The Moe Green Poetry Poetry Discussion hosted Rafael F J Alvarado & Brett-Candace

Join Rafael as he talks to Franco D'Alessandro Franco D'Alessandro (born June 15, 1967 or 1969) is a New York born playwright. He is a first generation Italian-American who has lived and studied in the U.S. and Italy. His name first came to light in the mid 1990s when he had eight one-act plays produced Off-Off Broadway in five years. A two-time recipient of the prestigious Edward Albee artists residency, D'Alessandro received many awards and residencies at the beginning of his career. In 2002, his two character play about Tennessee Williams and Anna Magnani, titled Roman Nights, premiered Off-Broadway at the Daryl Roth 2 Theatre in Union Square, produced by Suzanne Corso. The New York premiere production received respectable critical and commercial success for the writer. The play went on to be produced in London in 2004, and again in Prague in 2006, where it has since been on a four year sold-out tour of Eastern Europe. Roman Nights is scheduled for the silver screen in 2010. In June 2009, Finishing Line Press published D'Alessandro's first collection of poetry entitled Supplications: Immediate Poems of Loss and Love. A newly completed play, White Elephants Dancing The Flamenco, is inspired by an Ernest Hemingway short story. Since 2001, D'Alessandro has taught drama at public schools in New York City. He holds two Master's Degrees, and is a graduate of Fordham University. D'Alessandro is also a college professor of drama and writing, teaching at several colleges and universities, including summer Master Classes in Rome each year.