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]