City Hall of Agrigento, Piazza Pirandello, 1 – Multimedia room (inside the atrium on the right)
December 1-31, 2025 Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm Saturday 10am-1pm
Info:

Guided tour: Sunday Dec. 28 at 5:30pm in the courtyard of City Hall, Agrigento. The main actress, Lucia Cammalleri, originally from Canicattì (Agrigento) will be in attendance. A light thematic tasting will be prepared by the pastry baker Federica Farruggia (Casa Barbadoro). We will write postcards to the artist currently in New York City.

Through an experimental narrative, the film tells the journey to the United States of the protagonist, a Sicilian woman forced to emigrate to the USA with an imposed arranged marriage, leaving behind a partner and her children. As such, the woman becomes “other” both with respect to the world she comes from and that of Lawrence, Massachusetts, in which she finds herself living after crossing the ocean. The theme of the video is highly relevant to the Agrigento 2025 dossier, entitled “The Self, the Other and Nature: Cultural Relations and Transformations” and places emphasis on the gender issue, in a province characterized by strong emigration, including female emigration, both in the past and today.

This work by Maria Rapicavoli is inspired by the words of Simone de Beauvoir in the 1949 essay “La donna like other:” its opening to the public takes place only one week after the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1999.

The other: A familiar story is an installation included in the SPONDE project, within Agrigento Capital of Culture 2025, with the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Agrigento Capitale Foundation, the Sicilian Region, the Municipality of Agrigento, and the Inserra Chair in Italian and Italian American Studies at �鶹��ý����.

Join us now for a series of programs this mid-October, from presentations to a workshop and master class led by the creator and director of the musical, Marco Savatteri, and one of the actors, Toti Maria Geraci, with the participation of the three students. Meanwhile, the translation of the musical script is in the works in connection to a class taught by Prof. Trubiano, and will be the basis for a reading on campus scheduled for Spring 2026.

The internship was designed by Prof. Teresa Fiore (Inserra Chair) and co-organized with Prof. Lori McCann (Voice Program, Cali School of Music), in collaboration with Prof. Ryan Kasprzak (Musical Theatre).

See the flyer below for all the details or access the webpage.

After auditions held in March, two students were granted a scholarship to fund a two-month stay in Agrigento, rehearsing and performing with the Savatteri Produzioni company: Mia Grizzuti is a major in Musical Theatre (CART) and Brianna Coppolino is a Master’s student in Voice, Cali School of Music — they are both taking classes in the Italian Program. In love with the idea of performing in the magical Valley of the Greek Temples (), Emma Mason decided to participate through direct funding from Savatteri Produzioni, after her graduation (BA in Voice, Cali School).

Mia Grizzuti, Emma Mason, and Brianna Coppolino

Read about: BRIANNA’S EXPERIENCE�� �� MIA’S EXPERIENCE �� EMMA’S EXPERIENCE

The students have also been invited to take part in other shows regularly presented by the Savatteri company (Bianca Lancia, a musical about Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II’s legendary lover; and Scopri il teatro, an interactive show about the history of Agrigento’s Teatro Pirandello), but also new productions including in the opera genre, in which Marco Savatteri moved his first yet very convincing steps (Mascagni’s��Cavalleria Rusticana presented in Enna and at the breathtaking Teatro Classico of Taormina in mid-August).

Video: Footage and editing by Colin Keyes

️“This program has changed us as artists, students, and people: adaptability, cultural and linguistic enrichment, challenges and creative answers, as well as the pleasure of a slow pace of life in Agrigento, are part of this extraordinary experience – stated the three students, visibly moved. “Performing in front of the Temple of Concordia with our voices echoing through the columns dating back to the 5th century BCE was an exhilarating feeling.” This emotional and professional journey reached its most intense expression when Mia and Brianna were assigned the solo part at the end of two separate show, and beautifully interpreted the role of Fate.

Lori McCann, Brianna Coppolino, Emma Mason, Mia Grizzuti, Teresa Fiore, and Marco Savatteri

“This program serves as an ideal model of collaboration between academia and the world of musical theater, between faraway places working closely together such as Agrigento and �鶹��ý����, between artists who speak different languages and share knowledge, giving voice to a show imbued with ancient yet still very topical stories that explore the relationship between humans and gods. We make joint decisions to lead this program, attending to the affective dimension, and seeing in it a sacred experience: an example of peaceful sharing in a world increasingly permeated by conflicts” – said Prof. Teresa Fiore (Inserra Chair, WLC Dept., CHSS), Professor Lori McCann (Voice, Cali School, CART), and , who have woven together this international summer program along with Ryan Kasprzak (Head of the Musical Theatre Program),��in collaboration with the Office of International Academic Initiatives at �鶹��ý����.

