Both plays — La Bute's Lovely Head and Calvani's Things of This World — focus on family life through the lens of American and Italian societies, and receive their American premieres with AdA, which will officially open Oct. 5 and continue through Oct. 14.

Stage and screen actor Larry Pine (The Royal Family, Bus Stop, Angels in America) stars opposite Gia Crovatin ("BFF") in LaBute's Lovely Head, directed by Calvani. Here's how it's billed: "Lovely Head is the story of a contemporary love affair, a bizarre love centered on the obsession of a man for a girl."

Tony Award nominee Craig Bierko (The Music Man) co-stars with Academy Award winner and Tony nominee Estelle Parsons (Morning's at Seven, The Seven Descents of Myrtle, "Bonnie and Clyde") in Calvani's Things of This World, directed by LaBute. The play, according to La MaMa, "concerns a woman and her put-upon butler as a dinner for guests is prepared: amidst commands, regrets, little cruelties and a lack of tenderness, their frayed relationship and bankrupt existences are revealed."

AdA, the international collaboration between LaBute and Calvani, was developed at La MaMa Umbria, the company's annual summer season of development and workshops in Italy, and premiered at the Spoleto Festival dei 2Mondi (with Italian actors) and subsequently at Fringe Madrid (with Spanish actors).

AdA has scenic design by Neil Patel.

The Ellen Stewart Theatre is located at 66 E. 4 Street. For more information and tickets, call (212) 475-7710 or visit LaMaMa.org