e-mail: greywolfvet@yahoo.com
Biography
In June 2007, Mr. DiFusco performed his new play, WALK’N THRU THE FIRE, (a
memoir and a spiritual journey), at the Hayworth Theater (Los Angeles). The play
received rave reviews. Los Angeles Times says, "This absorbing autobiographical
piece reflects DiFusco’s life long search for meaning. WALK’N dives into issues
that he has grappled with for a lifetime. From the Viet Nam service that spurred
TRACERS to the sense of mortality raised by the deaths of five siblings, DiFusco
relates his unblinking view of what he’s learned with passion, grace, and humor.
It’s good to have him back on the boards where he belongs." L.A. WEEKLY "DiFusco
is a gifted story teller who plumbs the hearts, heads, and significance of his
characters. He plaits their lives into a large and accessible canvas with
insight, passion, and humor." The play is on LA Weekly Steven Mikulan’s 2007 New
Plays Ten Best list.
He created the ground-breaking,
critically-acclaimed Viet Nam play TRACERS, with a group of Viet Nam
veteran-actors. He directed the premiere production at the Odyssey Theatre in
Los Angeles. The play was subsequently produced by the Steppenwolf Theatre
directed by Gary Senise. DiFusco directed the New York premiere at Joseph Papp’s
Public Theatre, (produced by Joseph Papp and VETCO). Jack Kroll of Newsweek
called it, "a land mine of a play that blows complacency to shreds". TRACERS was
published in Otis Gurney’s Ten Best Plays of 1984/85, by Dramatists Play Service
and by Hill & Wang Publishers.
After directing and mentoring numerous productions here and
abroad, he directed the 20th Anniversary production of TRACERS
at the Odyssey Theatre, where it premiered. (L.A. Weekly ‘Pick
of the Week’ and Back Stage West "Critics’ Pick"). Back Stage
West wrote, "Riveting…TRACERS is as vivid, grim and powerful as
it was 20 years ago!" TRACERS continues to be produced by
theatre companies throughout the U.S. Los Angeles’ Gangbuster
Theatre company’s production opens February 29, 2008 at the
Victory Theatre, and the Hermosa Beach Playhouse production
opens May 27, 2008.
Directing credits include Don Nigro’s NECROPOLIS on New
York’s Theatre Row, Hollywood’s Tamarind Theatre, MARKED TREE
(nominated for five ADA Awards) and WHITE PEOPLE, both at the
Road Theatre. WHITE PEOPLE received ‘Critic’s Choice’ in the Los
Angeles Times and the Back Stage West. It was awarded five
Valley Theatre League Awards (including Best Director, Best
Ensemble and Best Production) and was nominated for two Los
Angeles Drama Critics’ Circle Awards. He directed ALI at the
Odyssey Theatre, a one-man show written and performed by
Geoffrey Ewing about the one and only, Muhammad Ali. It received
L.A. Weekly’s ‘Pick of the Week’ as well as rave notices from
Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and the Los Angeles Times; and
WILL STRIP FOR FOOD (also L.A. Weekly ‘Pick of the Week’) at
Glaxa Studios and the Tamarind Theatre.
Other directing credits include POLICE OFFICERS’ WIVES at the
Ventura Court Theatre; the critically-acclaimed a cappella
musical AVENUE X at the Odyssey Theatre, a production which
garnered six L.A. Weekly award nominations (including Best
Director), an Ovation Award nomination for Best Musical and
eleven Drama~Logue awards; CUT, POISON & BURN at Chicago’s Mary
Arrchie Theatre; JOAN & THE ZULUS (with Grace Zabriskie);
AFTERSHOCK, LOVE OR SOMETHING OUT ON HWY. 97 and ROUNDS at The
Cast Theatre; HAIR at the Heliotrope Theatre; JACK RUBY IS MY
IDOL for the Mark Taper Forum’s New Works Festival; THE DEALS
ARE GOIN’ DOWN at the Embassy Theatre; and ANIMAL at the
Odyssey, as well as dozens of readings and new/original plays.
He is a member of The Actor’s Studio Playwright/Directors Unit,
LA Writer’s Center, and VetStage.
DiFusco served as Technical
Advisor on the Emmy-Award winning HBO film, DEAR AMERICA:
LETTERS HOME FROM VIETNAM and directed a video of TRACERS. He
has worked as a director/part-time faculty member of the
American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
With writing partner, Claudia Adams, he has written three
other screenplays and received the Gold Award for Best Dramatic
Adaptation at the 2000 WorldFest Houston for their screenplay
TERMITE HILL. Their video of POLICE OFFICERS’ WIVES received the
Bronze Medal in the Social Issues category at the 1998 WorldFest.
DiFusco completed a ‘revised’ edition of TRACERS, published
again in 2000 by Dramatists Play Service.
As an actor he has
appeared on Lifetime’s, "Strong Medicine", the independent film
AMERICAN ROULETTE, the Movie of the Week, TONYA & NANCY: THE
INSIDE STORY; TO HEAL A NATION; LOST IN AMERICA; PRECIOUS
IMAGES; THE MASTER; THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO; BLACK WIND and
BREAKER! BREAKER! His stage credits THE BALKAN TRILOGY, BUFFALO
SOLDIER, CHICAGO CONSPIRACY TRIAL, BACK BAR, LOVE OR SOMETHING
OUT ON HWY. 97; TRACERS; EDMUND; THE NIGHT OF THE IGUANA, THE
TIME OF YOUR LIFE, PEER GYNT; THE KID; CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE,
among others. As a poet, he has performed his original work in
many Los Angeles venues.
Mr. DiFusco has received the New York Drama Desk Award, The
Los Angeles Drama Critics’ Circle Award, two L.A. Weekly Awards,
two NAACP Awards, a Drama~Logue Award, a Robby Award, two Valley
Theatre League Artistic Director Awards and the USAF
Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service in Viet Nam.