An infinite thank you to Mr. Inserra for his great generosity, to Maestro Savatteri with his tireless genius and sensitivity, to Savatteri Produzioni for the precious logistical support, to the company for the warm welcome, to Ente Parco della Valle dei Templi, and to Agrigento Italian Capital of Culture 2025.

Photo credits: Elena Dibattista and Irene Zunardi.
Program description: click here
Short link:

“Le ecoculture della Scala dei Turchi: Un sito-mappa di storie multispecie” è un progetto di ricerca digitale ideato dal Prof. Vetri Nathan e dalla Prof.ssa Teresa Fiore sulla base della teoria del Prof. Nathan di co-esistenza di varie specie e forme di vita (vegetale, animale, umana, minerale, ecc.) da narrare attraverso un sistema digitale di mappatura densa (thick-mapping).

Il progetto è stato avviato nel marzo del 2025, proponendosi come aggregatore di studi, ricerche, attività e conoscenze già realizzate e presenti nel territorio, ma non ancora collegate, proprio per riflettere sulla complessità, stratificazione ed evoluzione di un luogo iconico come la Scala dei Turchi. Per informazioni sulla fase iniziale del progetto, si veda questa pagina web. E per la seconda fase, si veda questo .

Giorno 11 luglio 2025 alle ore 10:30 presso la Villa Genuardi, sede del Polo Universitario, il progetto verrà presentato nell’ambito di un seminario con la partecipazione di ricercatori e addetti ai lavori fino ad ora abbracciati dal progetto. Il seminario sarà un ‘occasione per approfondire nozioni teoriche e applicate relative a studi multi-specie e tecnologia thick-mapping, ma anche per definire nuove sinergie in vista dell’ulteriore sviluppo del progetto in autunno. Il sito sarà definitivamente lanciato nel dicembre del 2025 e incluso nel del Prof. Nathan a UCLA.

Progetto inserito nella programmazione di Agrigento Capitale della Cultura Italiana 2025 all’interno del progetto , con il sostegno della University of California, Los Angeles (), e della �鶹��ý����, New Jersey (Inserra Chair in Italian and Italian American Studies), con il contributo alla ricerca scientifica del dottorando Giacomo Frazzetta (UCLA). Si ringrazia il Polo Territoriale Universitario di Agrigento per l’ospitalità presso la propria sede in occasione della presentazione e del seminario.

PROGRAMMA

• Saluti di benvenuto del�� (Presidente del Polo Territoriale Universitario di Agrigento)
• Introduzione al progetto: Prof.ssa Teresa Fiore e
  • Teoria multispecie (cenni storici e nozioni principali)
  • Tecnica di thick-mapping attraverso la piattaforma geo-spaziale ArcGIS (descrizione base dello strumento)
  • Organizzazione specifica del sito per il progetto “Le Eco-culture della Scala dei Turchi” (illustrazione delle categorie in fieri e della visione generale)
  • Raccolta e condivisione di dati, storie, materiale audio-visivo (modalità di approccio e creazione di rete)
  • Fasi future del progetto
• Interventi:
  • e Nino Dinolfo (Visitagrigento): “Veicolare la ricchezza della Scala dei Turchi attraverso l’educazione ambientale e il turismo esperienziale: sfide e opportunità”
  • (Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farmaceutiche, UNIPA): “Il chiodo d’oro: Cicli astronomici e cambiamenti climatici nelle rocce della Scala dei Turchi”
  • (Scienze della Natura e dell’Ambiente, UNIPA): “Interazioni multispecie nei fondali della Scala dei Turchi tra la pianta sottomarina Posidonia oceanica e due specie di molluschi”
  • (Architettura, UNIPA, Agrigento e Palermo) – “Rapporto tra ambiente ed edilizia nella vicenda dell’ecomostro sulla spiaggia della Scala dei Turchi”

• Saluti di chiusura del Sindaco di Realmonte, Alessandro Pietro Mallia, e del consigliere comunale delega alla cultura, Luca Fiannaca.
• Domande e suggerimenti da parte del pubblico

