Maria: Hi Stefano can you tell us what made you decide to become a director? Is there anybody in your life who has inspired you to take this path?
 
Stefano: I can't remember the exact moment I've decided it... I think the choice arrived naturally, but that sounds pretentious... "by chance" sounds better...  for example nobody in my family works in theatre or in show business...
I've started studying acting and then I've discovered I love any side about theatre: the interesting work with actors to create with them each time a new character, the relationship between characters, the hidden meaning of each line, the different use of the lights, the funny research of any kind of solution to move and create different sets, the connection between music and words... and any other idea to create different moods and how I can give any kind of suggestions to the audience...

Maria: Your latest success is touring Italy right now, and I'm of course talking about Avenue Q, what made you decide to bring this show to Italy?

Stefano: When I saw it on Broadway I've found it so funny and complete about script and the original way to put on stage the stories... I'm talking about the puppets, of course. But the idea that the show was perfect for Italy as well arrived when I came back to Italy. Reading newspapers, watching people, talking with some friends of mine... Any subject of the show works for Italian people too: racism, homosexuality, the research of the own way in life... Even the sense of humor works for Italians as well...

Maria: How do you think the Italian audience is responding to Avenue Q?

Stefano: Now they're responding very very good... They love the puppets, of course, but first of all they love the language, the topics and the music... The peculiarity of the show is his power to touch different levels of humor so it can arrive to different kind of audiences...

Maria: Is there a character in the show who you're more attached to?

Stefano: I don't think so...  Rod is the funniest one for me, but I can't consider it my favorite one... 

Maria: Are you currently working on a new project?

Stefano: I'm working on many different projects... really different ones from each other... The one I prefer at the moment is a funny show for children, and their parents, about fairy tales. The interesting thing is the location: a very nice little circus travelling through the country. The second project is the Italian version of Return to the Forbidden Planet, a co-direction with Luca Tommassini... But the most interesting project I'm working on is a version of Midsummer night's dream...

Maria: Looking back at your work is there a show that is really dear to your heart?

Stefano: Yes...very little production, a very fast run but so important for a lot of reasons... is Baaahhh!!!, a play co-directed with Maria Riboli, written  by a Bulgarian author... We put it on stage at the off-Broadway Payan Theatre and we were selected by the NYC Fringe Festival a couple years ago...

Maria: Professionally where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Stefano: My career, and my life, are so different since 10 years ago...so, I can't imagine what could happen next 10 years...

Maria: What inspires you?

Stefano: The people I work with, specially the actors... and of course set designers, costume designers, light designers...

Maria: As a director what are you looking for in an actor?

Stefano: As I told you, an inspiration.... I love creating a character fitted on the actor... When I start a new production I don't imagine how the characters are before the first reading with the actors...

Maria: And last but not least, what is the biggest dream you would like to achieve in your life?

Stefano: Can I tell you right after I've realized it?