The Broadway musical hit The Full Monty enjoyed its debut in Italy, at Rome's Teatro Brancaccio, on Dec. 4. The Italian production, the first one on the right side of the Atlantic (the West End production is scheduled to open at London's Prince of Wales theatre on Feb. 27, 2002) is directed by Gigi Proietti, one of the most famous and talented Italian actors and directors. The role of Jerry will be played by Gianpiero Ingrassia, who starred for over three years in the role of Danny Zucco in the record breaking Italian production of Grease. Rodolfo Laganà will play the role of Dave, while "Jeanette's Showbiz Number" will be performed by the Italian veteran actress Miranda Martino.
Other songs in David Yazbek's score include "Scrap," "It's a Woman's World," "Man," "Big Ass Rock," "Life With Harold," "Big Black Man," "You Rule My World," "Michael Jordan's Ball," "Breeze Off the River," "The Goods," "You Walk With Me" and "Let It Go."
The Full Monty had its European premiere in Spain in October.
Before opening on Broadway Oct. 26, 2000, The Full Monty began life at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre with good reviews and an Old Globe box office record. Performances extended there through July 9, 2002, before the show was remounted at Broadway's Eugene O'Neill Theatre Sept. 25, opening Oct. 26. The show received 10 Tony nominations, including one for best musical, but received no awards, in a season dominated by The Producers.
The Full Monty film, directed by Peter Cattaneo, was the surprise low-budget hit of 1997 with Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay and wins with Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score. The movie told of six average looking British men who decide to star in a strip show to raise money in their economical depressed mill town (The term "the full monty" means to take something to the fullest - in the case of the strippers, that means to get completely naked). Following the three months run in Rome the show, one of the big events of the Italian theatre season, will move on to Torino's Teatro Colosseo (March 12-16), Bologna's Teatro Europa Auditorium (March 19-24), Trieste's Politeama Rossetti (March 26-31) and Naples' Teatro Augusteo (from April 19).
For further information visit the The Full Monty Italia website, which provides further details for tickets and reservations.
For further information on other musicals in Italy also check the Italia Musical website.
