Mater Familias

As the inaugural In Scena! Directing Mentee, Emma directed the world premiere of Mater Familias, written by Pier Lorenzo Pisano and translated by Carlotta Brentan. The show ran at The Tank in NYC as part of the In Scena! Italian Theater Festival in April and May 2025.

Mater Familias tells the story of three generations through increasingly difficult times, as they sometimes help each other, and sometimes clash in order to survive. A powerful drama with exact dialogue and sharply drawn relationships, the play begins with a mother and son's desperate need to commit a crime in order to allow their family to survive. From there, it moves backwards through the decades, as three generations come into focus: their dreams, regrets, and what might have been.

CAST/CREATIVE

Director/Sound Design: Emma Denson

Stage Management: Hannah Ciesil

Cast: Te’ena Klein, Sam Cini, Becca Berlind, Prentice Miles, Richard Diamond, Tiffani Grace, Maxwell Marlowe, Lexie Waddy

Assistant Director: Uchenna Agbu

Scenic Design: Franny Sebastiano

Costume Design: Karina Work

Lighting Design: Mikelle Kelly

Photos: Emma Denson