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NYSAF was founded in 1985 by Mark Linn-Baker, Max Mayer, and Leslie Urdang in order to provide artists with a rigorous and nurturing environment to support artistic process, promote collaboration between artistic peers, foster dialogue between artists and audiences, and to facilitate the sharing of knowledge from one artistic generation to the next. Johanna Pfaelzer was named NYSAF's first Artistic Director in 2007, having worked with the company as Managing Producer since 1998, and now serves as a Producing Director along with the three founders. In 2019, Christopher Burney began a 3.5 year term as the next Artistic Director, leading the community with great care and creativity through an unexpected tenure of global change, ushering in a new era of service and flexibility. Liz Carlson succeeded Burney as the Interim Artistic Director in November 2022, after a 15-year relationship with NYSAF as an artist and producer, including a 7-year term as the year-round Artistic Producer.

From our inception in 1985, NYSAF and Vassar College partnered to produce the annual Powerhouse Summer Season in Poughkeepsie, NY. In the 2010s, NYSAF expanded our commitment to serving artistic process by supporting regular programming in New York City throughout the calendar year. As the world changed in 2020, we adapted our resources to meet the evolving needs of our community, and expanded our partnerships in the Hudson Valley to include Marist College and other local businesses and educational institutions. ​

 

 

In 2023, NYSAF entered a dedicated, multi-year collaboration with Marist College in order to expand our year-round services for artists developing new work in theater, film and television in the Hudson Valley and New York City while also opening up significant new educational programs and experiential learning opportunities for Marist students.

 

Learn more about our Annual Artist Support.

Notable productions that received vital incubation with NYSAF include: the Tony Award-winning Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda), Hadestown (Anaïs Mitchell), The Humans (Stephen Karam), Doubt (John Patrick Shanley); OBIE Award winning The Invisible Hand (Ayad Akhtar), Pulitzer-finalists The Wolves (Sarah DeLappe) and Taylor Mac’s A 24-Decade History of Popular Music; Broadway musicals Head Over Heels, American Idiot, Bright Star; Off-Broadway’s The Fortress of Solitude (Michael Friedman and Itamar Moses), Sanctuary City (Martyna Majok); the award-winning Peanut Butter Falcon (Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz); multiple collaborations with Ngozi Anyanwu, Jocelyn Bioh, Halley Feiffer, Zach Helm, Beth Henley, Warren Leight, Mozhan Marnó, Billy Porter, Brian Quijada, Josh Radnor, Duncan Sheik, Steven Sater;  and hundreds more.  

2021

NYSAF SUMMER SEASON 

MUSICAL WORKSHOPS

MEXODUS by Brian Quijada & Nygel D Robinson

dramaturgy by Tlaloc Rivas

SOUTH by Florencia Iriondo

WHITE GIRL IN DANGER by Michael R. Jackson

directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz

2023 Production: Vineyard Theatre & Second Stage Theater

INTERSTATE by Melissa Li & Kit Yan

directed by Jesca Prudencio

IN RESIDENCE

Sivan Battat, The Leo Shull Directing Fellow

Chris Darbassie

Shayok Misha Chowdhury & Kameron Neal

Estefanía Fadul, Pfaelzer Award Recipient

Kareem Fahmy

Jennifer Gibbs

Keelay Gipson & Sam Salmond

Marcy Heisler & Amanda Green

Jessica Huang & Jacinth Greywoode

Kay Kemp, Epstein Award Recipient

Joanna Castle Miller & Will Steinberger

Doron JéPaul Mitchell & Julius Pryor IV

Phanésia Pharel

Paul Oakley Sotvall & Nikhil Saboo

Kirya Traber, Founders' Award Recipient

Shona Tucker & Yvette Ganier

The Lark: Brittany Allen, A.A. Brenner, Edison Ventura Mata Diaz, Jahna Ferron-Smith, Xavier Galva, Nora Brigid Monahan

 

DIGITAL PROGRAMMING

NYSAF NOW

As a result of the global pandemic and suspension of in-person gatherings and live performance as of March 2020, NYSAF initiated NYSAF NOW, an adaptable set of resources to serve the needs of artists through digital connection, flexible structures, and financial support.

