Written and performed by Johnny Lanzillotto
Slides and film by Tessa Hughes- Freeland
Directed by Peter Appel
In his compelling one-man show “Bless Them All”, Johnny Lanzillotto documents the history of the Bronx in 1969, exploring the lives of junkies, wiseguys, hippies, hoodlums and, war veterans, who all hung out on the same street. Seen through the eyes of an Italian American teenager Joey - who grows up in a working-class household headed by his father Carmine, an affected World War II Marine veteran. Joey's other role models are either junkies or wiseguys, which are also brought to life. This show is about how war affects the family life; about addiction, compassion, and perseverance; it’s a story about an addict’s journey to freedom. Accompanied by legendary east village filmmaker, Tessa Hughes Freeland’s slides and film. Johnny, a Bronx native, has performed in theater, spoken word, Film, TV (The Sopranos), and voiceovers. He first performed “Bless Them All” at The Knitting Factory in NYC in 1996 and went on to write a screenplay of the same name based on the foundation of this work, which reached the final round of the Sundance screenwriters lab in 2004. “Bless Them All”(screenplay) was requested, and is presently being read by several production companies including HBO FILMS. The music supervisor is Grammy-winning New Orleans legend Dr. John.
“Bless Them All is a jaunty time trip through the postwar Bronx”- VOICE
“Bless Them All is a powerful and entertaining show”- PAPER
“My neighborhood was mixed with lower middle class working people…it was mixed with junkies and wiseguys…There’s not much difference between junkies and wiseguys- they both gamble with their lives everyday…they both love to steal…and they both…live for the action…Oh! There is one difference, the junkies shot themselves…and the wiseguys shot everyone else.