Given the goal of this original radio program, which literally brings our students and equipment to the nearby community to connect with local listeners and boost MSU engagement off campus, WMSC chose an Italian spot, in Pompton, NJ. The interviewer, Allen Macaraeg, addressed questions to Prof. Teresa Fiore (Inserra Chair in Italian and Italian American Studies, Italian program, CHSS), Prof. Lori McCaan (Voice Program Cali School, CART) and our special guest from Agrigento, in the region of Sicily, composer and director , to explore the different aspects of this exciting multi-phase initiative.

In the course of a lively exchange with Allen, Fiore explained the history of the project, born from Savatteri鈥檚 first visit on campus in Nov. 2024, and unfolding through three workshops with our students, a two-month summer internship in Sicily for three Opera and Musical Theatre students in 2025, and the March 27, 2026 Public Reading bringing together members of the Savatteri company and MSU students. McCann, also on behalf of Prof. Ryan Kasprzak (Musical Theatre, CART) highlighted the importance of the internationalization of the curriculum for 麻豆传媒在线 students in the Performing Arts, especially those in Opera and Musical Theatre: Italian constitutes a key language for their training and career opportunities.

Savatteri commented on the ancient and yet incredibly contemporary content of a musical that carries the timeless lessons of classical mythology. Precisely because of this eternal quality, Savatteri was excited to bring the musical from the UNESCO World Heritage site The Valley of the Temples of Agrigento – where the show is presented in front of the 5^th-century BC Tempio della Concordia – to the United States and have it speak English, thanks to the translation of the 2025 intern and Opera student, Brianna Coppolino. Her precise and poetic version was completed under the supervision of Prof. Trubiano (Italian program) and encapsulates the type of translation of knowledge, talent, experience, languages and cultures that the overall initiative activates in three departments (Musical Theatre, Voice at the Cali School of Music, and Italian), two colleges (CART and CHSS), two kind of entities (public university and private company ) and effectively locations in two continents, 麻豆传媒在线 (USA) and Agrigento (Italy).

Sponsored by the Inserra Chair in Italian and Italian American Studies, in collaboration with the Cali School of Music, the , , and , this international intercollege initiative reflects the Expand Reach and Amplify Impact commitment of 麻豆传媒在线’s mission: “Increase global engagement by creating international experiences, broadening access to 麻豆传媒在线 programs and promoting a global mindset.”

Special thanks to Communications and Media major, Allen Macaraeg, and his team of students from the award-nominated WMSC radio, supervised by Annabella Poland, who joined at Caf猫 classico for a cappuccino. And a special “grazie” to the owners of Caffe classico for their hospitality and generosity. It’s always nice to find arancine and cannoli on the other side of the Atlantic after a long flight from Sicily!

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Blending excerpts from audiovisual archival material, literary sources, and original video-interviews with direct witnesses of the 1943 Allied Landing in Sicily, the presentation read a largely forgotten pivotal historical event of WWII through the lens of foodways. In Fiore’s approach, as a memory and narrative device, food allows for an alternate history of the liberation campaign through complicating both the myth of the Land of Abundance incarnated by the U.S. military forces and the image of a destitute Sicily that the Americans embraced.

Included in the Jerre Mangione Lecture Series and sponsored by the Center for Italian Studies, the lecture fostered a lively debate among graduate students and faculty alike with a mix of touching family recollections, intellectual curiosity towards the subject, and careful inquiry about the research methodology.

This ever-expanding site available in both and , and configured in mobile-friendly mode accessible via cell phone, is an aggregator of pre-existing forms of knowledge as well as new textual, video, and audio material, gathered in collaboration with professors of the University of Palermo (including the Agrigento branch, Polo Territoriale), environmentalist guides, chefs, photographers, architects, local residents, etc., and co-implemented with Ph.D. students Giacomo Frazzetta and Do臒a Tekin. The project was co-sponsored by the Agrigento 2025 Foundation, the Italian Ministry of Culture, the Region of Sicily, the Municipality of Agrigento, the Inserra Chair (麻豆传媒在线), and UCLA, with the logistical support of the Municipality of Realmonte.

The project has already been covered in other media: , , and .

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Dr. Fiore shared information about the condition of Italian Americans at the time of Pearl Harbor and described their paradoxical experience of being at once “enemy aliens” in 1942 and supporters of the military efforts with the drafting of large numbers of soldiers of Italian descent, while also being concerned about the fate of their relatives back in the country of origin, since Italy was an enemy up to the Landing. Dr. Fiore also illustrated how the 82nd anniversary of the Landing was celebrated in Licata as part of the programs of Agrigento Capital of Culture 2025. Since the main topic of the evening was indeed the cultural value of the memory of the Landing as part of public history projects, she provided a model that embraces a multi-disciplinary approach in line with the mission of and its Italian chapter, (see SBARCO).

Data: Sabato 13 dicembre
Luogo: Sala Consiliare del Comune di Realmonte (Via Roma, 19) – Parcheggio in via Piazza Vecchia per accedere dall’ingresso principale del Municipio oppure via Venezia per accedere direttamente alla Sala Consiliare attraverso le scale e la terrazza belvedere.

