Master of humor, Sander Ruçi!

Sander Ruçi, the great master of humor!
Ja Shkodra ra n’qetesi
E ne oborre  t’gjana si nuse
E plot stoli
Po na e shndriste hana
Qe udheton ngadale
Driten e saje tuj fale …….

 …. Dhe lule vilet n’mur
Heshti edhe i fundit za
Ne Shkoder n’gjume ka ra

PROLOGUE!
Ruci is a comedian, director, producer, screenwriter, parodist, everything that a complete stage artist can and should have, in short, summing it all up in one word, he is a special artist, part of the history of art of the Shkodra variety show, especially after the 90s, plays a special role in humor and undoubtedly belongs to that constellation of artists that Shkoder “Locja” is proud of.

In the times of this endless transition, an attempt and malicious intentions of the anti-values can be observed to ignore the art and artists of a generation who actually make the history of this art in its various genres.

The values of such artists can and should be pointed out widely, especially to the young generation, which should take them as an example!

Sander Ruci is born on July 19, 1955, in “Palin Canaj” street. It is a neighborhood in Shkoder from which many talented people, artists, singers, names like Tish Daia, Bik Ndoja, etc. came out. His mother, Pina, was an educated woman with a secondary education, who at that time was among the people, and who spoke the Italian language very well. Sandri’s father, Zef Ruci, was an officer and originally from Mirdita, but a resident of Shkoder since the 60s and over.

Sandri graduated from High School – Gimnasium “28-29 November” (as it called in Eastern Countries in Europe) .

The beginnings!
Shkodra has never lacked talent. There was a time when a festival was organized, the competition of the city’s amateur variety shows, which was always under the supervision of Theater and variety specialists and from which it became the main source for finding and including in the professional Theater the right talent.

In fact, all the artists from Shkodra, especially the Estrada’s artists, no one has completed the art academy, such as Tano Banushi, Bik Pepa, Hasan Smaja. Paulin Preka, etc. and Sandri as well, who was discovered as a talent by the late Paulin Sekuj.

Thus, on September 16, 1976, he joined the Variety Theater with all the giants of Shkodra’s humor. There is a trial role which he passes successfully. in the piece called “Kushtetuta” a kind of interlocutor, liaison, presenter of the scenes of the actors who interpret behind him, the period and flow of events from the time of Zog until 1976.

This is how his career starts. He observes and studies the great master Tano Banushi, from whom he learns a lot, Gjosho Vasia, especially the originality of Paulin Preka, with whom he will have the honor to perform on many occasions, dedicating himself with passion and desire to the art of the stage, the genre of humor in over 40 years in his career, one of the richest honors that with his humor has left an indelible mark not only on the Shkodra scene but also on the Albanian scene.

Innumerable pieces of humor (skece) and characters that were interpreted by the master along with other names in succession such as; Zef Deda, Zyl Miloti, Mark Lekunda, Besnik Çinari, etc.

Among those humorous pieces, we can mention: Gjyqi në mungesë /  Lahuta / Anderr Grashë /  Kur kam njoftë Ndreken /  Kthimi Mehillit /  Gomonia /  Nusja e sodit  / Vllaznia asht Vllazni /  Weekend e Piknik /  Puseta  / Amelcinat e Hillura /  Maska /  Dan Dupi ….

An unspoken part of the autobiographical portrait!

In addition to his contribution as a director, actor and producer, a contribution in favor of art in particular and art in general is his considerable productivity in literary creativity and in many genres of this creativity, such as: Humorous book, Observations, Meditations, Monologues, Elegies, Recitations, Parodies, Humorous Stories,  Ventriloquists, Dialogues, Comedy Short Films, Musical Sketches, Verses, Variety Shows, Proverbs, Journalistic Reports, TV Spots.

Below are the 40 materials of the last 20 years (2000-2020) that are in his golden fund, as an actor, director and producer, where he has written 138 literary materials and in his 46 years of career he has staged 41 premieres, four “Stand Up Comedy”, a total of 13 recitals (including an absolute national record).

Sander Ruci professionally created about 500 roles and characters, with amateur and professional bodies. Since his debut in the professional stage of Shkodra, in 1976, he has performed 93 premieres, under the direction of prominent names of Albanian art such as Paulin Sekuj, Zerudin Dokles and Arben Haveri, Director and Producer of many Shkodra Nights with the professional troupe.

For some time, he covered the position of the director in the local television “Rozafa”, for three years he directed the show “100 fjale për nji pare”

There are 10,000 verses and over 6,000 performances in the repertoire. He does not stop there, his artistic journey continues, for 22 years he has been operating as a freelancer writing, performing and performing under the single “Sandri & Company” as a producer in all this rich artistic “background” in the rank local, national, even international.

There is a new premiere, entitled “No Honey no Money”, which was prevented by this exceptional case of Covid-19, which can be considered one of the best premieres of the last 10 years.

In his repertoire, there is also another “Stand Up Show” as a singer and actor where there are 11 other international songs in this show.

The 138 materials of these genres mentioned above and written by Sandri in these two decades have not seen the light of the stage and others in the future are waiting for him with new production, a work that continues, certainly difficult with responsibility but that brings satisfaction and why not possibly also innovation!

Sander Ruci currently lives with his family, since 2006, in Boca Raton, Florida in the US.America, with great love for Shkodër and the homeland, without leaving artistic activity.

Ruci, as a son of Shkodra, cannot be compared to the other great artists from Shkodra who were born in Shkodra.

Despite the humor, he writes just as beautifully. In 2011, he wrote the first book “Kur te buzeqesh vargu”, in a new breath of Albanian humorous literature, this typical literature especially in Shkoder. The birth, the smile of the first book is like the birth of a son after love.

Among other things, Sander Ruci is a kind, educated and very communicative person.

Awards and titles:

“Gold Medal of Appreciation” from President Moisiu
“Grand Master’s Order” from , President Nishani

For every year in his homeland, he comes with from two new premieres, being more or less by Sander Ruçi, an artist who adores the art of his hometown Shkodra.

These are figures that should not be easily overlooked or underestimated for this artist who still continues to produce, the quality in this field for the spectator who is the fairest judge. ________________________________________________

NOTE: This material is protected by copyright © Sander Ruçi & Albanian Cinematography. In the construction of this material, information from the artist himself, Sander Ruci, was used. Edited and adapted for publication “Albanian Cinematography” / September 2014 / January 2021.
We sincerely thank actor Sander Ruci for helping us publish some photos of this album.