# Ed Di Lello

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**Ed Di Lello** (born 1952) is an American [composer](/source/Composer), [choreographer](/source/Choreography), [theatre director](/source/Theatre_director), [dancer](/source/Dance), and [actor](/source/Actor) who made work during the 1970s and 1980s. He is currently an attorney practicing in [New York City](/source/New_York_City). Di Lello was born in [New York City](/source/New_York_City) to Vincent and Angela (*née* Salvatore), and received a [bachelor's degree](/source/Bachelor's_degree) from [Sarah Lawrence College](/source/Sarah_Lawrence_College) in 1974.

## Early theatrical work

From 1967 to 1970, Di Lello worked with the Everyman Company and the Chalk Circle Players in [Brooklyn](/source/Brooklyn), under the direction of [Geraldine Fitzgerald](/source/Geraldine_Fitzgerald)[1] and Brother Jonathan [O.S.F.](/source/Order_of_Saint_Francis)[2] In February 1970, the Chalk Circle Players premiered *Pieces*, a “collage theater” work for which Di Lello wrote, directed, and choreographed *Mommy/Daddy*; played the title role in *St. Francis*; and composed and performed the songs *Pieces*, *Runnin' Away*, *Tickle My Soul*, and *Hey Who Are You*.[3]

From 1971 to 1973, Di Lello performed with the E.T.C. Company at [La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club](/source/La_MaMa_Experimental_Theatre_Club) in [Manhattan](/source/Manhattan), under the direction of [Wilford Leach](/source/Wilford_Leach) and John Braswell.[4] He had featured roles in the company's repertory productions of *[Demon](/source/Aya_no_Tsuzumi)* and *[Carmilla](/source/Carmilla)*.[5] Also at La MaMa he performed in *Everything for Anybody* (1972)[6] and *The Wonderful Beast* (1976),[7] both written by Louisa Rose and directed by Braswell, and served as music advisor for *The Arbor* (1983),[8] written by [Andrea Dunbar](/source/Andrea_Dunbar) and directed by Leonardo Shapiro.

In May 1972, Di Lello directed a production of *[Next](/source/Next_(play))* by [Terrence McNally](/source/Terrence_McNally) which featured [Alan Blumenfeld](/source/Alan_Blumenfeld) and Gina Barnett.[9]

In the summer of 1974, Di Lello was Artistic Director of the Everyman Company and directed a production of *Mr. Esteban,* a contemporary musical adaption of Shakespeare's *[Macbeth](/source/Macbeth)*. The book and lyrics were written by Fitzgerald and Ringkamp, with music by Jimmy Justice and choreography by Glenngo King. The production had a cast of thirty adults, teens, and children from [South Williamsburg, Brooklyn](/source/Williamsburg,_Brooklyn), and was performed at multiple outdoor sites in Brooklyn, as well as at the [Naumburg Bandshell](/source/Naumburg_Bandshell) in [Central Park](/source/Central_Park) and the [Metropolitan Museum of Art](/source/Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art) in Manhattan.[10][11]

## Opera

Di Lello composed, orchestrated, conducted, and staged two operas adapted from plays by [W. B. Yeats](/source/W._B._Yeats): *[Purgatory](/source/Purgatory_(drama))* and *[The Cat and the Moon](/source/The_Cat_and_the_Moon)*. The [double bill](/source/Double_bill) was produced by Philip Meister and Maurice Edwards at The Cubiculo in New York City, with its premiere in March 1974. An unreleased recording of *Purgatory* is available at the Billy Rose Theatre Division of the [New York Public Library for the Performing Arts](/source/New_York_Public_Library_for_the_Performing_Arts).[12] In various productions of these operas, Di Lello conducted, sang the voice of the Old Man in *Purgatory*, and performed the role of the Lame Beggar in *The Cat and the Moon*. A television version of *Purgatory* was broadcast on [WNYC-TV](/source/WPXN-TV)'s University Broadcast Lab in 1974.

Di Lello's *Ann Garner* premiered at [Wesleyan University](/source/Wesleyan_University) in [Middletown, Connecticut](/source/Middletown,_Connecticut), in 1978. The chamber [cantata](/source/Cantata), a setting of [James Agee](/source/James_Agee)'s long poem, was conducted by [Chester Biscardi](/source/Chester_Biscardi) at multiple performances in 1978 and 1979. *Ann Garner* was notable for its mixture of [tonal harmony](/source/Tonal_harmony) and structured noise, as well as the use of simultaneously spoken and sung poetry.

## The Peaches Series

From 1975 through 1977, Di Lello created four related works: *Peaches' Lament*, *Peaches' Beacon*, *Peaches' Perplex* and *Peaches Melisma*, all originating in Di Lello's teaching at [Harvard Summer School](/source/Harvard_Summer_School)'s Dance Center. In these dance/musical works, Di Lello developed his focus on performance by dancers/musicians, or performers trained as both dancers and musicians. *Peaches' Lament* was a 15-minute piece for four dancer/musicians who danced both together and alone, both in silence and to music they performed on four [keyboards](/source/Keyboard_instrument).