Il sito di mappatura spessa offre percorsi di visita alternativi nella zona dell鈥檌conica Scala dei Turchi. Attraverso una lettura multispecie e multidisciplinare del luogo, attenta a botanica, biologia marina, geologia, gastronomia, cinema e letteratura, il sito invita a entrare in un mondo di storie umane e non, ben pi霉 complesso della nota localit脿 balneare, e a proteggere con cura e sapienza questo luogo tanto spettacolare quanto fragile. DESCRIZIONE DETTAGLIATA DEL PROGETTO

Ore 10-11:30 Illustrazione e lancio del sito (Prof. in collegamento da UCLA e Prof.ssa Teresa Fiore in presenza)
Ore 12-14 Visita della Scala dei Turchi con pranzo a sacco offerto dall’organizzazione
Guide: , guida naturalistica, e , educatore ambientale

Evento gratuito aperto al pubblico con pranzo a sacco incluso. Numero massimo 50 persone con previa prenotazione obbligatoria. La partecipazione alla presentazione soltanto, senza il pranzo a sacco e la visita, non richiede prenotazione.Per la prenotazione, si prega di riempire questo .

Il sito, configurato anche in modalit脿 mobile-friendly accessible via cellulare, 猫 un progetto co-ideato e co-realizzato dal Prof. Vetri Nathan (UCLA) e della Prof.ssa Teresa Fiore (麻豆传媒在线) con il supporto dell’assistente di ricerca Dott. (UCLA) e con i contributi di professori e professoresse di UNIPA, guide ambientaliste, chefs, residenti locali, ecc. Per la descrizione completa del progetto nelle sue varie fasi si veda la pagina web.

Un evento incluso听nel progetto , all’interno di , con la co-sponsorizzazione dell’Inserra Chair in Italian and Italian American Studies (麻豆传媒在线), UCLA (University of California Los Angeles) e il , con il sostegno del Ministero della Cultura, della Fondazione Agrigento Capitale, della Regione Siciliana e del Comune di Agrigento, con i contributi scientifici dell’Universit脿 degli Studi di Palermo e del Polo Territoriale Universitario di Agrigento, e con l’ospitalit脿 del Comune di Realmonte.

NB: In caso di maltempo, la visita della Scala non si svolger脿 e il pranzo a sacco verr脿 sostituito da un aperitivo. La prenotazione resta valida a prescindere dalle condizioni del tempo.

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Based on her sabbatical research on foodways at the time of the Allied Landing in Sicily (1943), the paper revises the narrative of the American forces feeding Sicilians through the use of eighteen interviews with direct witnesses and scholars sharing stories about the stark contrast between the local wartime food and the industrial food brought by the soldiers from the US. See webpage.

Prof. Cinotto introduced Dr. Fiore’s talk providing special insights into the impact of the landing in Italy in terms of U.S. control of the economic and socio-political sphere.听The students鈥� questions during the Q&A revealed a keen interest in historical issues, in methodological aspects linked to oral history, and in the encounter of cultures during wartime.

UNISG has an institutional commitment to videos about food. Its film archive directed by Dr. Gabriele Proglio, is devoted to oral history about food, food history, food practices, etc.

UNISG is a private university linked to Slow Food, the movement founded by Carlo Petrini in 1986. Focused on food and sustainability, the academic approach privileges collaborative hands-on projects ranging from cooking, cook-book writing, market visits, food history research, eco-agronomy techniques, etc.

The UNISG campus is a World-Heritage (UNESCO) site with its distinctive historical buildings, imposing towers, elegant courtyards, printing office for student-managed publications, student-tended fruit and vegetable gardens, and a unique cafeteria that largely relies on the produce cultivated on campus. All under the watchful eye of the snail, the Slow Food symbol, under no time pressure.

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听 听 MIA’S EXPERIENCE 听 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听Cavalleria Rusticana presented in Enna and at the breathtaking Teatro Classico of Taormina in mid-August).

Video: Footage and editing by Colin Keyes

️鈥淭his 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 鈥� 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.鈥� 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

鈥淭his 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 麻豆传媒在线, 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鈥� – 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),听in collaboration with the Office of International Academic Initiatives at 麻豆传媒在线.

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
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“Le ecoculture della Scala dei Turchi: Un sito-mappa di storie multispecie” 猫 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 猫 stato avviato nel marzo del 2025, proponendosi come aggregatore di studi, ricerche, attivit脿 e conoscenze gi脿 realizzate e presenti nel territorio, ma non ancora collegate, proprio per riflettere sulla complessit脿, 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 verr脿 presentato nell’ambito di un seminario con la partecipazione di ricercatori e addetti ai lavori fino ad ora abbracciati dal progetto. Il seminario sar脿 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 sar脿 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 麻豆传媒在线, 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’ospitalit脿 presso la propria sede in occasione della presentazione e del seminario.