Link corto:

Join us on April 24 for a conversation with Maricetta Lombardo, the most recognized live sound director in Italian cinema. In the live sound category, she is the recipient of the highest number (five) of Nastri d’Argento awards in the history of the oldest film award in Italy, and three David di Donatello Awards (the Italian Oscar Award). After studying fine arts and theater (the latter with renowned writer Andrea Camilleri), she received a degree at the prestigious Experimental Center for Film in Rome. Since the late 1990s, she has worked with major Italian directors, from Stefano Sollima to Leonardo Di Costanzo, Mario Martone, the D’Innocenzo brothers, and, last but certainly not least, Matteo Garrone for practically all his films (Gomorra,��Pinocchio,��Dogman,��Tale of Tales all won her awards over the years). A curious mind and engaged thinker, Maricetta blends technological expertise, aesthetic choices and human sensitivity in her work in unique ways. She will also share her knowledge in the course of a master class and in-class talk.

1. PUBLIC CONVERSATION: Listening to Films
Thur. April 24�� ��6pm�� ��SBUS (School of Business) 101

2. MASTER CLASS (as part of “Women in Sound” series)
Wed. April 23�� ��2:00-3:30pm�� ��SCM Recording Studio (Rm 2007)

3. TALK IN THE “ITALIANS AMERICANS IN FILM” CLASS (ITAL 262)
Tue. April 22�� 12pm�� DH279

For more info: Event’s webpage

This is an interdisciplinary inter-college organized and sponsored by the Inserra Endowed Chair in Italian and Italian American Studies����in collaboration with the Italian Program (Department of World Languages and Cultures). In partnership with the��School of Communication and Media��(BA Program in��Recording Arts and Production), and the��Cali School of Music at �鶹��ý����.

Students’ reactions and comments:

“Maricetta Lombardo’s authenticity and humbleness will stay with me from this event. She was apart of an Oscar-nominated film but remains a very humble woman despite her successes. I learned that live sound is a very important aspect in film and can set the tone for a scene. It can produce anticipation, tension, or pure joy. This will definitely change the way I will watch films going forward” (Treonna)

“I won’t watch a movie in the same way ever again! I’ll be wondering how live sound was captured. Funny enough I went to the theaters at the end of last week for the 20th anniversary for Pride and Prejudice. And at certain points I wondered whether certain sounds were recorded live during shooting or were added in post production” (Abbey Brock)

The stories that Maricetta Lombardo shared will stay with me: those about the struggles that she had to go through at the beginning of her path were very motivating for me. I learned that you have to work hard for your future, especially as a woman. Of course, I learned more about live sound, and I will pay more attention to sound and background noise while watching movies now” (Abbey)

What I am going to take it from the master class is her determination to work in the film industry in the belief that if one keeps focusing, good things will come out of quality work. I adored the fact that she says she owes everything to school because I do too. I related to her and I am really glad she came to speak to us” (Giuliana)

Mark Rotella, Teresa Fiore, Maria Laurino and Erica Moretti

Laurino’s (2024) is an investigative work into an adoption program run by the Vatican, which between 1950 and 1970, sent almost 4,000 Italian children to the U.S. These children were initially labeled as “war orphans” and then simply “orphans”, despite the fact that they were not orphans. Her work, based on archival research and interviews conducted in Italy and the U.S. with adoptees, adoptive families, birth mothers, priests, social workers, etc., shows that in reality these children were the offspring of unwed mothers. Often struggling economically, these women were deemed unfit to raise their children or lured into thinking that their children would be taken care of for a while and then returned. In the most chilling cases, they were told their children had died, when in reality they were taken to the U.S. to be raised by Italian American families who were unaware of the full story.

After an introduction about the genesis and development of this project, Maria Laurino was in conversation with Italian cultural historian Erica Moretti, who explored the deep extent to which the Italian American community was involved in assistance programs in support of Italy after WWII. Dr. Moretti highlighted the fact that the support program was international and covered several areas related to refugees, POW’s etc who were forced to relocate by the war. She also discussed how the adoption program involved entities and intermediaries other than the Catholic Church, thus demonstrating the complexity of this practice that was driven by good intentions but ultimately produced loss, grief, and identity disorientation, all of which surface in Maria Laurino’s research.

