In 1967, Zeffirelli established his own theater company, "Compagnia Italiana di Prosa". Alongside Anna Maria Guarnieri, Giancarlo Giannini, Sarah Ferrati, and Umberto Orsini, the new company also featured Rina Morelli and Paolo Stoppa.
The two plays staged by the company, "A Delicate Balance" by Edward Albee and "The Promise", came from vastly different cultural contexts and traditions: the former was American, while the latter hailed from Soviet Russia. Although both were contemporary works, they stood in stark contrast to one another in style, worldview, and the values they conveyed, offering a glimpse into cultures that were distant and profoundly distinct.
Zeffirelli entrusted the direction of "The Promise" to Valerio Zurlini, while reserving for himself the role of set designer.