 

HONEY WIDOW by Nayna Agrawal

what you are now by Sam Chanse

directed by Steve Cosson

ISABELLA BOOTLEGS by Samantha Cooper

TELL THEM I'M STILL YOUNG by Julia Doolittle

directed by May Adrales

THE FREEDOM INDUSTRY by Zachariah Ezer

directed by Dominique Rider

THE FUN TIME CYCLE by Zach Helm

directed by Kate Whoriskey

SOUTH by Florencia Iriondo

NATURAL SELECTION by Michael Sun Lee

THE MADWOMEN IN THE PANDEMIC

by Sandra Tsing Loh

LOST DREAMS by Jennifer Manocherian

THE BLACK ALBUM MIXTAPE

curated by Doron JéPaul Mitchell

featuring Jarreau Carrillo, Roland Lane, Carvens Lissaint,

Jaiel Mitchell, Breanna Taylor

BASTIANO by Carey Perloff

directed by Vivienne Benesch

COMMUNITY ROUNDTABLES

curated by Dominique Rider

DREAMS OF MY FATHER by Jackie Roberts

MEXODUS by Brian Quijada & Nygel D. Robinson

dramaturgy by Tlaloc Rivas

THE FORE-PLAY by Steven Sater

DEARIE by Claudia Shear

directed by Scott Ellis

THE YEARS BETWEEN US by Liana Sonenclar

directed by Jackson Gay

THE MIGRATION LP by Keenan Scott II

Music direction by Khiyon Hursey

NYSAF NEXUS

Garrett Allen

Ace Anderson

Brittany Bland

Elisa Bocanegra

Nichole Canuso

Sam Chanse

Shayok Misha Chowdhury

Kristiana Rae Colón

Giselle Durand

Jennifer Gibbs

Aleem Hossain

Kimille Howard

Joanna Castle Miller

Tara Moses

Erlina Ortiz

Mason Alexander Park

Phanésia Pharel

Justen Ross

Gabriele Sanchez

Vera Starbard

2020 -

2022

NYSAF SUMMER SEASON 

MUSICAL WORKSHOPS

THE RETURN OF YOUNG BOY by Keenan Scott II & Tre Matthews

directed by Steve H. Broadnax III 

THE POTLUCK by César Alvarez

directed by Sarah Benson

SUN SONGS by Katie Madison & Deborah Cowell

PLAY WORKSHOPS

THE WORLD IS NOT SILENT by Don Nguyen

directed by Marya Mazor

SWEET CHARIOT by Eric Lockley

directed by Shariffa Ali 

2023 Production: Under the Radar Festival, The Public Theater

 

TELL THEM I’M STILL YOUNG by Julia Doolittle

directed by May Adrales 
 

READING FESTIVALS

MY BROTHER IS BETTER AT LOVE THAN ME by Lily Houghton

directed by Leigh Silverman

NUESTRA PLANETA by Diana Burbano

directed by Elisa Bocanegra 

Commissioned by Hero Theater Company

 

[A NEW PLAY] by Josh Radnor

directed by Sheryl Kaller 

 

LOVE ALL by Anna Deavere Smith

directed by Marc Bruni

2023 Production: La Jolla Playhouse

DEMONS. by Keelay Gipson

directed by Steph Paul 

2023 Production: JAG Productions & Bushwick Starr

 

MODERN GENTLEMAN by Preston Max Allen

directed by Trip Cullman
 

FILMMAKERS' WORKSHOP

PERFECT BOUND by Caroline Blair

THE PRESIDENT’S CAKE by Hasan Hadi

 

POSSESSED by Jacob Harpel

SUBMERGED OBJECTS by Anderson Heinz

HONEST LIVING by Lauren Marcus

IF YOU SEEK BRITNEY by Ama Quao

ONE ROSE by Richa Rudola

I’M SORRY I BROUGHT UP GOD by Emily Zemba

 

IN RESIDENCE

George Abud, Osh Ashruf & Sadie Veach

 

Nissy Aya, 2022 Founders’ Award Recipient

 

Stephen Belber

 

Kyle Beltran, Adam Chanler-Berat, Lee Sunday Evans, Marin Ireland, Grace McLean 

 

