The roar of the crowd is deafening, the anticipation palpable. It’s not a championship game, but a theatrical debut, and the star is a figure who has dominated headlines as much as any athlete: Donald Trump. Stefano Massini’s highly anticipated production, “Donald. Much more than a legendary story of a Golden Man,” has officially hit the stage at Piccolo Teatro in milan, and the buzz is undeniable. Like a sold-out Super Bowl, tickets are vanishing faster than a Hail Mary pass, with every performance in Milan, Naples, Genoa, and beyond already a complete sell-out.
For sports fans,imagine the excitement surrounding a potential “dream team” matchup,but instead of athletes,it’s a deep dive into the life and career of a polarizing figure.From November 4th to 16th, audiences at the Pergola theater will have the chance to witness this epic narrative unfold. Massini, who also serves as the artistic director of the Pergola, recently offered a special preview for the theater’s staff and their families. “It’s a tremendous source of pride that this production was conceived and brought to life right here, co-produced with the Piccolo Teatro of Milan,” Massini shared. “This is a creation of our theater, and I’m even more thrilled that it’s experiencing such overwhelming success at every venue.”
The play draws directly from Massini’s own successful book, published just months ago by Feltrinelli. The stage adaptation faithfully mirrors the book’s narrative arc. “This production brings theater to life in all its facets, methods, and languages,” Massini explains. “It’s not just about live music; it’s a spectacle of intricate lighting, sound design, and complex graphics. It’s a show that embodies everything its protagonist, Trump, represents – overflowing, oversized, and at times, built through sheer accumulation.” Drawing from Trump’s own recounted anecdotes, Massini, like a seasoned sports commentator piecing together a player’s career, reconstructs key moments.He presents Trump’s “ten rules for dating women,” his youthful triumphs as a pinball and baseball champion (always a winner, in his telling), and his audacious challenge to New York City’s zoning laws with Trump Tower, aiming to be the tallest building despite height restrictions. The narrative traces his journey from childhood through business bankruptcies, culminating in his decision to run for the White House.
“Our hope is that the show doesn’t just entertain you,but prompts you to think. If we achieve even a fraction of that, we will have met our goal,” Massini states. while “Donald” is currently touring Italy, Massini is already deep in preparation for two more ambitious projects that will form a trilogy exploring the nature of power.”‘Donald’ is the genesis of a vast undertaking, something only a public theater can truly accomplish,” he continues. “Next year, in collaboration with the Piccolo Teatro of Milan, we will debut a new production titled ‘The Tsar,’ which will chronicle the story of Putin. It will be performed in rotation with ‘Donald,’ with both shows potentially being staged together on weekends, one after the other. The following year, we plan to introduce Chinese President Xi Jinping. Much like the ancient storytellers who chronicled heroes and legends, we are taking these symbols of power and bringing them to the stage to illuminate our present era and reaffirm theater’s role as a vital space for understanding the world around us.”