In the January 1979 issue of [Dance Magazine](/source/Dance_Magazine), Amanda Smith wrote that *Peaches' Melisma* created a “slightly eerie limbo” through which the work slowly emerged. *Peaches' Beacon* (1976) was a one-hour piece for a large ensemble, with the themes of being lost, communication in unknown realms, rescue, and codes. All of the vocals, piano, and percussion in *Peaches Beacon* was performed by the cast of eighteen dancer/actor/musicians.

## Ed Di Lello Group

Based in New York City, the Ed Di Lello Group was active from 1978 through 1982, performing at various [downtown](/source/Lower_Manhattan) spaces as well as the [American Dance Festival](/source/American_Dance_Festival), [Jacob's Pillow](/source/Jacob's_Pillow_Dance), and [Wesleyan University](/source/Wesleyan_University). Members of the Group included Carol Hansen, Sheri Alley, Ron Lybeck, Donald Joyce, Paul Di Lello, Rebecca Perrin, Jane Desmond, Rob Kaplan, Arkady Koffman, Ricardo Mendez, Louise Rogers, Nusha Martynuk, and Patricia Graf. Di Lello's work for the Group included:

- *Octoman* (1979)
- *Six Rhythmic Solos* (1979)
- *Truly Foolish Move* (1980)
- *If You've Got the Gun We've Got the Room* (1980)
- *After Octoman* (1981)
- *The Music and the Arms and the Legs* (1982)

In 1982, Di Lello was invited to join [Dance Theater Workshop](/source/Dance_Theater_Workshop)'s Advanced Choreography Workshop, led by German dancer, choreographer, and teacher [Bessie Schonberg](/source/Bessie_Schonberg). During this workshop he developed *The Music and the Arms and the Legs* for four dancer/musicians and two keyboardists.

## Songwriting, Theater and Popular Music

In 1983/1984 Di Lello collaborated, as composer, with writer [Nan Knighton](/source/Nan_Knighton) and director [Matthew Diamond](/source/Matthew_Diamond) on *Lullabye*, a musical. For a brief period in 1985/1986, Di Lello was a member of the rock band Pride of Lions with singer/guitarist Chris Gavin.[13][14] In 2021, Di Lello began releasing recordings and videos of original and cover songs under the name Eddie D and the Guarantee. On these recordings Di Lello plays all the instruments and does all of the singing. Included in this project is his arrangement of the Beatles' song *I'm Happy Just To Dance With You*.

## Personal life

Di Lello has two daughters, [Daria Di Lello](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariadilello/), a photographer and editor, and [Chiara Di Lello](https://www.linkedin.com/in/chiara-di-lello-57291351/), an educator.

## References

1. [Geraldine Fitzgerald](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0280242/) at IMDb.

1. [Jonathan Ringkamp](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0727624/) at IMDb.

1. ["Living Theater "Pieces" — Columbia Daily Spectator 13 March 1970 — Columbia Spectator"](http://spectatorarchive.library.columbia.edu/cgi-bin/columbia?a=d&d=cs19700313-01.2.12&srpos=&dliv=none&e=------195-en-20--1--txt-IN-orientation---). *spectatorarchive.library.columbia.edu*. Retrieved 2018-05-08.

1. ["John Braswell Is Dead; Theater Head Was 51"](https://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/17/obituaries/john-braswell-is-dead-theater-head-was-51.html). *The New York Times*. 17 February 1989. Retrieved 2018-05-08.

1. La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. ["Production: *Gertrude* and *Demon* (1972)". Accessed May 8, 2018.](https://catalog.lamama.org/Detail/Occurrences/671)

1. La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. [Production: *Everything for Anybody* (1972)". Accessed May 8, 2018.](https://catalog.lamama.org/Detail/Occurrences/1145)

1. La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. ["Production: *The Wonderful Beast* (1976)". Accessed May 8, 2018.](https://catalog.lamama.org/Detail/Occurrences/1615)

1. La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. ["Production: *The Arbor* (1983)". Accessed May 8, 2018.](https://catalog.lamama.org/Detail/Occurrences/2543)

1. ["Gina Barnett"](http://www.ensemblestudiotheatre.org/gina-barnett). *Ensemble Studio Theatre*. Retrieved 2018-05-08.

1. *New York Magazine*. September 2, 1974.

1. "Going Out Guide". *New York Times*. August 27, 1974.

1. William Elliot Collection. [Billy Rose Collection of the New York Public Library](http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/archivalcollections/pdf/musellio.pdf).

1. Casts, [Beatlemania](http://beatlemaniaalumni.com/CASTS.htm).

1. Alumni, [Beatlemania](http://beatlemaniaalumni.com/PHOTOS.htm).

## External links

- [Di Lello's page on La MaMa Archives Digital Collections](https://catalog.lamama.org/Detail/Entities/3044)
- ["DANCE: ED DI LELLO'S GROUP". *New York Times*, 1981. Retrieved 2018-05-08.](https://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/11/arts/dance-ed-di-lello-s-group.html)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ed Di Lello](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Di_Lello) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Di_Lello?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.