonstration”.

A new show through and through, therefore, where you can move from laughter to emotion in a kaleidoscope of contrasting feelings and emotions that characterize possible human states of mind. Two different casts will alternate on stage and thus you will have the opportunity to learn more about the contemporary artistic state.

On stage with Massimiliano Bruno we will have Andrea Corallo, Teo Guarini, Manuela Bisanti, Sebastiano Re, Claudio Crisafulli, Francesca Lattanzio, Leila Rusciani, Luca Bray, Ester Gugliotta, Dafne Montalbano, Claudia Genolini, Anna D’Alessio, Leonardo Zarra, Francesco Romano, Marco Landola, Gabriele Bax, Mariachiara Di Mitri, Roberta Pompili, Anna Malvaso, Alessandro Cecchini, Roberto Scorza, Beatrice Valentini, Asja Mascarini, Andrea Venditti, Beatrice Coppolino, Daniele Di Martino, Lorenza Molina, Alessia Ferrero, Ugo Caprarella.

Is it exciting to be a mentor to these young artists? “The emotion is great – admitted Bruno – because some of them have known them since they were 18 and now they are maybe 25. The two casts, one for each week, will practically bring on stage 10 different small shows. What you will see in the first week is completely different from what you will see in the second. So there are no repetitions of actors or even text.”

In short, the opportunity is to propose “many new ideas, many attempts to introduce you to new talents”, concluded the director. Lots of new talents to understand how Italian theater is doing.