Molly Carden & Abigail Zealey Bess

Shayok Misha Chowdhury (NEXUS Cohort) with Roopa Mahadevan, Sruti Sarathy & Shiv Subramaniam

 

Kate Douglas & Shayfer James

Keelay Gipson, Cedwan Hooks, Steph Paul, Jon Riddleberger

 

Gethsemane Herron, 2021 Founders’ Award Finalist

 

Rebecca Holderness

Tim J Lord

Donja R. Love

 

Gloria Majule

Talene Monahon & Jaki Bradley

 

jeremy o’brian, 2021 Founders’ Award Recipient

 

Ibi Owolabi, 2022 Drama League Fellow​

Dominique Rider

Samantha Spies with Nicole A. Watson

 

Shona Tucker & Yvette Ganier

Noelle Viñas & Estefanía Fadul

 

Dawn Monique Williams, 2022 Pfaelzer Award Recipient​

DIGITAL PROGRAMMING

NYSAF NOW

As a result of the global pandemic and suspension of in-person gatherings and live performance as of March 2020, NYSAF initiated NYSAF NOW, an adaptable set of resources to serve the needs of artists through digital connection, flexible structures, and financial support.

we share spoons by Lyndsey Bourne

directed by Sarah Lunnie

HIGHWAY PATROL by Dana Delaney, Jen Silverman, Mike Donahue, and Dane Laffrey

NYSAF NEXUS

2020

NYC PROGRAMMING

NYC WINTER SEASON

LOVELY DAY by Leslie Ayvazian

directed by Max Mayer

TELL THEM I'M STILL YOUNG by Julia Doolittle

directed by Mark Brokaw

A DISTINCT SOCIETY by Kareem Fahmy

directed by Taylor Reynolds

WHITELISTED by Chisa Hutchinson

directed by Jade King Carroll

BREATHING IN by David Rabe

directed by Sarna Lapine

INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS by Ryan Spahn

directed by Michael Urie

GROWING WILD by Shona Tucker

directed by Elizabeth Van Dyke

NYC WINTER CABARET 

THE RACE by Madeline Myers

SOMEWHERE OVER THE BORDER by Brian Quijada

THE LAST SUPPER book by Christina Quintana (CQ)

composed by Migguel Angel & Jaime Lozano

SELECTED SONGS by Rona Siddiqui

GALILEO book by Danny Strong

music & lyrics by Zoe Sarnak and Michael Weiner

DIGITAL PROGRAMMING

 

NYSAF NOW

As a result of the global pandemic and suspension of in-person gatherings and live performance as of March 2020, NYSAF initiated NYSAF NOW, an adaptable set of resources to serve the needs of artists through digital connection, flexible structures, and financial support.

WHAT WE DO NEXT by Stephen Belber

directed by Lisa Peterson

TELL THEM I'M STILL YOUNG by Julia Doolittle

directed by May Adrales

TAMPONS, DEAD DOGS & OTHER DISPOSABLE THINGS

by Shairi Engle

directed by Lucie Tiberghien

[the redacted] by Zach Helm

directed by Kate Whoriskey

EL OTRO LADO by Monet Hurst-Mendoza

AGENT 355 book and dramaturgy by Jessica Kahkoska

book, music & lyrics by Preston Max Allen

directed by Estefanía Fadul

DREAM A LITTLE DREAM by Kay Kemp

MCCOURT by Ilya Khodosh

directed by Susan Tenney

THE MADWOMEN IN THE PANDEMIC

by Sandra Tsing Loh

IKE by Molly Beach Murphy

directed by Morgan Green

BASTIANO by Carey Perloff

directed by Vivienne Benesch

NAILS! by Eliana Pipes

MYTH OF MY PAIN by Andrew Rincón

MEXODUS by Brian Quijada & Nygel D. Robinson

dramaturgy by Tlaloc Rivas

THE SAN MAN by Christina Quintana (CQ)

THE FORGIVENESS MACHINE by Josh Radnor

directed by Sheryl Kaller

THE YEARS BETWEEN US by Liana Sonenclar

directed by Jackson Gay

THE MIGRATION LP by Keenan Scott II

Music direction by Khiyon Hursey

MISS MITCHELL book by Kristin Slaney

music & lyrics by Tommy Crawford and Alex Grubbs

directed by Sarah Elizabeth Wansley

LUCKY by Kirya Traber

directed by Tamilla Woodard

dramaturgy by Lisa Marie Rollins

 

