Programs

Rome's Gruppo Teatro Essere (GTE) 2006 USA performances

SMATCH sponsored a return visit of Rome's Gruppo Teatro Essere, which performed "Con Licenza di Rappresentazione," a play in the commedia dell'arte tradition, at the University of Maryland on October 12, 2006

GTE's appearance at the University was in connection with the College of Arts and Humanities' semester on comedy and humor.

An invitation-only anteprima was held at the Italian Embassy.

The troupe then went to Pittsburgh, where it performed "June 4, 1944, Roma Libera." That performance was sponsored by the American Italian Cultural Institute of Pittsburgh (AMICI) and the Italian Collection, Heinz History Center.

2005
Magic Rome

A company of minstrels wanders about Italy presenting their shows when, suddenly, their beloved wagon mare, Roma, disappears! Bewildered, they wander the world in search of Roma, singing traditional songs of the countries through which they pass, along with Italian melodies.

Unbeknownst to them, a mischievous fairy has magically transformed Roma into a lovely young woman who reappears in America singing and dancing and who falls in love. Eventually our troupe finds her. What will happen?

written and directed by Tonino Tosto
Georgetown University, Washington, DC
and John Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh, PA

Supported by a special grant from The Municipality of Rome, Italy

Italia in Cantata
SMATCH and the Italian Cultural Society of Washington, D.C. presented
ITALIA IN CANTATA (A Short History of the Italian Song)
performed by IL GRUPPO TEATRO ESSERE from Rome, Italy

How beautiful Youth is
That nevertheless escapes.
Who wishes to be happy, should be.
- from The Triumph of Bacchus and Arianna by Lorenzo Deí Medici

Nothing is more natural, more engaging and at the same time superficial than the act of closing one's eyes and starting to sing. To sing about self, about us, about the happiness and about the sorrows of the world. How many millions of people do it, have done it, will do it? "Life is made of big and small things". The songs too are big and small: because they let themselves be forgotten and, at the same time, because they can bring back memories, emotions, tell stories, underscore eras.