Cristina Farruggia (book and lyrics)
Cristina Farruggia was born in Mantova, Italy and is no stranger to the stage. As the daughter of Metropolitan Opera Tenor Michele Farruggia and Soprano Barbara de Deo, with whom she studies voice, she was practically raised on the stage. Cristina is a member of Actors Equity Association and a graduate from Rider University where she was an honors student on a four-year, full tuition acting scholarship. She received her MA from King's College London where she studied Shakespeare in conjunction with the Globe Theatre in London. At sixteen, she appeared as Fantine in the final performance finale of Les Miserables at the Imperial Theater on Broadway. She was a featured soloist at a national memorial service for the victims of the World Trade Center at St. Patrick's Cathedral. Cristina also has a Cabaret Act she developed with her brother Robert called "Family Album". She wrote the book and lyrics to the new musical, "On the Air", based on the lives of vaudevile and radio stars/siblings Jack and Loretta Clemens, which she co-wrote it her own real life brother, Robert. You can read more about "On the Air" on her blog, As Dreams Are Made. Recent Credits include The Taffetas (Kaye) and Shout! The Mod Musical (Green Girl) at The Depot Theatre, Grease (Rizzo) for The Summer Theatre of New Canaan and South Pacific (Dinah) at the Delaware Theatre Company. www.cristinafarruggia.com
Robert Farruggia (music, book and lyrics)
Robert Farruggia is a professional stage actor and member of Actor's Equity Association and was born in Mantova, Italy. He studies voice with his parents, Metropolitan Opera Tenor Michele Farruggia and Soprano Barbara de Deo. On May 18, 2003 he was one of the few young performers to be chosen to take part in the historic final performance finale of Les Miserables at the Imperial Theater on Broadway. He was a featured soloist at a national 9/11 memorial service at St. Patrick's Cathedral. In 2005, Robert won the first Rockland Star Competition. He holds an M.F.A. in Children's Literature from Hollins University. Robert also developed a Cabaret Act along with his sister, Cristina, entitled "Family Album". He wrote the music, book, and lyrics to the new musical, "On the Air", based on the lives of vaudeville and radio stars/siblings Jack and Loretta Clemens, which he co-wrote with his own real life sister, Cristina. His recent credits include Assassins (Zangara) with Theatre 2020, Jesus Christ Superstar (Annas) and Man of La Mancha (Padre) at Bristol Riverside Theatre, Forever Plaid (Jinx) at the Bickford Theatre, Strike Up The Band ( Homeward Bound Soldier) with Musicals Tonight!, Sweeney Todd (Tobias) at The Fulton Opera House as well as Fame (Schlomo) at the Macau International Music Festival in Macau, China. Robert plays three instruments (piano, guitar, violin), is fluent in Italian, and enjoys acting, singing, writing and composing. www.robertfarruggia.com
Cristina and Robert’s first collaboration was a Christmas pageant reenactment in their living room when they were four and three, respectively. Their parents thought it was an award winner. As they got older however, they decided to try their hands on a few more professional collaborations; their first being their cabaret, Family Album. Having written some original pieces for Family Album they decided to collaborate on a full length musical which eventually became On the Air. It was selected as one of 10 musicals to partake in The PiTCH as part of the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival at Merry Go Round Playhouse and was a finalist in The Santa Fe Musical Theatre Festival and The Rhinebeck Writer's Retreat. It was presented at The York Theatre Company as part of their developemental reading series, starring Nick Spangler and Farah Alvin and directed by Tony Nominee, Hunter Foster. Most recently it had a workshop production in Brooklyn, NY. They recently finished writing their second musical, The Store Under the Portico, which takes place in Italy during WWII and are currently working on their third musical.