Tiramisu - The Musical by Claudio Merloni

TIRAMISU
A Musical Comedy
by Italian Writer-composer Claudio Merloni
Directed by Eva Minemar
From the producers and creators of Amore Di Mamma (A
Mother's Love), comes their new hit musical, TIRAMISU.
Based on the award-winning, critically-acclaimed Italian play
L'Aria Del Continente by Nino Martoglio
Starring
Dominic Bogart as Sergeant
Anthony Gruppuso as Don Ciccio
Donna Pieroni as Gisella
Kristy Rose as Marissa
With Musical Director David Kole
Facts About Tiramisu
“TiRAMISU’” is based on an acclaimed play by celebrated Italian playwriter Nino Martoglio.
Such a play has been successfully presented in Italian theaters since 1920 and
here in the U.S.A since 1990.
Its great popularity inspired the production of two Italian Motion Pictures.
Prestigious Theater Manzoni in Rome (Italy) has been successfully
presenting “L’Aria Del Continente” starring Patrizia Pellegrino and Enrico
Guarnieri directed by Antonello Capodici.
SYNOPSIS:
Although geographically part of the same country, the cultural differences
between the island of Sicily and the Italian mainland can often seem wider
than the Strait of Messina that separates them. On the one hand, you have a
culture based on Old World values of family, church and chastity. On the
other, you have a culture that is New World, cosmopolitan and open-minded
to change.
Set in a very small town in Sicily in the 1920s, see what happens in
this rousing, knee-slapping musical comedy of errors that revolves
around the return of Don Ciccio to his provincial hometown of
Sicily with his unconventional and independent girlfriend Marissa
from Rome.
TIRAMISU is based on a classic Italian farce, depicting the cultural tug-ofwar between members of a well-to-do Sicilian family and the Mainland
equivalent of a “Thoroughly Modern Marisa”.
Tiramisu Original Music & Score
Continental Air (3:13)
Wannabe World (3:32)
Memories of You and Me (2:00)
It’s Showtime (2:43)
You, Amore Mio (3:43)
Sicilian Male Conspiracy (1:50)
Menage A Trois (2:30)
A Mother’s Love (3:40)
Cannoli & Tiramisu (1:20)
I Love Him (3:43)
Vendetta Sicilian Style (2:55)
The Cards Are On The Table (2:52)
Who Me, Sicilian? (3:56)
Merry-Go-Round Waltz (.42)
My Love For You (3:40)
The Sicilian DNA (3:31)
Other CD’s Available by Claudio Merloni
Amore Di Mamma
Italia Italia Bella
La Cruzada Del Amor
The Flag of Freedom
Cast of Tiramisu
Anthony Gruppuso as Don Ciccio
Donna Pieroni as Gisella
Donna has performed in over 250 TV, Feature Films, Plays and Commercials. Some favorite
work includes: the role of Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd at The Production Company's Chandler
Studio Theatre (for which she was nominated for a Back Stage Garland Award & WON Best
Actress In A Musical from the very well respected & popular site: StageSceneLA), other favorite
roles are Showtime's popular hit series Dexter (The Crazy Cat Lady In Apt.10A) and the role of
the Abused, Sad Woman on Weeds. She has performed in: CSI:NY, Medium, It's Always Sunny
In Philadelphia, Cold Case, ER, The Shield, Jawbreaker, Night Train, Open Window and the
classic feature film: Edward Scissorhands directed by Tim Burton. Most recent feature films:
The Apocalypse According To Doris and the recently released: Boy Toy. She has performed at
such theatres as: The Ahmanson in Dead End with Jeremy Sisto, The Celebration Theatre in
The Children's Hour in the wonderful role of Lilly Mortar, The Odyssey Theatre in to many
productions to mention as well as The Body Politic Theatre in Chicago from where she hails!
Some favorite theatre roles include: Lady in Orpheus Descending and the title role of Salome' in
a very artistic midnight production of the same. Her travels as a performer have taken her all the
way from Argentina (Capital One commercial) to Florida (Disney) to Los Angeles and
everywhere in between. She holds a BA from Columbia College and MFA studies were at IL.
State University. She is a proud member of SAG, EQUITY and AFTRA. Donna is just thrilled
to be a part of this WONDERFUL new work & looks forward to a long working relationship
with all involved!
