ROMAN NIGHTS is a biographical drama that examines the extraordinary, inspirational, and volatile friendship between Tennessee Williams and Anna Magnani. (*selected/published one of the Best Plays of 2002 has received of 24 nominations for awards around the world) Set in the 1950s and 1960s this pas-de-trois looks at two lions of 20th century theater and film; Tenn -the artist- and Anna -his muse, who inspired “The Rose Tattoo”, “Orpheus Descending” and “Sweet Bird of Youth,” and "The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore". (noteworthy productions have sold-out in New York, London, Prague (touring Eastern Europe for 9 years) and Buenos Aires (touring South America) from 2013-2015. (The new 90 minute Regional/Touring version available is entitled TENN & ANNA) The friendship that Anna Magnani and Tennessee Williams shared -which endured 25 years- embodies the ancient artist/muse paradigm... With a lyricism, that blurs the lines between art and life, “Roman Nights” alternates between biographical information and poetic rumination, creating an inspirational and informative story that nourishes the mind and soul. A sweeping drama that explores the perils and passions of artistic genius that captures the Golden Age of theater and film and the excitement of the dolce vita era.

*As of 2018 the play has grossed $1million world-wide.
* As of December 2018 the play has been optioned for a feature film project.

NEW YORK Reviews / Notices: 2002

"A moving account of friendship...D'Alessandro has lovingly crafted this play with elegant, gracious prose that does justice to Tennessee Williams."
- Irene Backalenick (BACKSTAGE)

"An often heartening tale of two famous people..." with "...plenty of snappy exchanges and a generous helping of biographical details.”
- The New York Times

"An enchanted and haunting examination of friendship…"
- The New Yorker

"…Magnani and Williams are immortalized in this play."
- New York Magazine

"…with intricate dialogue and passion D'Alessandro brings a complicated story of friendship and art vividly to life."
- Frederick Winship (Associated Press/ UPI)

"…filled with pathos and passion."
- David Cote TIMEOUT New York

"With heart and soul D'Alessandro narrates this story of Magnani and Williams and in doing so shows us much about the creative process. The volcanic character of Magnani he has created is powerful and true… a great text allows the actors to embody these two giants."
- Mario Fratti (Oggi America / La Repubblica)

“With talent, courage and vision, playwright Franco D’Alessandro evokes the ‘golden age’ of 20th Century theatre with a two-character play spanning more than two decades in the careers of Tennessee Williams and Anna Magnani. With a sure theatrical hand, D’Alessandro fashions a dialogue illuminated by a fiery double helix of inspiration and love; a platonic torch-song fueled by their mutual passion for the theatre and for human love itself. Give your soul a break. Go see Roman Nights .”
-Bruce Smith, Author, COSTLY PERFORMANCES / Tennessee Williams: The Last Stage

"A well crafted play…scrupulous in its biographical accuracy. D'Alessandro's Dybbuk-ike possession of the souls of his beloved protagonists has the ring of truth and accuracy… So Much Fascinates in this pas-de-deaux between icons whose bad traits are decisively outweighed by love, integrity and, above all, the passion to persevere."
- Gerald Rabkin (New York Theatre / CultureVulture)

"Roman Nights is a reminder of theater where the words matter! …Dynamic, vibrant, an evening of bravura performances. The folks who give out awards should head over to see this play posthaste!"
- Leo Gruenfeld -Syndicated Columnist (Aisle Say)
"Stunning, beautiful and moving."
- Isabella Rossellini

"D'Alessandro´s lovingly researched Roman Nights brings Anna Magnani and Tennessee Williams alive again, with dialogue so authentic the audience feels as if they are invited to eavesdrop on some very private moments. Inspiring in its own right, this study of the power of the muse is new theater at its best: traditional and groundbreaking at once. Williams and Magnani would have loved it!"
- Kathleen Squires (TimeOut New York, 2001)

"Franco D'Alessandro writes with such emotional honesty and passion that his characters transcend their true-life origins with a spirit all their own. Much more than a dramatization of the events that inspired it, ROMAN NIGHTS is an intimate portrait of a friendship between two larger-than-life figures whose joys and tragedies reveal great truths about the nature of inspiration, collaboration, and artistic expression."
- Steven DeRosa, Author, Writing with Hitchcock

" An enchanting play about art and friendship and the gifts we give to one another… "
-Davida Singer (The Villager)

LONDON Reviews / Notices: 2004

"Surely Anna Magnani and Tennessee Williams would have approved of Franco D'Alessandro's bio-play, oozing la Dolce Vita and the Great White Way in a loving no holds barred recreation of key moments the actress and writer spent in each other's company."

"D'Alessandro alternates between fly on the wall biography and going for a story... showing themes of faded glory eternally present in Williams' work"

"Franca Barchiesi as Anna Magnani: A performance like this comes around once in a decade - if you're lucky! Nolan Hemmings finds his groove as Williams…by wisely avoiding any overplay of the playwright's the alcoholism and homosexuality he discovers an unexpected dignity."

"ROMAN NIGHTS is a convincing heartfelt romp of a tale with a bittersweet ending that lingers long after."
- Nick Awde - THE STAGE - The U.K.'s Number One Theatre Source

"ROMAN NIGHTS is filled with big emotions…seductive… with witty and intelligent writing by D'Alessandro."
-Time Out London

"ROMAN NIGHTS is an enthralling look at the tempestuous and intimate relationship between two great artists"… "Anna Magnani and Tennessee Williams are powerfully evoked though D'Alessandro's dialogue…"
-TheatreWorld