Costantini makes big city debut

Alessandro Costantini knows all about being on stage — it's hard to find a Sudburian that hasn't seen the bubbly, bright 19-year-old sing or act or perform in some fashion somewhere in the city.

His talent has taken him to other destinations, too, but only now has landed him on stage in the country's go-to entertainment city, Toronto.

Costantini is acting alongside names like Marion Ross, Linda Kash, Ari Cohen and Sheila McCarthy in Neil Simon's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play Lost in Yonkers: The story about an eccentric New York family in crisis during the summer of 1942.

Old country rules clash with new world ideals as a strong-willed grandmother struggles to rule her children and grandchildren with an iron fist. This coming of age

story is both humorous and touching as it follows a dysfunctional family learning to cope and evolve during incredibly stressful times, according to Harold Green Jewish Theatre's website.

The young actor, who just wrapped up his first year of theatre studies at George Brown College, said “juggling” the production with the final few weeks of school was a challenge, but one he's glad he stepped up to.

“This is my Toronto debut, and it's a really great debut,” Costantini said.

The production hits the stage May 12 to June 10 at the Jane Mallett Theatre. For more information, visit hgjewishtheatre.com.

Once the show comes to an end, Costantini will be on his way home to Sudbury to begin rehearsals for Spring Awakening, his company YES Theatre's 2012 show. For more information about YES, visit yestheatre.com.

Posted by Arron Pickard