Sara Fellini
Actress, Playwright, & Skilled Artisan - NYC
Press Quotations (playwriting):
"Wrenching and visually eloquent" - NYTimes
"Darkly humorous. Deliciously ghoulish." -NYTimes
"In addition to her elegant use of metaphor, Sara Fellini employs a cadre of priests to examine hypocrisy, greed, guilt, denial and faith, and a sacristan (played by Fellini herself) to foil them all. Questions are raised; secrets are revealed in time, each revelation well earned and well-balanced, even as the play tilts violently, often just shy of capsizing. The upshot is a thrilling and dangerous ride. Her scenes are well paced and almost never bloated; her monologues, particularly one half-nightmare half-feminist-opus, are worthy of filling audition rooms across the country; her schizophrenic sense of humor might not be for all tastes, but those who are tickled by the idea of a man in full arm casts making a sandwich that he will never be able to eat will be very happy in this room. Fellini's sense of the ridiculous and Isaac James Byrne's ability to stage the absurd keeps the play buoyant even while it descends into its feverish finale." - NYTR
"Sara Fellini and her company, spit&vigor, put on the most daring work I have seen in New York theater."
"Her plays are substantial and often monumental in scope as she works through the ecstasy and torture of being an artist and a woman." -Theater Pizzazz
"A playwright to be watched."
"Fellini is smart, perceptive, and the kind of deep-dive researcher who benefits historical illumination. Not only does she offer well thought out characterization, but credible conjecture about the painters’ artistic choices is so engaging, it makes one want to look up unfamiliar artwork. Cinematic specificity of era and social mores provides solid context. Both subjects emerge whole, complex human beings. All this would be merely intriguing were it not for Fellini’s infectious passion. Insightful crossovers between the two pieces are like finding the coin in a plum pudding." - Woman Around Town
"Fellini is a writer with supreme vision. Her characters are the kind that actors sink their teeth into and the themes of her works are propulsive. An audience leaves knowing exactly why she has chosen this particular story with these particular characters in this particular setting. As she continues to explore her fascination with grand and troubled female leads, her scope becomes more magnificent " - Theater Pizzazz
Press Quotations (acting):
"The voice of a crystal bell"
"Fellini is captivating."
"most compellingly, Asia (Sara Fellini, delightfully engaged and engaging) is the behind-the-scenes Booth, a jack-of-all-trades thespian who stands in the shadow of both her family and her theater manager husband John Sleeper Clarke (Perri Yaniv)."
"Sara Fellini did an excellent job of portraying Mrs. Asia Booth Clarke, I found her to be remarkably believable. Her character was more of a rebel and Fellini’s liberal use of flirtatiousness made for welcome laughs."
Amanda Kavaja, Arts Independent
"Bravo to Sara Fellini for brilliantly wearing a plethora of hats for this production. She was director, costume and prop designer while effortlessly and expertly played the part of the whimsical and coquettish Asia Booth Clarke."
Jen Bush, Drama Queens Reviews
"Fellini carries the piece exceedingly well as the titular character, presenting an almost feral powder keg of a woman"
Zachary Conner, Theatre Is Easy
"Sara Fellini plays Mary Shelley in a fury of feminist angst", "Ms. Fellini's Mary Shelley was angry and rebellious, energetically sparring with Lord Byron on an equal basis both sexually and intellectually."
"I particularly enjoyed the performance of Sara Fellini (also the play’s director) as Mary, who did a fine job at bringing to life the brilliant but psychologically troubled author."
Anthony J. Piccione, Outerstage
"Her musical voice varies from timid to anguished in often surprising ways and her eyes are dangerous and exciting, especially in an intimate venue."
Eric J. Grimm, Theater Pizzazz
"Sara Fellini gives a tremendous performance as Maeve Shourd"
Corbin Went, New York Theatre Review
"Fellini commands this makeshift stage with some confessions of Maeve's own"
Doug Strassler, Garden State Journal
"Her performance, fairly intense up to this point, becomes restrained and unbearably sad. Amidst moments of exhilarating weirdness, Fellini manages to balance the show with her characters’ devastating emotional truths."
