09/09/2026
A Broadway musical about Florence, performed in Florence for the first time.
In June, The Light in the Piazza was presented in the historic Cortile di Michelozzo, inside Palazzo Medici Riccardi, in a production by Accademia Europea di Firenze in collaboration with Elon University and Vietri – Irresistibly Italian.
The musical premiered on Broadway in 2005 and went on to win six Tony Awards. Set in 1950s Florence, it tells the story of an American mother and her daughter travelling through the city, where Clara falls in love with a young Italian man.
Despite being set in Florence, this was the first time the musical was officially performed in the city itself, making the occasion even more special.
The production was part of the AEF Summer Program 2026, bringing together students, faculty, artists and musicians in an experience that connected music, theatre and international education.
Our students came to Florence to study opera and, throughout the program, prepared the production before taking it to the stage inside one of the city’s most historic palaces.
A story about Florence, performed for the first time in the city where it takes place🇮🇹🎭
