Entertainment careers are often defined by their episodic nature, with performers moving from one booking to the next while constantly wondering where the next opportunity will come from. For actor Enea Pagni, a single audition proved that the casting process can yield lasting artistic relationships that transcend individual jobs, ultimately leading to an exciting new home with the Cross/Cut Theatre Collective.
The Power of Connection Beyond the Project
Enea Pagni originally crossed paths with Gene Santarelli through Poetic Justice by David Masello. Recalling how it all began, Enea Pagni explains, “I originally met Gene through Poetic Justice by David Masello. I was invited to audition for the play and ended up being cast as Ellis Mattina.”
Although circumstances meant Enea Pagni “ultimately wasn’t able to take part in that production,” the connection endured.,”Gene and I stayed in touch afterwards, and at some point he asked me if I’d like to join Cross/Cut Theatre Collective.” Reflecting on this journey, Enea Pagni shares that “sometimes an audition can also simply lead to meeting people you connect with artistically, regardless of what ends up happening with that particular job,” adding that “connections are important in this industry… sometimes they really are what lives on beyond the individual project.”
Finding Community with Cross/Cut Theatre Collective
Joining a formal theatre group brings a refreshing change of pace. Enea Pagni points out, “There’s something about a company that gives you a sense of community and artistic continuity, which I think is really valuable when the nature of our work can otherwise be so episodic.”
Rather than treating every gig as an isolated event, Enea Pagni values how a theatre company offers “the possibility of coming back to the same group of people over time, developing work together, potentially being involved in something from its early stages, and having that regular space to keep exploring and working as an artist.” While loving work across “film or TV at all,” Enea Pagni emphasizes that “there’s something particularly valuable about the continuity that a theatre company can offer, especially in an industry where so much of the work is project to project.”
Looking Ahead
The collaborative roots tied to these milestones have blossomed wonderfully. Enea Pagni expresses happiness “that Poetic Justice went on to have its own success and that David Masello ultimately won the 2026 Thomas Barbour Playwrights Award for the play,” alongside Cross/Cut serving as “the Episcopal Actors’ Guild’s Partner Company for the 2026 award.”
Now, Enea Pagni is “really just excited to see what comes next and what we end up developing and working on together.” While noting that “there’s nothing specific I can share publicly at this point,” Enea Pagni is “looking forward to hopefully being able to share more about what we’re working on in the future.”