"I was nothing less than transported in to her world by Sara Florence Fellini as she sensitively and beautifully performed the monodrama."
"All under the direction of Isaac Byrne, the light, sound, and even scent, combined with the emotional fervor and performance by Sara, transport into Nanerl's world and life."
"Sara Florence Fellini very believably takes us through Nannerl's life from childhood to late in life with a lithe, witty and sometimes manic performance. She's ethereal at times and never anything less than breathtaking."
Sarah B Roberts, Sarah B's Adventures
"...a good actor is a good actor and knows how to work that stage at all times. Sara Fellini...truly impresses with a sharp, professional, hilarious performance from start to finish. The bottom line: she made me feel comfortable as an audience member. Her discoveries and realizations are fresh and in the moment."
"The young woman performing the lead (and only) role embodied Maria Anna so well that it could only have come from a deep pool of admiration and some connection to the real person she sought to evoke when she put on that dress and pouffed up that hair."
"With her enormous coiffure, balletic movements, opulent clothing and clouds of dusting powder, Fellini exudes elegance and beauty"
Lynn Woods, Hudson Valley Almanac Weekly
"Fellini acts the part of the woman tormented by her sins and pains with abandonment... and, letting her hair down, fully owns Roberta's pain and anxiety."
Mateus Ciucci, Theatre Is Easy
"Sara Fellini pours herself into this role with abandon. It’s clear she has skill."
"Belvo and Fellini do fine Bronx accent work, never falling into caricature."
"Fellini nails certain moments in which Roberta feels trapped by her poverty and abusive home life, alternately deepening her voice to express rage and making her voice small to convey her insignificance."
Eric J Grimm, Theater Pizzazz
Press Quotations (directing):
"Skillfully directed", "Sara Fellini has done a splendid job directing her small troupe. She and the actors have found just the right characteristics to bring these remarkable people to life. The action is dynamic and intense, the narrative artfully constructed to make the most of their complicated personalities."
"Sara Fellini’s direction is fueled by constant movement, helping to create a whirlwind of excitement that then offsets the quiet moments in a lovely way."
Victoria Teague, New York Theatre Review
"The show is directed by Sara Fellini who also designed costumes/props. Very impressive."
"Sara Fellini’s casting was as stunning as her production scheme. The acting was very believable, and pulled the audience into the story."
"Her fine direction was also apparent all through the piece as well. She lifted the piece with artistry and intrigue."
"I loved this show and would gratefully see it again. Directing, Costumes, lighting and especially acting as well as a true look at the mind of not only an actor but a murderer all add up to an interesting and intriguing time well spent in the theater."
Amanda Kavaja, Arts Independent
"Bravo to Sara Fellini for brilliantly wearing a plethora of hats for this production. She was director, costume and prop designer while effortlessly and expertly played the part of the whimsical and coquettish Asia Booth Clarke."
Jen Bush, Drama Queens Reviews
"Fellini, doubling as director, produces a lively variety of stage pictures in the small in-the-round space. There’s often a sort of centrifugal force to the rehearsal scenes as Asia and her husband circle the actors, giving notes and calling out stage directions while the brothers recite."
Press Quotations (costumes):
"Ms. Fellini’s costumes were period-appropriate, very well made and quite beautiful; some of the best I’ve seen this year."
"The costumes were exquisite and well suited to the cast. The props were cleverly made and versatile. The steamer trunk was a thing of beauty.
Jen Bush, Drama Queens Reviews
"Sara Fellini’s costume design gives symbolic colors and designs to the characters that echo their emotionality and personality. It is like they are wearing their hearts on their sleeves."
Directing, Costumes, lighting and especially acting as well as a true look at the mind of not only an actor but a murderer all add up to an interesting and intriguing time well spent in the theater."
Amanda Kavaja, Arts Independent
"Fellini also acts as costume and props designer, along with assistant Xandra Leigh Parker, and together they’ve created beautiful, (and hipster but in a good way), costumes and props that are of a particular time but also help create the overarching vibe of the play."
Victoria Teague, New York Theatre Review