FILMMAKERS' WORKSHOP

WILLOW by Nancy Bannon

TRIP by David Baugnon

PARIAH by Rob Bellon

THE BITTER PILL by Anika Benkov

MYSEDUCATION by Yakira Chambers

THE WATCHERS by Kim Dempster

WAYS TO HIDE IN WINTER by Jenny Halper

KING OF SWING by Alessandro King

EARTH MOTHER by Savanah Leaf

LONDONI by Guru Ramanathan

RED ROCK FALLS by Traven Rice

TRUE STORY by Charia Rose

THE ARK by Minnie Schedeen

SANNYASA by Shawn Snyder & Jason Begue

2010 - 2019

2019

POWERHOUSE SEASON

MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS

THE BANDAGED PLACE by Harrison David Rivers

directed by David Mendizábal

2022 Production: Roundabout Theatre Company

 

LIGHTNING (OR THE UNBUTTONING) by Beth Henley 

directed by Mark Brokaw

 

MUSICAL WORKSHOPS

ANNIE SALEM: AN AMERICAN TALE

adapted from the novel by Mac Wellman

book by Rachel Chavkin

music by Heather Christian

lyrics by Heather Christian and Rachel Chavkin

directed by Rachel Chavkin

THE ELEMENTARY SPACETIME SHOW

music and lyrics by César Alvarez

book by César Alvarez and Emily Orling

directed by Sarah Benson

GODDESS

conceived by Saheem Ali

music & lyrics by Michael Thurber

book by Jocelyn Bioh

additional lyrics by Mkhululi Z. Mabija

directed by Saheem Ali

2022 Production: Berkeley Repertory Theatre

 

PLAY WORKSHOPS

...AND THE HORSE YOU RODE IN ON by Zach Helm

directed by Kate Whoriskey

 

THE BEST WE COULD (A FAMILY TRAGEDY) 

by Emily Feldman

directed by Daniel Aukin

2023 Production: Manhattan Theatre Club, NYC

2020 Production: Manhattan Theatre Club, NYC

 

READINGS FESTIVALS

THE NOTEBOOK based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks

music & lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson

book by Bekah Brunstetter

2022 Production: Chicago Shakespeare Theater

GALILEO book by Danny Strong

music & lyrics by Michael Weiner and Zoe Sarnak

directed by Michael Mayer

SANCTUARY CITY by Martyna Majok

directed by Rebecca Frecknall

2021 Production: New York Theatre Workshop, NYC

BECKY NURSE OF SALEM

written & directed by Sarah Ruhl

2022 Production: Lincoln Center Theatre

2020 Production: Berkeley Repertory Theatre

 

DELUSION BY PROXY by Brooke Adams

directed by Ethan Silverman

THE PAPER DREAMS OF HARRY CHIN by Jessica Huang

directed by Kip Fagan

2021 Production: Indiana Repertory Theatre

THE EXCAVATION OF MARY ANNING by Ian August

directed by Sammi Cannold

2022 Production: The Wallis, Los Angeles

 

RESIDENCIES

WILLIAMSBURG book by Jason Katims

music by Tom Kitt

lyrics by Marcy Heisler

LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE A new musical adaptation of Laura Esquivel’s  novel Like Water for Chocolate

by Lisa Loomer and La Santa Cecilia

directed by Michael Mayer

 

LOVE, ROSIE book  by Peter Duchan
music and lyrics by Zack Zadek

 

NYC PROGRAMMING

 

NYC READING SERIES AT BARNARD COLLEGE

THE COAST STARLIGHT written by Keith Bunin

directed by Tyne Rafaeli

2023 Production: Lincoln Center Theater

2019 Production: La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego

 

NIKE OR WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER HERO 

written and directed by Ngozi Anyanwu

MOVING FORWARD by Bill Bradley

TENT REVIVAL by Majkin Holmquist

directed by Teddy Bergman

MOTHER OF EXILES by Jessica Huang

directed by Tyne Rafaeli

THE LOST OR, HOW TO JUST B

written and directed by Keelay Gipson

 

