NOVEMBER 18, 7:30 PM (reception beginning at 6:30). The Italian Cultural Center. 528 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403, Illusion Theater. IN ENGLISH. Running time: 95 Minutes. Seating is extremely limited for this ONE-NIGHT-ONLY event. ICC Members: $10. Non-Members: $15. BOOK YOUR SEAT

UCCELLINI (Little Birds in Italian) is an Italian story of art and love, choice and consequence…of memories and the reality lurking just behind them. Centered on the infamous Via Rasella bombing in March 1944, Rome, the play explores the desperate lengths to which ordinary Italians were forced…just to get by and gives voice to one of the three men never identified in the Fosse Ardeatine massacre.

The play examines one extraordinary woman’s battle to survive the last weeks of WWII in occupied Rome while struggling to come to terms with her final days in New York City, 2005.

The Italian Cultural Center of Minneapolis / St. Paul is honored to present, in partnership with Illusion Theater, a Staged Reading of this new play written by Mark Benninghofen, directed by Joe Dowling. Dramaturgy by Jo Holcomb.

Following a casual reception in the lobby we will present a Staged Reading of the play. This simple, stripped down theater form will focus entirely on the text and the actors...a spectacular cast under the guidance of Internationally renowned director Joe Dowling. A brief Q&A will follow for those who wish to remain.

Featuring Nancy Marvy*, Anna Stranz, Jennifer Blagen*, Joe Nathan Thomas*, James Ramlet, Ryan Levin, David Carey & Mark Benninghofen* (*Member Actors Equity Association).

Mark Benninghofen has been an award-winning professional stage, screen and television actor since 1982. After a strong start in New York City, where he appeared Off Broadway in Larry Ketron’s Asian Shade and Fresh Horses at the WPA Theater and Twelfth Night at Lincoln Center, Mark was asked to join the prestigious acting company at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis in 1985. His Guthrie credits include: Juno and the Paycock, Born Yesterday, Appomattox, Time Stands Still, The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide, Great Expectations, St. Joan, Cyrano, The Merry Wives of Windsor. Other Minneapolis credits include: Tyrone and Ralph (Production Ivey Award) at the History Theatre, Compulsion at MJTC, Shooting Star at Park Square, The Hot House for Dark & Stormy Productions and most recently the title role in Sweeney Todd at Theater Latte Da.TV and Film: Movie Stars, Frasier, Drew Carey, Chicago Hope, The Public Domain, Wilson, La Stanza Accanto, Older Than America and Herman, USA. Mark lives in Minnesota with his wife and their two teenaged sons.

Joe Dowling is an Artistic Director. For 20 years (1995-2015), he was artistic director for the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis where he directed productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Playboy of the Western World, Much Ado About Nothing, The Importance of Being Earnest, Julius Caesar, Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth and Amadeus. He is also well known for his work as Artistic Director of the Abbey Theatre in Ireland. He has directed plays in all the major theatres in Ireland as well as theatres in London, New York, Washington D.C., Montreal, and Alberta and founded the Gaiety School of Acting in 1986 in Dublin, Ireland.

Illusion Theater's mission is to generate theater that illuminates the illusions, myths and realities of our times and to catalyze personal and social change. Illusion presents its MainStage Season at the Cowles Center in downtown Minneapolis, Miss Richfield's Annual Holiday Prog'rum in December and The Fresh Ink Series in the summer. Illusion tours in the spring, performing for schools, universities, art series, corporations, faith organizations and communities. In its ongoing mission to develop new work that reflects and illuminates our times, Illusion turned to creating specific work that addresses issues important to children and families. Illusion's Educational Program is renowned throughout the state and country for its effective combination of theater and carefully crafted messaging.