Oliver Masucci - Träumertänzer

Oliver Masucci takes his audience on a journey that is as personal as it is moving, spanning Germany and Italy, childhood memories, theater stages, and movie sets. In his autobiographical reading, he tells the extraordinary story of a child of migrant workers who fought his way all the way to Hollywood—a story full of humor, passion, and self-deprecating humor.

Drawing on excerpts from his biography *Träumertänzer*, Masucci recounts his life as an actor—from his early days to the Burgtheater and on to the intense, months-long process of developing his multi-award-winning role as Adolf Hitler in *Er ist wieder da*. In doing so, he offers rare insights into the work of an actor and the challenges of an extraordinary profession.

At the same time, he tells the story of his Italian father, who came to Germany as a guest worker. It is a moving narrative about heritage, identity, prejudice, and the merging of two cultures. —a story that shows how some divides are best bridged over a shared plate of pasta, and how racism within his own family was overcome through the fusion of German and Italian cuisine.

*Träumertänzer* is the unlikely yet inspiring rags-to-riches story of a guest worker’s child in a German-Italian cultural melting pot—a story about home that sometimes simply tastes like pasta. Or, as Oliver Masucci himself would say:
“Home al dente.”

An evening full of moving stories, humorous anecdotes, and inspiring reflections on family, home, dreams, and the courage to forge your own path.

QUOTES:

“I would have become a different person without that past, but it made me who I am. Back then, I would have preferred things to be different. But I didn’t let it get me down, and I turned the term ‘dreamer-dancer’—as my father used to call me—into something
positive.” Oliver Masucci

“You don’t become an actor, let people watch you, or get up on stage if you’re just a perfectly normal person. Healthy people don’t need that at all—they’re at peace with themselves.” Oliver Masucci

About the reading:

“People love my Italian father, Pino, who chases me around the table with his hand raised, trying to get me to take over his restaurant instead of doing something as silly as going to acting school. And then everyone comes together again for a meal and laughs. Italy and Germany come together over a meal.” Oliver Masucci

“This life is a page-turner—it’s begging to be read! Oliver Masucci captivates readers with his account of the power of dreams and the strength of optimism. Deeply personal, *Träumertänzer* is at the same time a book about each and every one of us.” Frank Schätzing

Doors open at approx. 6:30 p.m.

www.pantheon.de