NYC WINTER SEASON

PICTURES FROM HOME written by Sharr White

directed by Daniella Topol

2023 Production: Broadway, Studio 54

THE BANDAGED PLACE written by Harrison David Rivers

directed by David Mendizábal

2022 Production: Roundabout Theatre Company

 

SAYING GOODBYE TO THE PEOPLE I LOVE FROM MY BATHTUB written by Halley Feiffer

directed by Trip Cullman

Artists-in-Residence: Liza Birkenmeier, Molly Beach Murphy, Jeanna Phillips, The Lobbyists

2018

POWERHOUSE SEASON

MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS

RADIO ISLAND by Liza Birkenmeier

directed by Jaki Bradley

 

THE WAVES adapted from the novel by Virginia Woolf

book by Lisa Peterson, music and lyrics by David Bucknam, additional music and lyrics by Adam Gwon

directed by Lisa Peterson

 

MUSICAL WORKSHOPS

ALICE BY HEART

book by Steven Sater with Jessie Nelson

music by Duncan Sheik

lyrics by Steven Sater

directed by Jessie Nelson

2019 Production: MCC Theater, NYC

 

THE CONNECTOR

music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown

book by Jonathan Marc Sherman

directed by Daisy Prince

 

COWBOY BOB

created by Molly Beach Murphy, Jeanna Phillips & Annie Tippe

music & lyrics by Jeanna Phillips

book & additional lyrics by Molly Beach Murphy

additional music by Alex Thrailkill

directed by Annie Tippe

2023 Production: The Alley Theatre

 

LITTLE ORPHAN DANNY

book, lyrics & music by Dan Finnerty

conceived by Dan Finnerty & Sean Daniels

additional music by Dan Lipton

directed by Sean Daniels

2018 Production: Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Lowell, MA

 

PLAY WORKSHOPS

INDIA PALE ALE by Jaclyn Backhaus

directed by Will Davis

2018 Production: Manhattan Theatre Club, NYC

 

OUR COUNTRY conceived by Annie Saunders & Becca Wolff

direction & dramaturgy by Becca Wolff

additional dramaturgy & original writing by Annie Saunders

additional devising by the company

2023 Production: Under the Radar Festival, The Public Theater

2018 Production: Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Scotland

 

 

READINGS FESTIVALS

ON THAT DAY IN AMSTERDAM by Clarence Coo

directed by Kareem Fahmy

2022 Production: 59E59

2021 Production: Primary Stages, NYC

THE PAIN OF MY BELLIGERENCE by Halley Feiffer

directed by Trip Cullman

2019 Production: Playwrights Horizons, NYC

 

THE HOLE by Sarah Gancher

directed by Danya Taymor

#untitled by rupi kaur

directed by Leah C. Gardner

 

THE NORTH STAR by Donja R. Love

directed by Malika Oyetimein

THE PURISTS by Dan McCabe

directed by Billy Porter

2019 Production: Huntington Theatre Company

THE DIZZINES OF FREEDOM by Stephen Nathan

directed by Daniella Topol

SWITCHED book by Geoffrey Nauffts

music & lyrics by Jonatha Brooke

directed by Sheryl Kaller

LICK O'THE KNIFE by Jackie Roberts

directed by Kent Gash

 

RESIDENCIES

ACCIDENTALLY BRAVE written & performed by Maddie Corman

directed by Kristin Hanggi

2019 Production: DR2 Theatre, NYC

ADAM based on the film written and directed by Max Mayer, book by Max Mayer, music by Steven Page, directed by Amy Tinkham, produced by Leslie Urdang & Miranda de Pencier

 

BAND AID book & music by Zoe Lister Jones, directed by Leigh Silverman

 

Q2

By James Lecesne & Ryan Amador

SISYPHUS created by Sarah Baskin, Larry Biederman, Albert Dayan, Michaela Escarcega, Jacqueline Wright

NYC PROGRAMMING

 

NYC READING SERIES AT BARNARD COLLEGE

THE LETTERS by David Zellnik, directed by Pamela Berlin

 

