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Vatican Falls

World Premiere at The Tank in NYC. Exclusive Engagement: October 27-November 20, 2022—Thurs-Sun

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About

Vatican Falls

Is a sweeping, fast-paced suspense thriller, spanning decades and multiple locales, examining truth, power, conscience, forgiveness and revenge.

Based on factual accounts, spanning decades and set against the backdrop of the continuously-swelling Catholic sex abuse scandal, VATICAN FALLS is

                                                       a sweeping multi-genre work that follows survivor journeys examining the feelings of shame and confusion that ultimately turn to anger and revenge. This fast-paced, non-linear suspense-thriller jets from Boston to Rome to New York to Los Angeles as our radicalized protagonist falls in love with a Vatican operative and, along with his Fellowship, plots vengeance on the institutional power players that allowed the rape and torture of countless children and young adults. 

The play features three prominent LGBTQ+ characters including the fellowship leader, Vi, a proud queer whose desire for retribution fuels the group.

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High Voltage Productions was birthed by Ashley Garrett and Frank J. Avella. HVP produced the award-winning short film, “Fig Jam,” in 2021.

Frank J. Avella recently wrote and directed his first film, the multi-award-winning short “Fig Jam.” He is the recipient of an International Writers Residency at Arte Studio Ginestrelle (Assisi, Italy), a Bogliasco Foundation Fellowship, a Helene Wurlitzer Residency Grant and a NJ State Arts Council Fellowship Award. Frank’s feature length screenplays include “Consent,” “Lured,” and “Screw The Cow” which, along with “Fig Jam” and his new short script, “Happy Boy,” have won 33 awards and are selections/finalists in over 200 Festivals/Contests worldwide. He has written numerous plays including “Vatican Falls,” (2021 O’Neill semifinalist), “Lured” (2018 O’Neill semifinalist, produced in NYC & Rome), “Consent” (2x O’Neill semifinalist) and most recently, “Lockdown.” More information about Frank here.

Ashley Garrett is an American photographer based in New York. She specializes in production photos for theater, music and dance, and portraits of individuals and groups.  A co-founder (with the playwright, director and producer, Frank J. Avella) of High Voltage Productions, Ashley has produced a number of independent and short films, including Fig Jam and Letters from Baghdad. Ashley is excited to be working with Frank in a producing capacity, having photographed many of his plays, including Lured, Consent, and Vatican Falls. www.AshleyGarrett.Photo. @AshleyGarrettPhoto.

Cast & Crew

Cast & crew

Gallery

Gallery
Vatican Falls - Ricardo & Claudia-5
Vatican Falls - Ricardo & Peter-7
Vatican Falls - Claudia & Gianluca-5
Vatican Falls - Ricardo & Father David-20
Vatican Falls - Father David & Teresa-2
Vatican Falls - Teresa-20
Vatican Falls - Ricardo & Claudia-12
Vatican Falls - Ricardo with Guitar-10
Vatican Falls - Riccardo & Vi-4
Vatican Falls - Teresa & Peter-17
Vatican Falls - Monsignor-11
Vatican Falls - Vi-31
Vatican Falls - Vi & Claudia-8
Vatican Falls - Peter-12

Press

Press

"You won’t find Vatican Falls on any map about picturesque raging waters.  No, Frank J. Avella’s new play, Vatican Falls, is, instead, a passionate, sometimes humorous, indictment of the Catholic Church and its long history of concealing the sexual abuse suffered by hundreds of young men at the hands of priests…Ultimately all the individual strands of a complicated story come together in a dramatic flourish." - Theatrescene.net

"I was blown away by this current production. The layers of the story take you on an emotional journey that I believe everyone and anyone can find elements they relate to. The entire cast gives phenomenal, emotional performances that are sure to impact any audience." - TEECO 71 Entertainment

Tickets

Tickets
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Runs October 27th - November 20th

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