Another Round, Another Triumph: Danilo Napoli's Journey to the Mario Fratti Award Finals

Another round, another success. Danilo Napoli, an author and actor from Salerno, after continuous sold-outs in theater and countless awards in the film industry (remember Yohiro and Martino, both directed by Luigi Di Domenico), takes home yet another professional satisfaction by entering the trio of finalists for the prestigious Mario Fratti Award, with his show "White Noise", a psychological thriller that boasts the direction of Yari Gugliucci (Nomination for the David di Donatello 2021 as supporting actor) and disguises itself as a theatrical tragicomedy, with the intent to denounce the homophobia and transphobia still widely spread in Italy, often intertwined with religious fanaticism. What is proposed to us is a journey into the mind of a serial killer of transgender women, immersed in a surreal and distressing atmosphere. However, this path is punctuated by hilarious moments and anecdotes, creating a surprising contrast. Thus, we witness a confession that, while being tragic, is at the same time comical, highlighting the darkest sides of humanity and the subtle nuances between love and hate, between madness and normality, between victim and executioner. The work is currently being distributed for the year 2024/2025. The Mario Fratti Award is the recognition for the unpublished Italian theatrical work of emerging authors, named after the playwright who passed away last year. The award was created by Laura Caparrotti and since 2016 concludes the "In Scena!" festival that brings Italian theater to the USA to make it known to the English-speaking audience. The winning playwright receives a painting specially created by Victora Febrer, a visual artist who uses wine to create her paintings. The winning work is awarded with an English translation and published in the Mario Fratti Award Collection. Since 2022, the readings and theatrical works of the Mario Fratti Award in New York are directed or co-directed by a director identified as a woman as part of KIT's commitment to hire more female directors in their productions and according to the interest and respect Mario Fratti paid to female characters. The award ceremony usually takes place during the closing evening of the Festival, at the Italian Cultural Institute of New York.