Sudbury Theatre Centre's production of The Full Monty, a two-act play about men who have lost their industrial jobs, has a lot of relevance for Sudbury audiences according to teenage actor Alessandro Costantini.

The St. Charles College Grade 12 student plays Nathan Lukowski, the son of a laid off steel mill worker who is trying to be supportive of his dad's efforts to create a new life for himself.

“It is a perfect story for Sudbury at this time,” Costantini said. “It is about average men who are feeling they do not have a say over their lives. I play the lead actor's son. My dad is divorced and my mother wants to take away custody rights if he does not pay alimony.”

But the play weaves comedy into the hard-luck story line, Costantini said.

“The wives of the men who have lost their jobs go to see some male strippers," Costantini explained. "The husbands find out about this and ask themselves why they can't (make money doing) that. It really is a heartwarming story as it combines comedy as well as the tragedy of the men's situation.”

The show, which is based off the 1997 movie written by Simon Beaufoy, has been transformed into a musical, and music is a major aspect of the production. A live band performs the musical score, created by Stephen Sondheim, at every show.

Costantini said his role in the Full Monty, which is sponsored by Northern Life, has given him a chance to learn a lot from the 18 other actors involved in the production.

Working in the production is the culmination of years of theatrical, film and television experience for Costantini. The teen is one of the few actors in the city with an equity card from the Canadian Actors Equity Association, designating himself as a theatre professional by his peers. He is also part of the ACTRA Film and Television Union due to his television and movie work.

Youth on stage

One of Costantini's major passions is involving more youths in theatre. To further that cause, he founded a new youth theatre group called Y.E.S. (Youth Entertaining Sudbury) for ages 15 to 23. The troup will produce the 60s musical Hair, from Aug. 18 to 28 at the Sudbury Theatre Centre (STC).

 Y.E.S. held a fundraiser for the troupe at the Caruso Club March 31, which raised about $8,500 for the group, and allowed Costantini to recruit 23 youth for the cast. The tickets for the August show are expected to go on sale shortly.

Though he has been performing since the age of six at family gatherings, his career in theatre began at the age of 10 when he played Little Jake in Theatre Cambrian's Annie Get Your Gun.

“I was involved with a couple more of their plays and then I did some school plays at St. John's Elementary School in Garson and then at St. Charles College.”

He last appeared as James in STC's James and the Giant Peach in 2006, and is currently a recurring character in the new Family Channel series Baxter, premiering May 24. He also starred in a television movie, WiseGal, with Hollywood actor James Caan. He played Joey, a 15 year old son of a mobster, Patty Montanari, played by Alyssa Milano.

What about the future?

“I am not too sure where I will go to after graduating this year," Costantini admitted. "I do want to study theatre or music at the post secondary level either at Laurentian University, University of Toronto, the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal or the Juilliard School of the Arts in New York City."

And his advice for would be young actors?

"Just because you live in Sudbury does not mean you can not do great things. Wherever you are in the world you can make a difference.”

For more information on Y.E.S. Theatre, e-mail yessudbury@gmail.com. For Full Monty tickets phone 674-8381, ext. 21.