Dominic Bogart as Sergeant
Dominic was raised on a small thoroughbred horse farm that was surrounded
by several rural Ohio hamlets. He was drawn to acting and singing
while watching his mom perform in community heritage festivals and at
weddings. He followed his two brothers, Dan and Matt, to the University of
Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music where he earned a BFA degree
in Drama and had a stint playing wide reciever for the nationally
ranked Bearcats. Since recurring on ABC's Flashforward,as black opps
soldier, Keith Conner, he has played the lead roles of starving, blasphemous
Farmer in Brad Kester's b.c. period passion film, By The Time The Sun Is
Hot, socially awkward, Russian immigrant, Boris in dir. David
Schlussel's Harvest, and bible-thumping interventionist B.B. in Rashaan
Nall's Jesus Lovin' Buddhist. Television and film credits: HBO's The Chris
Rock Show, Destin Crettin's and Lowell Frank's Deacon's Mondays and Day
Labor, The King of Iron Town, Autumn Mixtape, and Summer Nuts.Some
theatre credits include playing the roles of Nick Massi in the Chicago
company of Jersey Boys, Mark Cohen in the national tour of Rent, Jim in
Soho Repertory Theatre's Molly's Dream, Markel in the La Jolla Playhouse
productions of Zhivago, Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar at New Bedford
Festival Theatre, Bat Boy at Portland Center Stage and Human Race Theatre
Company, and Jim in Sacrificing Boundaries at Ensemble Theatre of
Cincinnati.Dominic is preparing to originate the lead role of Buddy (Truman
Capote) in the world premier musical adaptation of Capote's short story, A
Christmas Memory, at The Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto.
Kristy Rose as Valentina
Kristie Rose, actress/model/writer, was born in Long Beach, Ca. She grew up a classic
surfer girl and volleyball player in the same house throughout her youth in Huntington
Beach, California, until moving to San Diego for four years to obtain her Bachelor’s
degree in Theatre Arts and a minor in Business Administration/Marketing from The
University of San Diego.
During her time in San Diego, She performed in many productions at USD. Some of her
favorites include roles in Songs for a New World, O Jerusalem, and Anon(ymous) to
name a few. She was asked to perform in the Graduate production of
Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing at the Old Globe. She was honored when asked
to be the Charge Artist for USD’s production of Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin
Agile, in which she also performed. She also had the opportunity to work with San Diego
Playwrights Project for two years in a row, bringing young writers work to life
professionally at the Lyceum theatre in Downtown San Diego and the Old Town Theatre
in Old Town. She was accepted into the American Theatre Wing’s Springboard NYC. An
intensive bootcamp for young actors in New York City. Straight from JFK, she flew to
London, England to study theatre in the West End. Finally, returning to San Diego just
days before the start of senior year and the beginning of Four Walls of Freedom. Four
Walls, for short, is a comedic one woman show, written, designed, and performed by
Kristie about the freedoms experienced and explored in the presence of solitude. Thanks
to the USD Theatre Arts Department and Associated Students without which this show
would not exist. Since it’s initial performance Four Walls of Freedom has grown into a
full length musical. Keep your eyes and ears open for upcoming and future performances!
It is a world of characters, color, puppetry, song and plenty of laughs.
She graduated with honors in 2009 by the Theatre Arts Department for Oustanding
Service to the program during her career at USD. Since graduation she has traveled the
world visiting Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand, Philadelphia,
Las Vegas, Chicago, Duluth and San Francisco studying theatre, music, street
performance, comedy, yoga and of course surfing.
She currently resides back in Huntington Beach along side chocolate lab, Luke, and her
family while making her mark on the entertainment industry. She has appeared on many
major networks such as CBS, GSN, Bravo, NBC, FOX, and ABC. She can usually be
found making those around her laugh, surfing in the sunshine, walking her chocolate lab,
Luke, teaching a yoga class, writing (doodling) in her notebook, or driving up and down
the 405, 5, 101, 710, 10, 134, and other major freeways in her unstoppable dark blue
(although she will never admit that it’s purple) beetle, Ronnie.
