People to Know
Here is some biographical information on prominent people and groups that were instrumental in the Commedia Dell'arte Theatre movement. This is only a brief history of their lives!
Carlo Goldoni-
"(25 February 1707 – 6 February 1793) was an Italian playwright and librettist from the Republic of Venice. His works include some of Italy's most famous and best-loved plays. Audiences have admired the plays of Goldoni for their ingenious mix of wit and honesty. His plays offered his contemporaries images of themselves, often dramatizing the lives, values, and conflicts of the emerging middle classes. Though he wrote in French and Italian, his plays make rich use of the Venetian language, regional vernacular, and colloquialisms. Goldoni also wrote under the pen name and title "Polisseno Fegeio, Pastor Arcade," which he claimed in his memoirs the "Arcadians of Rome" bestowed on him."
Wikipedia: Carlo Goldoni. (2012, March 18). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlo_Goldoni
Francesco Andreini-
"(c. 1548 – 1624) was an Italian actor mainly of Commedia Dell'arte plays. He began his career playing the role of the unsophisticated love-stricken young man. Later he played the role of capitan Spavento (in Fright), a Pickwickian character of excessive fatigue. Andreini was born at Pistoia. He was a member of the company of i Gelosi which Henry IV of France summoned to Paris to his bride, the young queen Marie de Medici, thus introducing the commedia dell'arte style to France.
Both his wife, Isabella Andreini, and their son, Giambattista Andreini, were also distinguished in the arts."
Wikipedia: Francesco Andreini. (2012, March 17). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesco_Andreini
Isabella (Canali) Andreini-
"(1562–1604), also known as Isabella Da Padova, was an Italian actress and writer. Isabella Andreini was a member of the Compagnia dei Comici Gelosi, an important touring theatre company that performed for the highest social circles of Italy and France. Famous in her time, and ever distinguished alike for her acting and her character, the Isabella role of the Commedia Dell'arte, was named after her."
Wikipedia: Isabella Andreini. (2012, April 7). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_Andreini
Andrea Calmo-
"(1510–1571) is an author (dramatist) and actor, and of Commedia Dell'Arte who was one of the pioneers of this type of masked theater, as created for the 16th century Venetian audience.
His six comedies are Las Spagnolas (1549), La Saltuzza (1551), La Fiorina (1552), La Pozione (1552), La Rodiana (1553), and il Travaglio (1556). He also published a number of eclogues. All these works were typically in rhyme.
Calmo also corresponded with a number of important artists including Anton Francesco Doni, Pietro Aretino, and Tintoretto, and discussed art and scenography.
Wikipedia: Andrea Calmo. (2012, April 6). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Calmo
Gelosi Troupe (I Gelosi)-
"(meaning Jealous) was an acting troupe that performed Commedia Dell'arte from 1569 to 1604. Their motto was Virtu, fama ed honor ne fer gelosi, meaning "We are jealous of attaining virtue, fame, and honor". I Gelosi was formed in Milan, Italy by Flaminio Scala. Their first notable performer was Vittoria Pissimi. I Gelosi was the first troupe to be patronized by nobility: in 1574 and 1577 they performed for the king of France. After this they toured all over Europe, spreading Commedia dell'arte from Italy to France, Poland, Spain, Germany, and England.
In the 1570s, Francesco Andreini joined I Gelosi and in 1578 he married Isabella Canali, an actress with the troupe. The Andreinis became the troupe's most famous performers and eventually Francesco took over as its head.
In 1604, Isabella died in childbirth in France. Francesco was so overwrought that he disbanded the troupe and retired from the stage. The stock Commedia Dell'arte character Isabella is named in her honor."
Wikipedia: I Gelosi. (2011, November 14). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Gelosi
Flaminio Scala-
"(Rome, 1547–1624) was an Italian comedian and stage actor, one of the most important figures of Commedia dell'Arte. In 1611 Scala published the first collection of scenarions of Commedia dell'Arte plays, under the title Il Teatro Delle Favole Rappresentative. It has been translated into English by Henry F. Salerno in 1967 as Scenarios of the Commedia dell'Arte. A new Italian edition cured by Ferdinando Mariotti was published in 1976. A new partial translation (30 scenarios out of 50) by Richard Andrewswas published in 2008, under the title The Commedia dell'Arte of Flamino Scala, A Translation and Analysis of Scenarios."
Wikipedia: Flaminio Scala. (2011, November 14). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flaminio_Scala
William Shakespeare-
" (baptised 26 April 1564; died 23 April 1616) was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon". His surviving works, including some collaborations, consist of about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright."
Wikipedia: William shakespeare. (2012, April 6). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare
Moilere-
"Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, (French pronunciation: [mo.ljɛːʁ]; baptised January 15, 1622 – February 17, 1673) was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature. Among Molière's best-known works are Le Misanthrope (The Misanthrope), L'École des femmes (The School for Wives), Tartuffe ou L'Imposteur, (Tartuffe or the Hypocrite), L'Avare (The Miser), Le Malade imaginaire (The Imaginary Invalid), and Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme (The Bourgeois Gentleman). Born into a prosperous family and having studied at the Collège de Clermont (now Lycée Louis-le-Grand), Molière was well suited to begin a life in the theatre. Thirteen years as an itinerant actor helped him polish his comic abilities while he began writing, combining Commedia Dell'arte elements with the more refined French comedy.
