Mario Fratti passed away in the early morning hours of Saturday in his beautiful Manhattan home. He was 95 years old. He would have continued writing and going to the theater as he did until he was 93 if an inexorable and sudden physical decline had not slowed him down. He was the most famous and prolific Italian author of comedies and plays in the United States.
His success came on Broadway in 1981 with “Nine” the musical adapted and inspired by Fellini’s 8 1/2, which was a huge success with audiences and critics with more than 2,000 performances including the latest revival starring Antonio Banderas. But already in 1963 his works had landed at the Spoleto Festival.
University professor of literature first at Columbia University then at Hunter College Mario Fratti was born in L’Aquila and came to the states soon after graduating. He had produced more than 100 works and launched dozens of young talents into the New York entertainment world.
