NYU Skirball presents the North American premiere of MARIO BANUSHI: MAMI.
From the press release:
ABOUT THE WORK
Mario Banushi’s Mami blends dance, surreal imagery, and raw emotion. Banushi crafts a hypnotic exploration of motherhood, memory, and myth. His fearless, genre-bending storytelling collides personal and ancestral histories in ways that are both haunting and deeply human. With striking visuals and an intensity beyond his years, Banushi pushes the limits of theatrical form. Don’t miss the U.S. debut of this breakout hit from one of theater’s most electrifying new voices. Presented in conjunction with Under the Radar Festival.
PRODUCTION GUIDANCE
Use of smoke, sound of fireworks, smell of incense, nudity, and violence. This production is recommended for mature audiences.
RUN TIME
This performance is 70 minutes with no intermission
a term meaning “family romance” in Albanian. Banushi’s most recent work, MAMI, is an international co-production between Onassis Stegi, Berliner Festspiele, FOG Festival / Triennale Milano Teatro, Espoo Theatre, Festival d’Avignon, Grec Festival Barcelona, Théâtre de Liège and Noorderzon Festival / Grand Theatre Groningen. It premiered in February 2025 and continues the visual and poetic language of his earlier work—described as a performance of “visual excellence with a dash of magic.” The production received widespread acclaim following its French premiere at Festival d’Avignon 2025, with Le Monde and Libération publishing rave reviews that praised its emotional depth and distinctive theatrical vision. He is an Onassis AiR Fellow for 2023–24 through the Dramaturgy.
CREATIVE CREDITS
Conceived and directed by Mario Banushi
Performers: Vasiliki Driva / Katerina Kristo, Dimitris Lagos / Nontas Damopoulos, Eftychia Stefanou / Ilia Koukouzeli, Angeliki Stellatou, Fotis Stratigos and Panagiota Υiagli