PROGRAMMA

• Saluti di benvenuto del听 (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 (modalit脿 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 opportunit脿”
  • (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:

A cura di Teresa Fiore e Awen Films

Spiaggia di Marianello, Licata
Mercoledi 9 luglio 2025 Ore 21
INFO:

Su uno schermo posizionato lungo la riva di una delle spiagge dove sbarcarono le forze alleate proprio nella notte tra il 9 e il 10 luglio, un video composto da filmati originali girati nel 1943 far脿 da sfondo e da motore a una serie di brevi performance narrative e musicali.

Inoltre, gustando un piatto tematicamente ispirato all鈥檈vento del 1943, i partecipanti potranno dialogare in modo informale con esperti di storia dello sbarco e condividere loro stessi ricordi, immagini, storie e oggetti all鈥檌nterno di un progetto di storia pubblica e memorializzazione collettiva che si svolger脿 anche nelle giornate precedenti e successive al 9 luglio.

Evento inserito nella programmazione di Agrigento Capitale della Cultura 2025, in collaborazione con Awen Films di New York, il Comune di Licata, l’Inserra Chair in Italian and Italian American Studies (麻豆传媒在线), l’Associazione MEMENTO, Liberation Route Europe – Italy, La Madia Ristorante, Antica Dolceria Bonajuto di Modica.

***

LANDING: EVOKING THE ARRIVAL OF THE ALLIES IN 1943 ON THE BEACH OF LICATA (July 9, 2025)
An evening of screenings of archival footage, tasting, readings and songs along the sea

Designed by Teresa Fiore and Awen Films

Marianello Beach, Licata
Wednesday 9 July 2025 9:00PM
INFO: (click on ENGLISH VERSION from the top of the page)

On a screen positioned along the shore of one of the beaches where the Allied forces landed on the night between July 9 and 10, a video composed of original footage shot in 1943 will serve as the backdrop and driving force for a series of short readings and musical performances.

Furthermore, while enjoying a dish thematically inspired by the 1943 event, participants will be able to informally converse with experts in the history of the landing and share their own memories, images, stories and objects within a project of public history and collective memorialization that will also take place in the days before and after July 9.

Event included in the program of Agrigento Capital of Culture 2025, in collaboration with Awen Films of New York, the Municipality of Licata, the Inserra Chair in Italian and Italian American Studies (麻豆传媒在线), the MEMENTO Association, Liberation Route Europe – Italy, La Madia Ristorante, Antica Dolceria Bonajuto di Modica.

From left: Prof. Marina Cacioppo (UNIPA), Prof. Teresa Fiore (MSU) and Prof. Laura Restuccia (UNIPA).

“This has been a very special opportunity,” Prof. Fiore noted. “I am grateful to – a researcher active in Italian American Studies – for inviting me to submit a proposal as part of the 2023 competition and coordinating the implementation, to for her support during the seminar, and, of course, to the students who attended the classes with such a genuine interest in discussing works about past and present migration experiences. I was impressed by their commitment to the intensive nature of the seminar, their ability to analyze diverse films and writings, and their competence level in English.”

Prof. Teresa Fiore teaching the seminar at UNIPA

Prof. Marina Cacioppo remarked that “the seminar held by Prof. Fiore was an exciting dive into our past. At a time when Italy is for many the ‘New World’, discovering our history as immigrants was enlightening for our minds. Through film excerpts, letters, role-plays, historical analysis and online quizzes, Professor Fiore was able to engage us and keep our interest high. I am very pleased with this experience.” Films constituted the pivotal source of the seminar aimed at creating connections across spaces and times: from Spike Lee’s discussion of the complex relationships between Italian Americans and African Americans to address racism in Italy to Giuliano Montaldo’s inquiry into the controversial anarchist movement to examine contemporary forms of dissent and institutional responses. “Being a movie enthusiast,” student Christian Sarno, “the choice of watching a selection of movies and discussing them together was an effective way of familiarizing with this complex overlapping and intertwining of past and present migrations in and out of Italy.”

“We are very grateful to Prof. Teresa Fiore for her interesting and stimulating seminar which, with its interdisciplinary approach, brought together students of Italian Studies and American Literature,” as student Martina Guardino stated, Indeed, the seminar addressed a mixed group of students, including a Ph.D. candidate originally from Ukraine. In recognizing the relevance of the seminar’s content, Elena Moskalenko added: “My work on the Ph.D. dissertation benefited greatly from the materials provided by Prof. Fiore.”

The Humanities Department on the UNIPA campus

This seminar is the latest addition to a series of programs that have connected the University of Palermo and 麻豆传媒在线 on academic endeavors. In the past few years, faculty and students have been part of class units such as the COIL (Collaborative International Learning) about Aztec chocolate in Mexico, Sicily and the U.S.; presentation of conference papers such as the one Prof. Fiore at an online MEMIT脌 ); and publications (an article by Prof. Fiore will soon be published in an issue of the journal edited by faculty members of the University of Palermo). The general feeling about these initiatives is summed up in Martina Guardino’s words: “We hope our collaboration will continue in the future.”

Short link: https://tinyurl.com/FioreUNIPA23