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The Inserra Chair in Italian & Italian American Studies

The Inserra Chair in Italian & Italian American Studies

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The Inserra Chair at Montclair State University is devoted to the promotion of Italian and Italian American culture through a rich program of events.

For more information and the calendar of events see www.montclair.edu/inserra-chair The Theresa and Lawrence R. Inserra Endowed Chair was created through a major gift of Lawrence R. Inserra, Jr. and thanks to the support of UNICO National and individual donors. The responsibilities of the Chair include the development of research activities, cultural programs, and educational activities vital to t

05/10/2026

A video of of the recent reading of Marco Savatteri’s Il Risveglio degli dei, performed for the first time in English at Montclair State University by sixteen Musical Theater and Voice students.

Info: tinyurl.com/ReawakeningMarch2026

Photos from The Inserra Chair in Italian & Italian American Studies's post 04/29/2026

Il "Risveglio degli dei" — an immersive musical about Greek myths, written and directed by Marco Savatteri and presented every summer at dawn in the Valley of the Temples of Agrigento (Sicily) — debuted in English at Montclair State University on March 27, 2026.

After a year of workshops, internships and shows in Sicily that have contributed to build a veritable cultural bridge between the Valley of the Temples and New Jersey, the Greek gods now also speak English! Their first American appearance was offered by an ensemble of talented Musical Theatre and Voice students of our campus, thanks to the impressive translation of one of the 2025 interns, Brianna Coppolino. A truly magical evening that gave the audience moments of introspection and emotion as they listened to the gods interrogating human beings about each others' fate, with both humor and depth.

To read more about the Reading as well as the cultural bridge that the related artistic and academic project is creating between Agrigento and Montclair through an international partnership, see
tinyurl.com/ReawakeningMarch2026

Watch THE VIDEO by Colin Keyes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPqAGlZNhjA

Photos from The Inserra Chair in Italian & Italian American Studies's post 04/07/2026

The international initiative centered around the musical "The Reawakening of the Gods" was illustrated in the course of an interview on the WMSC FM90.3 student radio program titled "Coffee with Montclair.” For full interview, see YT Inserra Chair or tinyurl.com/MSUinterview

This original program literally brings Montclair State U students and equipment to the nearby community to connect with local listeners and boost MSU engagement off campus. On March 20th, WMSC chose an Italian spot, Caffe classico in Pompton, NJ. The interviewer, Allen Macaraeg, discussed the musical and the project with Prof. Teresa Fiore (Inserra Chair in Italian and Italian American Studies, Italian program, CHSS), Prof. Lori McCaan (Voice Program Cali School, CART) and composer and director Marco Savatteri, visiting from Agrigento, Sicily.

The interview focused on the various phases of the project: three workshops about improvisation and immersive theater on the MSU campus over one year; the Summer 2025 internship with three MSU students spending two months in Agrigento and performing in the UNESCO site of the Valley of the Greek Temples; and the Public Reading in the English translation of Brianna Coppolino, featuring MSU students in the Cali School (March 27).

Marco Savatteri and Teresa Fiore remarked on how project enriches artists both in Italy and the USA, reveals the timelessness of ancient myths, and fosters cultural exchanges and human relationships across borders. Lori McCann highlighted the importance of the internationalization of the curriculum for Montclair State students in the Performing Arts, and the key role of the Italian language for them.

Sponsored by the Inserra Chair in Italian and Italian American Studies, in collaboration with the Cali School of Music, the Dept. of Theatre and Dance, Savatteri Produzioni, and The Parco Archeologico e Paesaggistico della Valle dei Templi di Agrigento, this collaborative initiative reflects the Expand Reach and Amplify Impact commitment of Montclair State University's mission: "Increase global engagement by creating international experiences, broadening access to Montclair programs and promoting a global mindset."

More info: tinyurl.com/RisveglioMontclairAgrigento

On March 26, 2026, Dr. Teresa Fiore gave an invited lecture at UPenn, titled "The Taste of the Landing: Food at the Time of Operation Husky in Sicily." Fiore shared a section of her research linked to "Memories of the Landing," the in-progress documentary that she is working on in collaboration with Awen Films (tinyurl.com/MemoriesLanding). 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. Special thanks to Rosella Pescatori, Ann Moyer, Arianna Fognani, Campbell Knobloch, and Marcus Papandrea. 03/31/2026

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWkGRobjIph/?img_index=1

On March 26, 2026, Dr. Teresa Fiore gave an invited lecture at UPenn, titled "The Taste of the Landing: Food at the Time of Operation Husky in Sicily." Fiore shared a section of her research linked to "Memories of the Landing," the in-progress documentary that she is working on in collaboration with Awen Films (tinyurl.com/MemoriesLanding). 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. Special thanks to Rosella Pescatori, Ann Moyer, Arianna Fognani, Campbell Knobloch, and Marcus Papandrea.

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