Gian Marco Lo Forte is originally from Italy and has worked as a writer, director, actor and set designer in NYC and Italy for the past ten years. Gian Marco is artist-in-residence at La MaMa where he founded in 2005 theatre company PgEc ~Pioneers Go East Co. which has developed original projects with music. Currently PgEc is performing I Fioretti in Musica – Opera in Danza, an original opera about the miracles of Saint Francis of Assisi (libretto inspired by 14th century Italian, concept and direction, sets by Gian Marco) with polyphonic music by Sasha Zamler-Carhart and electro-acoustic music by Ryan Carter. Its previous production was Caravaggio Chiaroscuro, an operetta with original libretto based on the Roman years of Caravaggio (libretto both in Italian and English, concept and design). Gian Marco’s directing and design credits include Bastiano e Bastiana by Sovrintendenza Beni Culturali di Perugia, Italy and a dance adaptation based on The Seagull. He wrote, designed and directed Butter Melts Away, a dance theater piece at La MaMa. He has collaborated with visual artist Sam Samore on Love, Beauty - Pitti Immagine, Firenze and designed for SLANT, Watson Arts, Magis Co, Pan Asian Rep. and for The Great Jones Repertory Co. at Biennale di Venezia. He has appeared in productions of Elizabeth Swados, Federico Restrepo, and Roberta Nicolai and toured to Poland, Austria, Croatia, Serbia, Italy and US. Graduated in Theatre at Centro Universitario Teatrale di Perugia, Italy, 2000; MFA in Design, Tisch School of the Arts at NYU (Award: Graduate Assistant), 2009. Currently Gian Marco is Lecturer in the Theatre Department at Pace University.
Gian Marco Lo Forte
7 east 3rd street, # 2 – New York City - 10003 New York
contact: gianmarcoloforte@yahoo.com phone: 646 246 8797
Design website: www.pioneersgoeast.org
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EDUCATION
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M.F.A. - Design for Stage and Film- New York University (2009)
Conservatory Theatre studies - Centro Universitario Teatrale - Perugia- ITALY (2000)
Additional education: Theatre Training in Biomechanic studies -Centro Internazionale – Rome - ITALY (2001)
La Mama Umbria International Theater Symposium (1999-2002)
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SET DESIGN
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Transatlantica Jason Schuler, Dir. New York Theatre Workshop - NYC - 2010
Ching Chong Chinaman Pan Asian Rep. W.E.T. - NYC-2010
Shakuntala George Drance, Dir. La Mama ETC – NYC -2010
Mrozek: short plays Cosmin Chivu Pace University- NYC- 2010
Middlecrest Ernest Abuba, Dir. Sarah Lawrence College - 2009
Garden of Forked Tongues Jason Schuler, Dir. Teatro Iati – NYC – 2009
Troubadour John Margulis Dir. Church of the Ephiphany- NYC - 2009
‘Tis pity she’s a whore Toy Box Theater Co. Teatro Iati – NYC – 2009
A Night in the Kremlin Cosmin Chivu, Dir. The Abingdon theatre- NYC - 2009
The Trouble with Doug Larry Arancio, Dir. Cap 21- NYC -2009
Six Degrees of Separation Pam Berlin, Dir. NYU productions – NYC - 2009
The Witlings George Drance, Dir. West End Theatre – NYC- 2008
Surfacing Julia Martin, Dir. The Looking Glass Theatre – NYC -2008
The Constant Wife Scott Alan Evans, Dir. NYU productions – NYC - 2008
The Raven Ellen Stewart, Dir. Biennale di Venezia - ITALY-2006
Travel Tours Kim Ima, Dir. La Mama ETC – NYC - 2005
S.U.V. The Musical Neo Stick Productions Fringe Festival – NYC - 2005
The Interlude Kim Ima, Dir. La Mama ETC – NYC - 2004
Archipelago Perry Young, Dir. La Mama ETC – NYC - 2004
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PiONEERS GO EAST THEATRE COMPANY
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Saint Francis’ Little Flowers Libretto & Design La Mama ETC – NYC - upcoming 2010
Caravaggio Chiaroscuro Play & Set Design La Mama ETC – NYC - 2007
Butter Melts Away Play, Direction La Mama ETC – NYC - 2005
The Seagull Direction & Set Design La Mama ETC – NYC - 2003
Bastiano e Bastiana Direction & Set Design Beni Artistici di Perugia-ITALY-2001
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PRODUCTION DESIGN
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The Sheol Express Patch & Koehler, Dir. NYU Short, 2009
Danbury collection Jeff & Donna Wyant, Prod. Infomercial – NYC -2008
Bobblehead Jasmine Tenier, Dir Columbia University short NYC -2008
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ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION DESIGN
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Perseus Ellen Stewart La Mama ETC- NYC - 2005
Big Love Zishan Ugurlu, Dir New School -NYC -2003
Love, Death, Beauty Sam Samore, Dir. Pitti Immagine,Florence,ITALY -2002
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ASSiSTANT DESIGN
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Orfeo Paul Steinberg, Set Design Glimmerglass Opera – 2007
Orphee’ et Euridice John Conklin, Set Design Glimmerglass Opera – 2007
Assistant Set Designer to:
Donald Eastman - several productions (2005-2007)
Jun Maida- Resident Designer La Mama ETC- several productions (2002-2005)
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AWARDS & THEATRE RECORD
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Graduate Assistantship position – NYU (2007-2009)
Full scolarship award– CUT di Perugia (1998-2000)
Artistic Director Pioneers go East Theatre Company- NYC (200- )
Artist in Residence – La Mama Experimental theatre (2000- )
Master Carpenter - La Mama Experimental Theatre (2003-2007)
Member Great Jones Theatre Company- NYC (2001- )
Member Teatro Triangolo Scaleno (Educational theatre)- Roma, Italy (2000- 2001)
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SKILLS
-Master Carpenter-scenery construction and installation
-Prop Design, sourcing and construction
-Scenic Painting & Scenic in Charge
-Assistant Lighting Design – Lighting technician – Board Operator
-Assistant Video Design and Operation
-Model Making –Computer Drafting (Vectorworks) - Hand Drafting – Color rendering
& Image Manipulation
-Photoshop – Photography & Digital Printing – Graphic rendering (Computer & hand Collages)
-Postcard & Event Design – Sketching & Drawing
-Production Management, Budgeting & Grant writing
-Italian Teacher & Interpreter
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REFERENCES
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