TheARTISTS

This group of professional performers (Italian-Canadian and otherwise) has been seen playing to full houses in all kinds of venues including mainstage theatres, cultural halls, festivals and even in the streets performing as ‘saltimbanchi’ (street rovers) in the traditional Italian mask theatre style of Commedia Dell’Arte. They also lend their skills to the classroom where they pass on their knowledge and experience to students and other artists.  The individual members are seen regularly on the Vancouver theatre stages and TV screensand when the moon is JSUT RIGHT, a BellaLuna show appears ;)

Susan Bertoia

Marco Soriano

Louis Chirillo

Stefano Giulianetti

OTHER PERFORMERS THAT HAVE PLAYED WITH BELLALUNA: Lia Como, Fiona Martinelli, Maria-Cristina Fantini, Noah Drew, Darlene Brookes, Aaron Freschi, Sabrina DiFonzo, Laura DiCicco, Gerald Vanderwoude, Beverly Bardal, Guy Fauchon, James Crescenzo, Astrid Varnes, Joe Procyk, Kris Tung, Nathan Vass, Kerry Allchin, Shaun Aquiline and Tony Koelwyn. DESIGNERS AND CREW THAT HAVE HELP DEFINE BELLALUNA'S LOOK, SOUND AND FEEL: Duncan Mac, Gerald Vanderwoude, Claire Seaborn, Marijka Asbeek Brusse, Flick Harrison, Martin Ritter, Farshid Samandari, Carmen Alatorre and Ali Sohrabzadeh (Nominated for a Jessie Richardson Theatre Award in 2009 for his lighting design on BellaLuna's Futuristi!).

ThePRODUCTIONS

THE BIG THREE

FRESCO (2012) - This new play by Lucia Frangione, developed and conceived by the BellaLuna Ensemble was bundled with a book by Ray Culos and museum exhibition at Il Centro. It brought to life the incredible and untold stories of Italian-Canadians interned during WWII with a play filled with movement, poetry and grit.

The Return of FUTURISTI! (2007-2009) - The Italian Futurists dreamed it, BellaLuna brought it to the stage 99 years later. The from the incomprehensible to the incomplete Bellaluna attacked the stage with fervor and absurdist mayhem. The second act was legendary.

THE BEST ITALIAN VARIETY SHOW - EVER! (2005-2006) - This wild ride of a variety show took audiences across the atlantic and back again in a whirlwind of vignettes that both tickled funny bones and pulled on heart strings. Immigrants, Bocce and Chef Boyardee, Oh Mamma!

PAST PRODUCTIONS AND EVENTS

2014
- The Queen and The Rebels by Ugo Betti (Staged Reading), Il Centro, Vancouver
- Befana's Star
2013
- Absolutely (Perhaps) it:(Cosi e se vi pare) by Luigi Pirandello (Staged Reading), Il Centro, Vancouver
2012
FRESCO by Lucia Frangione & BellaLuna Ensemble, The Cultch, Vancouver and Shadbolt Centre, Burnaby
2011
- Futuristi invited to exhibit digitally at Futurism Today or NOT in Toronto's Distillery District as part of 'Nuit Blanche'.
2010
[Olympic Hyatus]
2009
- Pesciolino (Little Fish) at Winterruption Festival, Granville Island
- A.D. Susan Bertoia invited to CATR's 2009 annual conference to present a paper on BellaLuna.
2008
- The Best Italian Variety Show - EVER! at Winterruption and Wild at Art Festivals
- The Return of FUTURISTI! for a full week run at UBC's Frederic Wood theatre
- For Love & Honour in White Rock, BC
- Roving Characters at Granville Island for Canada Day Celebrations
- NEW SHOW PREMIERE: Pesciolino (Little Fish) at Surrey Children's Fest and various schools
- A.D. Susan Bertoia invited to Lecture at University of Toronto's Conference on Futurism.
2007
- Roving Characters at Granville Island for Canada Day Celebrations
- Roving Characters at Fair In the Square in Coquitlam, BC
- NEW SHOW PREMIERE: FUTURISTI! at UBC
2006
- An Evening of Varieta' with members of BellaLuna as part of Italian Week
- El Tango Del Leche At SHOW OFF Festival(Theatre Under The Gun Re-Loaded)
- More Touring of The Best Italian Variety Show - EVER!
2005
- Roving Characters at Surrey Children's Festival
- Roving Characters at Whistler Summer Street Festival
- NEW SHOW PREMIERE: The Best Italian Variety Show - EVER!
2004
- Hosts of "Fogolars 2004" Conference at The Vancouver Playhouse
- PLUM - Solo physical theatre created/performed by Susan Bertoia
- Pulcinella Family Vacation - Roving Characters Visit Whistler Village
- For Love & Honour Performed at Whistler Street Festival
- Indiretta dal Cuore (Direct from the Heart) - Valentine's Day Show
2003
- Violins Created in 24 hours for "Theatre Under The Gun 6"
2002
- The Rapture of the Ladle - commedia characters take to the Boards at the Fame Hall, Vancouver
2000-02
- PLUM - solo physical theatre created/performed by Susan Bertoia
2000
-This is how created in 24 hours for "Theatre Under the Gun 4"
1999-2001
- SAGRA - Annual Italian event, where BellaLuna provides lively entertainment
1999-2000
- BEFANA - Christmas Folktale for the Family
1999
- MISS ITALIA pageant!
1998
- Teatro Italiano - Vancouver Museum