The Production Team
Claudio Merloni/ Composer , writes and sings in four languages (Spanish,
Italian, English, and French). His large repertoire of original songs shows his exceptional
multilingual songwriting skills. Born in Italy, he studied music and composition at the Academy
Lanaro in Rome. He started writing his first songs in 1966, and in 1969, he toured for two years
with his band throughout Europe, including Romania, Yugoslavia, and Poland. Claudio
Merloni then joined the Italian Air Force in 1970 as a jet pilot on MB-326 planes for four years.
During the years of 1972 to 1975, Claudio collaborated with two major Italian songwriters by the
names of Marcello Marrocchi and Massimo De Cicco(Move Records-Rome, Italy). Out of this
collaboration many successful songs were born, including "Bastano Poche Parole", "Un Altro
Addio", and "Giovinezza". In 1978, Claudio Merloni came to the United States and collaborated
with the ACADEMY AWARD LYRICIST SAMMY CAHN on two compositions titled, "I'm
Willing" and "So Far, So Near". Two years later, Claudio composed the musical score for a short
movie called "Gina & Me"(Johnny Seven production/Granada Hills) that was aired on Showtime
for six months. From 1996-1997, Claudio Merloni started the production of his first Spanish
album titled "Siempre Pensando En Ti". One of the songs from his first album was marketed by
BMC and immediately hit the charts (Radio & Musica Magazine). Almavision, one of the most
prestigious Spanish Television Network, is promoting Claudio Merloni in 23 television channels
around the world. This year, on Flag Day, Claudio Merloni opened a luncheon organized by the
Glendale Chamber of Commerce debuting his new released song "The Flag Of Freedom.”
Claudio is currently in pre-production for his original musical comedy, "TIRAMISU.”
Eva Minemar/ Director attended California Institute of the Arts, where she was
nominated for an Irene Ryan Award for her direction of the original work, Lemon Meringue
Trash. Soon after returning home to New York and graduating Circle in The Square, she
became Artistic Director of the Lower East Side Landmark, Piano Store Theatre. There she
proudly produced and directed the critically acclaimed Angry Jellow Bubbles, which has featured
over eighty women in more than thirty theatres globally. Her work with the Bubbles won her the
2006 Women in Theatre Red Carpet Award for providing opportunities and support for women in the
theatrical arts. In addition, AJB was the sole show chosen to perform at the United N ations for
International Womens’ Day. Ms. Minemar has directed six one-woman shows, including the
original production of Motherhood & Applepie in NY & Vancouver. Additional directing credits
include, Alan Ball's “Made for a Woman", Franco D'Alessandro's, "Before and After," a tragedy
based on the events of 9/11 at NBC's HERE Performance Space NYC, "The Dream" at
Ensemble Studio Theatre, the hundred-year old controversial Jewish classic God of Vengeance
(LA Weekly Recommended) and “Roman Night’s” at The Italian Cultural Center. Ms. Minemar
is a proud member of The Actors Studio director’s unit. Ms. Minemar has worked on the
committee for The Actors Studio for the past two years along side Academy Award winners
Mark Rydell & Martin Landau, to choose the Studios playwrights & directors for the upcoming
season. Ms. Minemar has been a member of W omen in Film for over three years and has had
her short film selected for screening at the Kodak as part of WIF Short Film Series. She is
honored to have been one of forty Los Angeles companies to be chosen to direct/produce Pulitzer
winner Suzan-Lori Parks plays as part of 365 days/365 plays festival in conjunction with the
Center Theatre Group. Hush marked Ms. Minemar’s film directing debut, the film was screened
in NY, Los Angeles and premiered at the San Diego’s Film Festival Women Filmmaker’s Series.
Ms. Minemar hopes to continue to make films that inspire dialogue on the misconceptions and
causes of issues like domestic abuse, date-rape, and sexual assault. Ms. Minemar recently
wrapped the pilot “The Bo-Bo & Skippy show,” with Executive Producer Larry Charles (of
Borat & Bruno success) In addition to Ms. Minemar’s theatre & film projects, she is also the cofounder and artistic director of LA LUPA FEST, the first Italian Cultural Arts Festival to be
featured in Los Angeles (www.lalupafest.com). She founded Angry Bubble Productions in 99’
with producing partner Tony Lepore. For more information about upcoming projects and
workshops with Ms. Minemar please visit www.evaminemar.com