...and the horse you rode in on  

written and directed by Zach Helm

 

soft by Donja R. Love

directed by Awoye Timpo

2022 Production: MCC Theater

 

NYC WINTER SEASON

HOUSE OF JOY by Madhuri Shekar

directed by Zi Alikhan

2019 Production: California Shakespeare Theater, Berkeley, CA

LITTLE ORPHAN DANNY

book, lyrics & music by Dan Finnerty

conceived by Dan Finnerty & Sean Daniels

additional music by Dan Lipton

directed by Sean Daniels

2018 Production: Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Lowell, MA

 

THE LUCKIEST by Melissa Ross

directed by Daniella Topol

2019/2020 Production: La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego

 

2017

POWERHOUSE SEASON

MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS

SACRED VALLEY by Josh Radnor

directed by Sheryl Kaller

GOOD MEN WANTED by Kevin Armento

directed by Jaki Bradley

 

MUSICAL WORKSHOPS

STILYAGI 

lyrics by Lisa Kron, music by Peter Lerman

based on the motion picture The Hipsters,

produced by Red Arrow Films

directed by Michael Mayer

THIS AIN'T NO DISCO

music and lyrics by Stephen Trask and Peter Yanowitz

book by Stephen Trask & Peter Yanowitz

and Rick Elice

directed by Trip Cullman

2018 Production: Atlantic Theater Company, NYC

THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES

book by Lynn Nottage

composed by Duncan Sheik

lyrics by Susan Birkenhead

based on the novel by Sue Monk Kidd

directed by Sam Gold

2023 Production: Almeida Theatre, London

2019 Production: Atlantic Theater Company, NYC

PLAY WORKSHOPS

THE GREAT LEAP by Lauren Yee

directed by Will Davis

2018 Production: Atlantic Theater Company, NYC

2019 Production: ACT, San Francisco

THE HOMECOMING QUEEN by Ngozi Anyanwu

directed by Awoye Timpo

2018 Production: Atlantic Theater Company, NYC

 

READINGS FESTIVAL

DIANA book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro

music and lyrics by David Bryan

directed by Christopher Ashley

2018/2019 Production: La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego

2021 Production: Longacre Theatre, Broadway

ONE GOOD EGG by Annie Evans

directed by Melia Bensussen

AMY AND THE ORPHANS by Lindsey Ferrentino

directed by Scott Ellis

2018 Production: Roundabout Theatre Company, NYC

LITTLE ORPHAN DANNY book, music and lyrics by Dan Finnerty

additional music by Dan Lipton

directed by Sean Daniels

2018 Production: Merrimack Repertory Theatre, MA 

IRONWEED by William Kennedy and Jodie Markell

based on the novel by William Kennedy

directed by Jodie Markell

PARIS, ACTORS by Hamish Linklater

directed by Leigh Silverman

THE FIT by Carey Perloff

directed by Daniel Aukin

KID PRINCE AND PABLO by Brian Quijada

directed by Pirronne Yousefzadeh

2019 Production: The John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts, D.C.

SERIOUS MOONLIGHT

written by and based on the film by Adrienne Shelly 

co-adapted by Liz Tuccillo and Andy Ostroy

directed by Sheryl Kaller

JANE SAYS

by Diana Son

directed by Mark Brokaw

RESIDENCIES

LIGHTS OUT by Colman Domingo and Patricia McGregor

directed by Patricia McGregor

a commission of The People's Light Theater Company

2017 Production: People's Light, Malvern, PA

2019 Production: Geffen Playhouse, LA

JOAN by Stephen Belber

directed by Lisa Peterson

2019 Production: Colt Coeur, NYC

NYC PROGRAMMING

NYC READING SERIES AT BARNARD COLLEGE

WHAT A SHAME ABOUT ME

written and directed by Eric Bogosian

MINNEAPOLIS/ST.PAUL by Lee Blessing

directed by Maria Mileaf

LIGHTNING by Beth Henley

directed by Amy Madigan

THE FIT by Carey Perloff

directed by Melia Bensussen

SERIOUS MOONLIGHT

written by and based on the film by Adrienne Shelly

co-adapted by Andy Ostroy & Liz Tucillo