Jonathan Failla's remarkable journey began in Brooklyn, New York, where he developed a profound affection for the Atlantic Ocean and the quintessential New York pizza. His introduction to the world of acting came during his high school drama club days, when Sister Monica praised his portrayal of Walter Hollander, remarking that his performance brought a severely depressed friend of hers to tears of laughter for the first time in years. This experience instilled in him a deep understanding of the transformative power of acting.
Failla's academic pursuits took him to SUNY Purchase, where he studied acting under the tutelage of Joan Potter, a member of the Actor's Studio, who had herself studied under Lee Strasberg and Eva Le Gallienne. During his time at Purchase, he co-founded the Purchase Underground Stage with fellow actor Brian Foyster. He graduated in 1983 as valedictorian, earning a BFA in Theatre Arts and Film.
Following his graduation, Failla worked as a house painter during the day and an actor in Off-Off-Broadway productions at night. He later transitioned to a career in film and television, serving as a set painter in various art departments. However, his passion for acting and directing remained unwavering.
In 1988, Failla's life took an unexpected turn when he applied for a job sponsored by the US Embassy - an exhibition about film in America taking place in East Berlin. During his time in East Berlin, he befriended local theatre enthusiasts who adopted him into their "free theatre" group, Theater Schlagersüß, and invited him to direct them in an American play. The production, "Save the Pigs," by playwright Paul O'Donnell, premiered on May 1st, 1989, in East Berlin, just months before the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Failla's experience in East Berlin had a profound impact on his life, and he went on to spend several years living in Prenzlauer Berg, where he continued to act, direct, and even introduce the city to New York-style pizza. His entrepreneurial spirit and love for pizza led him to bake and sell pizzas in his squatted flat, which quickly became a hit among the locals.
Failla's life took another significant turn when he met his wife, Anja, and moved to her hometown of Magdeburg, Germany. Together, they started a family, and Failla founded Asyltheater/Theaterasyl, a theatre group that brought refugees and Magdeburg teenagers together through the power of theatre. During this period, he wrote and performed three musicals.
Today, Failla is a fluent German speaker, known for his work as a director in German theaters and his acting credits in German film and television. He also works as an editor for the business, science, and environment department at DW TV in Berlin. Additionally, he is the author of the book "Kleine Hausapotheke English."
