Francesco Bauco, an Italian actor and author, lives in Los Angeles where he is making a name for himself with determination and talent in the theater and film scene. After a brilliant career in Italy, made up of high-impact advertising campaigns and collaborations with important directors, he chose the United States to pursue new opportunities and tell his stories. His new show “Waiting Room,” which features him as author and director, will debut in November 2025 at the Los Angeles Theater Center. We caught up with him to talk about this deeply personal project, his American experience, and his vision for the craft of acting.
“Waiting Room” is the title of your new play. Where did this story come from?
I had long had a story in mind of two brothers with a common father but raised by two different mothers. It is basically the story of my family. When I was 10 years old, my parents divorced, my father remarried the following year and had another son-my brother. We grew up in different homes, towns, and with different mothers, but with the same father alternating his time between the two of us. This dynamic has always fascinated me, so much so that I wanted to bring it to the stage.
What are the sources of inspiration for the text?
In addition to my personal experience-with anecdotes and family rituals-I was inspired by the biblical tale of Cain and Abel, from which the brothers Axel and Calvin derive their names. And then Shakespeare, Jose Saramago, all the way to John Steinbeck, from whom the movie “The Valley of Eden” with James Dean is also based.
What does it mean to you to direct and perform your own work?
It is a great challenge. Exciting, but also scary. To grow, however, we have to do the very thing that scares us. This project is a leap, a necessary risk. And I can count on an extraordinary cast: among them Brian Avery, a Hollywood legend, who accepted the role of Mr. Davis. The other actors are people I have worked with before and in whom I place total trust. The audience feels whether there is truth on stage. And with the audience you can’t bluff.
When will the show debut and what initiative will it be linked to?
The premiere is scheduled for the weekend of November 21 and 22, 2025 at the Los Angeles Theater Center. Part of the proceeds will be donated to a clinic that cares for aging patients. It is a project with a soul, with a purpose beyond entertainment.
What do you want to convey to the audience with this story?
That each of us is, or has been, a son, brother, father or mother. On stage there will be a little of all of us: a laugh, a memory, unexpected news or a sudden tear. It will be life, such as it is.
Are writing and acting connected for you?
Absolutely. For me, writing is an integral part of acting. When I prepare a character, I always keep a diary. Actors create the stories of the characters they play. Even when they don’t write them, they live them within themselves.
What did Los Angeles give you?
It is a city with lights and shadows, but it gives you the opportunity to realize yourself. Here, if you have a good project and work hard, you get the chance. I also owe a lot to the Italian directors I worked with, who encouraged me to go abroad to find more opportunities.
What do you think are the differences between the Italian and American systems?
In the United States there is a greater openness on the part of investors and entrepreneurs to new talent. There is not that close, almost binding link between politics and the entertainment world as there is in Italy. I think of Gigi Proietti’s battles for the Globe Theatre or for the reopening of Teatro Valle.
Do you think being Italian abroad is an advantage?
Yes. Italian grit and determination are qualities that are highly valued here in America. If you put them in the service of an idea with positive impact on the community, you can make a difference, even in your own small way.
What kind of characters do you love to play?
I am fascinated by intense characters, those with shadowy areas. The “villains” always have a reason to be: a trauma, a loss, a poorly processed grief. I like to bring them into the light, to give them humanity.
Is there a recurring theme in your stories?
The dynamics between two individuals: siblings, friends, parents and children. Understanding the mechanics of it is very fascinating to me.
Is acting for you a choice or a calling?
It is a vocation. You don’t choose it; it chooses you. It has nothing to do with success. When it no longer excites me, I will stop. But only a vocation leads you to continue working in a profession without certainty.
How do you see the future of Hollywood?
The crisis will be overcome only if room is made for new talent and new projects. Everything is a cycle, and new blood is needed to make the industry flourish again.
What dreams do you have today?
My dreams are not in the drawer but on the desk in front of my eyes. Each challenge achieved opens another. For now I enjoy the journey, step by step. Directing a work written by me is already a great achievement. But we can set the next date at 2026 for the next challenge!
The article Francesco Bauco: an Italian actor in Los Angeles, between Shakespeare and James Dean comes from TheNewyorker.
