Performance and visual artist playwright/actor LuLu LoLo brings to life memories of her Italian immigrant grandfather Giovanni Pascale who died before she was born. Through family lore, he was a man of myth to her. Grandpa Giovanni loved opera, the poetry of Dante, and shined shoes for a living. This performance celebrates his life with operatic arias and accordion performed by tenor, Aaron Halevy; and with Actor/dancer Luca Villa reciting in both Italian and English an excerpt from Dante Alighieri’s La Divina Commedia (commemorating the 700th anniversary of Dante’s death September 14,1321).
Dancers Sara Grassi, Maria Hochnowski, and Rathi Varma will highlight his story of immigration and shining shoes (choreographed by Anabella Lenzu with musical accompaniment by Aaron Halevy). The struggle of the immigrants of the past is the struggle of the immigrants of today. Performed in the shadow of Dante Alighieri’s statue and the Metropolitan Opera House at Dante Park, Columbus Avenue at 63rd Street.
The performance will be held on Sunday, September 26th at 2:30pm and again at 4:00pm in Dante Park. This is a FREE Event. Dante Park is located at Broadway and Columbus Avenue at 63rd Street. Seating is limited
This program is made possible by the City Artist Corps Grants program, presented by The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), with support from the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) as well as Queens Theatre.
Follow the artist, LuLu LoLo on Instagram: TheLuLuLoLo vimeo.com/fabulouslululolo Youtube Q&I between LuLu LoLo and Nicolás Dumit Estévez Raful Espejo ~ Twitter: @FabLuLuLoLo ~ Website: lululolo.com Facebook: LuluLoloProductions Facebook: Where Are the Women? facebook.com/ ParisPilgrimage/paris- pilgrimage.tumblr.com/ RembranceofPhoneNumbersPasse
Learn more about the monument, Dante Alighieri by sculpture artist, Ettore Ximenes in Dante Park, and the celebration of the 700th anniversary of the Italian poet’s death this September.