Frank DiPalermo is an American actor, playwright and poet known for the plays Public Transit, Private Parts (1996), Something in Common (1995), and Common Human Being (1990). Two of DiPalermo's poems were finalists for the Steve Kowit Poetry Prize and he earned several ensemble awards for We All Die Alone (2021).

Frank DiPalermo
DiPalermo in 2017
NationalityAmerican
Alma materVermont College of Fine Arts
Occupations
Years active1987–present
Known for
  • Public Transit, Private Parts
  • Something in Common
  • Common Human Being
Notable creditWe All Die Alone

Personal life

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DiPalermo earned a degree in Master of Fine Arts at Vermont College of Fine Arts in 2021.[1][2]

Career

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In the 1990s, DiPalermo was the solo performer for five characters in two plays he wrote; Something in Common and Public Transit, Private Parts. He portrayed Frankie, Thommy or Tommy, Sonny or Sunny, Joe, and Rozz or Roz.[3][4][5]

1995: Something in Common

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DiPalermo's play Something in Common premiered at Diversionary Theatre in San Diego, California. It was a one man show where five characters interact at a bus stop. Pat Stein at North County Blade-Citizen praised DiPalermo's performances and writing.[3] William Fark at Escondido Times-Advocate said the show "can still be tightened and polished."[4]

1996: Public Transit, Private Parts

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DiPalermo's play Public Transit, Private Parts, which touched on topics of AIDS and Alzheimer's disease, premiered in San Diego before continuing at Theatre Rhinoceros in San Francisco, California. Chad Jones at Bay Area Reporter said it "is 30 minutes too long and tends to ramble" and praised DiPalermo's performance over writing.[5]

2010-2020

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In 2010, DiPalermo's "Body of Christ" was published in Slow Trains Literary Journal. His essay Diver Dan, initially titled A True State Of Grace, was broadcast on Living on Earth.[6]

Kathy, a short film, is based on DiPalermo's experience as a gay man being raised in a religious environment.[7] In 2020, DiPalermo's short story "The Friendship Gallery" was published in Beyond Words[8] and a piece he wrote was published in Ruminate Magazine.[9] Two of his essays were published in The Whole Alphabet: The Light and the Dark.[10]

Stage credits

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Year Title Role Location Notes Ref.
1987 Boys and Girls/Men and Women Alex Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, Los Angeles, California [11][12]
1988 Senior Prom Performer Ramp Theatre, Hollywood, California co-starring Cynthia Geary
1990 Common Human Being Performer Back Door Theatre, San Diego State University
1991 The Heidi Chronicles Peter Gaslamp Quarter Theatre, San Diego, California [13]
Circus Cafe Performer Fritz Theatre, San Diego, California
1992 The American Clock Lee Old Globe Collaboration
1995 Something in Common Various Diversionary Theatre, San Diego, California Also writer [3]
1996 Public Transit, Private Parts Various San Diego and Theatre Rhinoceros Also writer [5]
1997 A Midsummer-Night’s Dream Demetrius Fritz Theatre, San Diego, California
Cafe Depresso Brian Sushi Performance Gallery, San Diego, California
2022 Life Sucks The Professor Cygnet Theatre Company [14][15]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
2018 Kathy Writer[7]
2021 We All Die Alone Peter [16]

Accolades

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List of awards and nominations
Event Year Award Title Result Ref.
San Diego Poetry Annual 2019-20 Steve Kowit Poetry Prize The Danger of Moonglow Finalist [17]
Hope Finalist
Atlanta ShortsFest 2022 Best Ensemble Cast We All Die Alone Nominated
Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles Won [18]
San Diego Film Awards Won
Simply Indie Film Fest 2023 Won

References

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  1. ^ "So Say We All: Live Storytelling | MCASD Events". Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  2. ^ "Writing Alumnx Virtual Reading Series". Vermont College of Fine Arts. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  3. ^ a b c Stein, Pat (1995-06-02). "Diversionary shows humans have 'Something in Common'". North County Times. p. 70. Retrieved 2023-08-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b Fark, William (1995-06-02). "One actor keeps five characters well alive". Escondido Times-Advocate. p. 79. Retrieved 2023-08-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c Jones, Chad (1996-06-20). "Too Many Cooks: Public Transit, Private Parts". Bay Area Reporter. pp. 34, 37 – via Internet Archive.
  6. ^ "Body of Christ - Slow Trains Literary Journal". Slow Trains Literary Journal. 2020. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  7. ^ a b Evans, Julia Dixon (2019-07-16). "Culture Report: San Diegans to Watch at Comic-Con". Voice of San Diego. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
  8. ^ Beyond Queer Words 2020 - A Collection of Short Stories. Beyond Words Publishing. 2020-02-29. p. 57. ISBN 978-3-948977-00-9. Retrieved 2023-09-16 – via Issuu.
  9. ^ "The Everyday". Ruminate Magazine (54): 9. 2020-03-01. ISSN 1932-6130.
  10. ^ Corley, Jennifer D.; Hudnall, Justin; Camacho, Katie (2021-07-11). The Whole Alphabet: The Light and the Dark. So Say We All. ISBN 978-0-9979499-4-0 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ Drake, Sylvie (1987-09-04). "STAGE REVIEW : SEXUAL POLITICS IN THE WAYS OF 'BOYS AND GIRLS'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  12. ^ Chun, Alex (1987-09-22). 'Boys and Girls/Men and Women' skillfully cops out. Daily Bruin. p. 24 – via Wayback Machine.
  13. ^ Launer, Pat (1992-01-17). "'Chronicles' is becoming too historical". San Diego Union Tribune. p. C-13. ProQuest 422517941. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  14. ^ Shapiro, Milo (2022-02-12). "Theater Review: LIFE SUCKS (Cygnet in San Diego)". Stage and Cinema. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  15. ^ Launer, Pat (2022-02-15). "Audience Weighs in on Whether 'Life Sucks' in Nod to Chekhov at Cygnet Theatre". Times of San Diego. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  16. ^ "We All Die Alone USA, 2021, 13.5 min. FUSION SHORTS GRP 4". Dances With Films. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  17. ^ "In Residence // 2020 Alumnx Magazine". Vermont College of Fine Arts. 8 (1): 42. 2020-11-05. Retrieved 2023-09-16 – via Issuu.
  18. ^ "2022 DTLA Film Festival Announces Award Winners". DTLA Film Festival. 2022-09-19. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
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