For Immediate Release Contact: Alex Newman email: manager@isebastiani.com phone: (617) 964-7684 x 2 EVIL TWIN TAKES OVER BOSTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS The Greatest Commedia dell'Arte Troupe in the Entire World Returns to the Leland Theater BOSTON, MA -- Shakespeare did it. Moliere did it. Goldoni did it. Dario Fo did it. Now you can do it too. Experience Commedia dell' Arte. A 500-year old theatrical form is brought back to life by a magical group of theatrical sorcerers named "i Sebastiani". I Sebastiani bill themselves as 'The Greatest Commedia dell'Arte Troupe in the Entire World' -- "only because it's true", says troupe manager, Alex Newman. I Sebastiani will perform THE TWIN CAPTAINS from Wednesday, July 16 through Saturday, July 26 at The Leland Theater at the Boston Center for the Arts. THE TWIN CAPTAINS is improvised each night off of a brief plot outline or "scenario". The scenario was written by Alex Newman, and is based on one written by Flaminio Scala in the early seventeenth century. The show features an ensemble cast of nine players (or ten, depending on how you count them) and is a revival of Commedia dell'Arte; what Shakespeare called 'the Italian Comedies'. In the 16th century, these improvised plays were popular in the streets and marketplaces of Italy. "The Twin Captains" takes place in the city of Ravenna, where a beautiful young woman has been waiting for her husband to return for six long, empty, years, when finally her prayers are answered -- in duplicate! But is her fiancé really the man she's been waiting faithfully for? And just how faithfully has she been waiting? The show runs approximately 80 minutes, and, as was done in the 1500s, includes two musical interludes (or "intermezzi") separating the play into three acts. These intermezzi are under the direction of Molly Overholt and feature a selection of 16th and 17th century music. Not to worry; if you're expecting some "Chant"-like dirge, the musical pieces are lively, upbeat, and occasionally scandalous. Commedia dell'Arte both inspired and was inspired by theatrical styles across the spectrum -- from Roman comedy to burlesque, from French farce to the modern situation comedy. i Sebastiani draws upon a stunning array of historical references, quick wit, and physical humor, to deliver a timeless evening of laughter and merriment. Funny as it is, however, "The Twin Captains" has a core that lingers, touching on relationships between fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and even employees and employers. Commedia characters are funhouse reflections of everyday people, and the audience sees versions of themselves and people they know in the actors on stage. "The Twin Captains" plays ten performances: Wednesdays through Saturdays, July 16th through July 26th, at 8pm; and two matinees, Sunday July 20th and Saturday July 26th, at 2:00 pm Tickets are $18, $13 for students, and $9 for children (12 and under). Tickets can be purchased at the BCA Box Office (539 Tremont Street), at BosTix, by calling (617) 426-ARTS, or online at www.isebastiani.com/tix.html Come participate in a unique theatrical evening and find out why i Sebastiani is hailed as "the Greatest Commedia dell'Arte Troupe in the Entire World." About I Sebastiani I SEBASTIANI, the "Greatest Commedia dell'Arte Troupe in the Entire World," has been dazzling audiences with its fresh take on a centuries old art form since 1991. The troupe has over 60 members, although they rely on a core of about 17 for most of their performances. They have performed up and down the East Coast, as far west as Austin, Texas, and as far North as Toronto. Their charter is to perform Commedia scenari as much as possible in the style of the late 16th century/early 17th century, working without scripts, with simple props and sets (as was done), and accurate costuming. From their opening cry of "Buon giorno!" (regardless of what time of day it is) they usher their audiences back to the turn of the 17th century, keeping them there until the lights come back on. ###