Wikipedia: Moilere. (2012, April 6). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moliere
Carlo Goldoni-
"(25 February 1707 – 6 February 1793) was an Italian playwright and librettist from the Republic of Venice. His works include some of Italy's most famous and best-loved plays. Audiences have admired the plays of Goldoni for their ingenious mix of wit and honesty. His plays offered his contemporaries images of themselves, often dramatizing the lives, values, and conflicts of the emerging middle classes. Though he wrote in French and Italian, his plays make rich use of the Venetian language, regional vernacular, and colloquialisms. Goldoni also wrote under the pen name and title "Polisseno Fegeio, Pastor Arcade," which he claimed in his memoirs the "Arcadians of Rome" bestowed on him."
Wikipedia: Carlo Goldoni. (2012, March 18). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlo_Goldoni
Francesco Andreini-
"(c. 1548 – 1624) was an Italian actor mainly of Commedia Dell'arte plays. He began his career playing the role of the unsophisticated love-stricken young man. Later he played the role of capitan Spavento (in Fright), a Pickwickian character of excessive fatigue. Andreini was born at Pistoia. He was a member of the company of i Gelosi which Henry IV of France summoned to Paris to his bride, the young queen Marie de Medici, thus introducing the commedia dell'arte style to France.
Both his wife, Isabella Andreini, and their son, Giambattista Andreini, were also distinguished in the arts."
Wikipedia: Francesco Andreini. (2012, March 17). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesco_Andreini
Isabella (Canali) Andreini-
"(1562–1604), also known as Isabella Da Padova, was an Italian actress and writer. Isabella Andreini was a member of the Compagnia dei Comici Gelosi, an important touring theatre company that performed for the highest social circles of Italy and France. Famous in her time, and ever distinguished alike for her acting and her character, the Isabella role of the Commedia Dell'arte, was named after her."
Wikipedia: Isabella Andreini. (2012, April 7). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_Andreini
Andrea Calmo-
"(1510–1571) is an author (dramatist) and actor, and of Commedia Dell'Arte who was one of the pioneers of this type of masked theater, as created for the 16th century Venetian audience.
His six comedies are Las Spagnolas (1549), La Saltuzza (1551), La Fiorina (1552), La Pozione (1552), La Rodiana (1553), and il Travaglio (1556). He also published a number of eclogues. All these works were typically in rhyme.
Calmo also corresponded with a number of important artists including Anton Francesco Doni, Pietro Aretino, and Tintoretto, and discussed art and scenography.
Wikipedia: Andrea Calmo. (2012, April 6). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Calmo
Gelosi Troupe (I Gelosi)-
"(meaning Jealous) was an acting troupe that performed Commedia Dell'arte from 1569 to 1604. Their motto was Virtu, fama ed honor ne fer gelosi, meaning "We are jealous of attaining virtue, fame, and honor". I Gelosi was formed in Milan, Italy by Flaminio Scala. Their first notable performer was Vittoria Pissimi. I Gelosi was the first troupe to be patronized by nobility: in 1574 and 1577 they performed for the king of France. After this they toured all over Europe, spreading Commedia dell'arte from Italy to France, Poland, Spain, Germany, and England.
In the 1570s, Francesco Andreini joined I Gelosi and in 1578 he married Isabella Canali, an actress with the troupe. The Andreinis became the troupe's most famous performers and eventually Francesco took over as its head.
In 1604, Isabella died in childbirth in France. Francesco was so overwrought that he disbanded the troupe and retired from the stage. The stock Commedia Dell'arte character Isabella is named in her honor."
Wikipedia: I Gelosi. (2011, November 14). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Gelosi
Flaminio Scala-
"(Rome, 1547–1624) was an Italian comedian and stage actor, one of the most important figures of Commedia dell'Arte. In 1611 Scala published the first collection of scenarions of Commedia dell'Arte plays, under the title Il Teatro Delle Favole Rappresentative. It has been translated into English by Henry F. Salerno in 1967 as Scenarios of the Commedia dell'Arte. A new Italian edition cured by Ferdinando Mariotti was published in 1976. A new partial translation (30 scenarios out of 50) by Richard Andrewswas published in 2008, under the title The Commedia dell'Arte of Flamino Scala, A Translation and Analysis of Scenarios."
Wikipedia: Flaminio Scala. (2011, November 14). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flaminio_Scala
William Shakespeare-
" (baptised 26 April 1564; died 23 April 1616) was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon". His surviving works, including some collaborations, consist of about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright."
Wikipedia: William shakespeare. (2012, April 6). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare
Moilere-
"Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, (French pronunciation: [mo.ljɛːʁ]; baptised January 15, 1622 – February 17, 1673) was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature. Among Molière's best-known works are Le Misanthrope (The Misanthrope), L'École des femmes (The School for Wives), Tartuffe ou L'Imposteur, (Tartuffe or the Hypocrite), L'Avare (The Miser), Le Malade imaginaire (The Imaginary Invalid), and Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme (The Bourgeois Gentleman). Born into a prosperous family and having studied at the Collège de Clermont (now Lycée Louis-le-Grand), Molière was well suited to begin a life in the theatre. Thirteen years as an itinerant actor helped him polish his comic abilities while he began writing, combining Commedia Dell'arte elements with the more refined French comedy.
Wikipedia: Moilere. (2012, April 6). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moliere