Recent MHS Graduate To Appear In NY International Fringe Festival

Francesca Federico, a 2010 graduate of Montclair High School, will be appearing in the New York International Fringe Festival 2010 from August 14 to 26. The play, called How Alfo Learned to Love Women, is about a young man growing up in a large Italian family, working at their bakery and trying to cure his addiction to beautiful women.

 "It's a well-written show that interestingly depicts this man's journey," Federico explained. "He feels really lost, even though he's constantly surrounded by people.  All the characters in the show are vivid and fun to watch."

In May, Federico auditioned for the play with over 200 young hopefuls. She was cast to play Alfo's youngest - and somewhat boy-crazy - sister, Ameila. For Federico, being the youngest cast member in Alfo has been an extremely positive experience.   
"It's been a really good experience so far because it's my first adult play in New York," she explained. "Everyone's been really welcoming. It's been gratifying working with such professional and talented individuals."

Federico, 18, has been acting and singing since she was a child. "Discovered" at age five when a Dreamworks talent scout came to Nishuane School, Federico got a small role in the sleeper hit, "Paulie." Her parents, however, were dubious of the whole "Hollywood child" lifestyle, and wouldn't allow her to audition for other projects until she was nine.

Federico began acting and singing in school plays and New York shows like Music Theater International's Broadway Junior series and, by age 11, was performing at venues like The DeCapo Opera and Symphony Space in New York.

In high school, Francesca began studying music more intensively, concentrating on vocal performance and harp at The Manhattan School of Music, while singing lead vocals for a local indie band, "Ten Sleep." As the leader of the well-known a cappella group, The Passing Notes, she has performed at Montclair Township events and at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center as a classical singer and harpist with her New Jersey ensemble, HarpAntics.

In the fall she will attend New York University, where she hopes to stay connected to the NY/NJ performing arts scene.

While growing up, Federico won many performing arts awards, including many at Hillside Elementary School, Glenfield Middle School, and Montclair High School. She was a semi-finalist in the nationwide talent search sponsored by Classical Singer magazine and in May won the Joe Walsh/McClellan Scholarship Award and the MHS Music Club Award.

An Honors student, Federico recently won the coveted Tom Brokaw Scholarship which was, she said, "a huge honor and will help defray the costs of my college education."

Tickets for the New York International Fringe Festival play, How Alfo Learned to Love Women, are $15 and are available online (www.fringenyc.org) or by phone: 866-468-7619 (at least 24 hours prior to showtime.) Tickets cost $18 at the door. Showtimes: Saturday, August 14, 9 p.m.; Tuesday, August 17, 2 p.m.; Wednesday, August 18, 4 p.m.; Saturday, August 21, noon; Thursday, August 26, 9:30 p.m.  This show is suitable for families.   How Alfo Learned to Love Women is written by Vincent Amelio and directed by Kathleen Bishop.  www.howalfolearnedtolovewomen.blogspot.com.