Cellini is a 2001 play by American playwright John Patrick Shanley. It is based on the process that the sculptor Benvenuto Cellini went through in order to create his mid-16th century work Perseus with the Head of Medusa .
Shanley said that he had been working on the play for six years, and revised it after it was first staged at Vassar College. He noted that "I think it's a more demanding play than I've ever done before... " [1]
Cellini opened Off-Broadway at the Second Stage Theatre on January 24, 2001 and closed on March 4, 2001. Shanley was the director. [2] The role of Cellini was played by Reg Rogers [3] and its cast of 27 characters was played by only eight actors. [4] Reviews of the play were generally mediocre. [3] [5]