Curtain Up! Centuries of Italian Theater
Description
Italian theater is more than performance. It is identity, rebellion, and transformation. From the masked performers of the commedia dell’arte to Nobel Prize winning playwrights, this immersive online workshop takes you on a captivating journey through six centuries of passion, satire, innovation, and artistic revolution. Discover the iconic characters that continue to influence stages around the world, explore the genius of Luigi Pirandello, and uncover how Italian theater has shaped global storytelling in ways that still resonate today. Through engaging visuals, interactive discussions, and compelling historical insights, you will experience theater as a living tradition that invites you to become part of the story.
Two sessions. Six centuries. One unforgettable journey.
Whether you are stepping into the world of theater for the first time or rekindling a lifelong passion, this online Italian culture workshop will transform the way you experience performance and perhaps even the way you see yourself. Italy has been telling stories for thousands of years. Now it is your turn to discover them.
Program
Part One (August 12)Â – The roots of the stage. From ancient ritual to the birth of modern character
- Origins: Greece, Rome & ritual – The deep roots of Italian theater in Greek tragedy, Roman comedy, and the sacred rhythms of community performance.
- Commedia dell’Arte – Improvised, irreverent, and irresistible. Meet Arlecchino, Pantalone, and Colombina — the stock characters who never left the stage.
- Goldoni vs. Gozzi – The great 18th-century debate: Goldoni’s slice-of-life realism versus Gozzi’s fantastical fairy tales. Two visions, one stage.
- Opera: Verdi & Puccini – When music became drama. Explore how opera transformed emotional storytelling and made Italy’s voice resound across every continent.
- Pirandello: identity & illusion –Â Where does the mask end and the person begin? Pirandello’s modern theater shattered the fourth wall and asked questions we still can’t answer.
- Contemporary theater – Experimental, political, physical. How Italian artists today push boundaries and carry centuries of tradition into urgent new forms.
Workshop Benefits
- Live 60-minute session filled with engaging visuals and expert storytelling
- PDF presentation + recording emailed to all attendees
- Presented in English—no Italian required, just one hour to enjoy, learn, and indulge your curiosity
Reserve your place. The curtain rises soon. — Sipario! Online workshop presented in English.
Your presenter is Barbara
Date & Location
Location: ONLINE
Day & Time: Wednesday, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm (PST)
Date: August 12 & 26
Cancellation & Refund Policy
For workshops we do not provide refunds once you have enrolled in the workshop. If you cannot make the class, please let us know in writing at least 24 hours before the scheduled workshop and we can provide you with a credit to attend another workshop.