Maria Laurino and Prof. Teresa Fiore with students from the Honors Program class on adoption

Students from the Italian American in Film class participated after watching a documentary that Maria Laurino mentions in her book: Pia’s story: My Brother, My Sister, Sold for a Fistful of Lire (1998) by Belgium-based Basile Sallustio, about an elderly Italian woman who searches for her siblings who were adopted in the U.S. with the support of the Catholic Church. A clip from the movie highlights the secrecy of the system that she has to challenge over and over again until she is able to meet her siblings. Students in the Honors program class titled “The Meanings of Adoption” read Laurino’s book in its entirety and were inspired to ask questions about the role of translation in the encounters with Italian birth families, the agency of women in economically depressed conditions, and the role of Catholic spiritual values in this story. One of the students, Nour Shalash, remarked: “It’s the first time that as students we get to hear in person the author of one of the books we are covering in class! Learning about the motivations behind the project and the long time devoted to its completion directly from Maria Laurino has added even more value to this fascinating book.” The broader audience contributed with questions about the complications entailed in the search for original identity documents, and they also shared first-hand recollections of the days in which similar practices of forced adoption took place in the U.S.

The event was co-organized and sponsored by the Inserra Chair in Italian and Italian American Studies and the Coccia Institute for the Italian Experience in America, in collaboration with the Italian Program in the World Languages and Cultures Department. “It’s been a pleasure to work with my colleague Mark Rotella at the Coccia Institute to bring an author whose interests continue to speak to both our missions on campus” Dr. Fiore remarked. “I am particularly appreciative of the time Maria Laurino spent with the students after the event, and of the possibilities that Dr. Moretti’s research opens to continue a conversation on important topics related to the US-Italy relationships after WWII.”

Event’s webpage
Short link for this page: https://tinyurl.com/MSULaurino

Maria Laurino was born and raised in northern New Jersey. She�� is the author of the national bestselling memoir Were You Always an Italian?, an exploration of how stereotypes and class prejudice influenced Italian-American identity; the memoir Old World Daughter, New World Mother, a meditation on contemporary feminism; and The Italian Americans: A History, the companion book to a national PBS documentary.

Tue. March 25, 2025 6pm�� – SBUS (School of Business) 140
For info and to reserve a seat, see webpage

Introduced by: Mark Rotella (Coccia Institute)
Moderated by: Teresa Fiore (Inserra Chair) and (FIT – Fashion Institute of Technology)

Jointly organized and sponsored by the Inserra Endowed Chair in Italian and Italian American Studies��and the Coccia Institute for the Italian Experience in America, in collaboration with the Italian Program (Department of World Languages and Cultures).

Interested in a summer internship in Italy with paid airfare and housing, and a small stipend based on the number of shows you will perform in? You would join a musical company and perform in their Greek-mythology-inspired modern show (Il Risveglio degli dei/The Reawakening of the Gods) presented in the enchanted archeological site of the Valley of the Temples of Agrigento (region of Sicily). This coming March, attend a preparation workshop led by composer and company director Marco Savatteri, and audition to be selected for this unique summer opportunity (flexible dates). Open to �鶹��ý���� students only. The summer schedule for the rehearsal and shows may be customized depending on the students’ needs.

Presentation/info session (optional): Friday March 21 10AM (Location TBA)
Workshop/Audition: Thursday March 27 2-4PM (Leshowitz Hall) and 4-6PM (Chorale Room G55)

For more information about the show, the workshop and the audition, please see the dedicated webpage. RSVP as soon as possible to secure a spot in the audition… and, if selected, the show!

Tue. Feb. 25, 2025 6pm
SBUS (School of Business) 101

Food stood at the center of Mussolini’s attempt to occupy Ethiopia and build an Italian Empire in East Africa. Cinotto’s book Gastrofascism and Empire: Food in Italian East Africa, 1935-1941 illustrates the workings of empire in the circulation of migrants, foodways, and colonial practices, as well as African anticolonial resistance. In going beyond simple colonizer/colonized binaries, this study offers a nuanced picture of lived, multisensorial experiences with food in the Italian imperial context.

Reserve a seat
For more information, see

These events are the result of collaborations with units on campus (Coccia Institute, Cali School of Music, SCM) and with entities off campus, especially the initiatives of .
Reserve your seat now, and feel free to circulate this information.
More info here.