Curio Theatre Company
  • Home
  • 2025/26 Season Tickets
  • 2026 CURIO THEATRE CAMP
  • CuriosiTeens!
  • Donate to Curio
  • Join our mailing list
  • About Us
    • Curio Staff and Board
    • Mission and History
  • Contact Us
  • Patron Survey
  • Directions
  • SACCO & VANZETTI: A TRAGEDIA DELL' ARTE- Digital Playbill
Picture

SACCO & VANZETTI: A TRAGEDIA DELL' ARTE
​A World Premiere

​Written and Directed by John Bellomo

​


​The runtime for this performance is 90 minutes with no intermission.

Recommended ages: 13 and up due to themes of murder and crime. 

​
Content warning: Mature themes, simulated gunshots and hanging.

Directors Note:
They say that every joke has a kernel of truth in it. If that is true, then 99.9% of the comedy in Sacco and Vanzetti, a Tragedy dell’Arte, is true. When people ask me why I chose to use commedia dell’arte as a lens to tell the story of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, I point out the absurdities of the case. When Sacco and Vanzetti were arrested, they were asked to reenact the crime in front of the witnesses during a lineup. Fred Moore, their defense attorney, really did take his shoes off in the courtroom. Nicholas Sacco was asked to put on a hat found at the crime scene, which was too small for him. Of course, to make these things fit into the world of commedia dell’arte, they were exaggerated. 
I first became aware of this case by accident while in high school, and I wondered why it wasn’t part of the standard curriculum. I grew up in a family with great pride in our Italian heritage. Sitting around the dining room table, my maternal grandfather would tell us stories of the prejudices he faced when he first emigrated to the United States. I witnessed firsthand the prejudice that my father received as an Italian immigrant. Now I’m disheartened by the treatment new immigrants receive upon arriving in the United States. It may sound to you that the anti-immigrant language that is used in this play is pulled from today’s headlines, but in reality, I found those in the newspaper articles and essays of the early 1900s and late 1800s against the Italian immigrants. It’s interesting to note that each wave of immigrants turns on the next. The German and Irish Catholics of the mid-1800s, who faced prejudices from the Nativists, then became the major proponents of the anti-immigrant prejudice against the Italians and the Chinese of the late 1800s, and Italian Americans today are some of the most vocal opponents of the South and Central American immigration wave. This phenomenon can be explained by Colonial Settler Theory. It argues that formerly marginal Euro-ethnics secure belonging by policing newer racialized outsiders and affirming settler sovereignty.  My hope is that the Italian Americans who come and see this play will realize that by shutting the door and rounding up the current wave of immigrants, we are turning our backs on our grandparents and great grandparents. And I hope that the average American audience member who sees this play will realize that this is not a new problem, but a systemic problem in the United States, and that we will ask the question, “When will this end?” 
The Struggle Continues.



Cast and crew

John Bellomo (Nicola Sacco)John is ecstatic to be returning to Curio Theatre, where he directed Oedipussy, The Massive Tragedy of Madame Bovary. Originally from Philadelphia, John Bellomo is a Director, Actor, Movement Specialist, and Associate Professor at West Chester University. He is the former Artistic Director of The Maryland Shakespeare Festival and Former Co-Artistic Director of Ombelico Mask Ensemble. John recently directed his original translation and adaptation of The Servant of Two Masters, by Carlo Goldoni, for Shakespeare Frankfurt, an English speaking classical theatre company in Frankfurt, Germany. John has performed his award winning Commedia dell’Arte solo show (in which he plays 11 different characters) Chi è di Scena! (Places!) in 2024 at the Sonore Alchemie Festival in Calabria, in 2023 at Teatro Electra, and in 2022 at Teatro Basilica, both in Rome, Italy. His directing Credits include: Twelfth Night, As You Like It, Romeo & Juliet, and The Taming of the Shrew at Maryland Shakespeare Festival and Fuddy Meers at Allens Lane Theatre. He directed and acted in A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Tempest, Twelfth Night, and As You Like It for Teatro Delle Due, in Reggio Emilia, Italy. For OMBELICO Mask Ensemble, John has directed and acted in several shows, including  Omeletto - Like Hamlet, Only Scrambled, The Capitano Duped, and The Power of Magic. As a Fight Director, he has choreographed violence for many of Philadelphia's theatre companies, including People's Light and Theatre Co., Philadelphia Theatre Co., Theatre Exile, The Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival, Lantern Theatre, The Wilma Theatre, InterAct Theatre Co., Delaware Theatre Company, and The PA Shakespeare Festival. He received a Barrymore Award for his fight choreography in The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity at Interact Theatre Co. He has taught Stage Combat at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, Teatro in Polvere in Milan, Accademia Internazionale dello Spettacolo in Calabria, Italy, and The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. He earned an M.F.A. in Directing from Temple University and a B.F.A. in Acting from the University of the Arts, and is a graduate of The International School for the Comic Actor in Reggio Emilia, Italy, where he studied commedia dell'arte with Italian Maestro Antonio Fava. 

Renato Arcuri (Bartolomeo Vanzetti) trained with Isaac Alvarez at the Théâtre Du Moulinage in Lussas and specialized in cinematography at Cinecittà Studios, developing an internationally acclaimed expertise.
In 2014 he founded OME Italia in Florence, a company dedicated to theatrical research and production at the crossroads of commedia dell’arte, Italian Renaissance, ancient drama and puppet theatre. The company has realized projects of national and international significance, including museum communication projects for the National Archaeological Museum of Florence, Arianna e il Toro at the Uffizi Gallery and Le Streghe for the Sovereign Order of Malta.
Since 2018 he has collaborated with Eliseo Entertainment on productions ranging from theatre to cinema, with partners such as Rai Cinema, Medusa, Amazon, Netflix and Sky. Among the titles: The Palace by Polanski and The Penitent by Mamet.
He also works with Goldenart Production, contributing to major theatrical productions such as Sissi l’Imperatrice and the Pirandello Trilogy starring Michele Placido.
He is currently director of cultural projects at the Teatro Eliseo in Rome, where he oversees the historical archive and library.

Tessa Kuhn (Mary Splaine, Rosina Sacco and Ensemble) is a Philadelphia based actor and teaching artist. Tessa graduated from York University in Toronto with a focus in Devised Theatre and Playwriting. She is a company member of Curio Theatre Company where recent credits include Three Sisters, By Rashdash, After Chekhov, The Winters Tale, Gideons Knot, and The Complete Deaths. Love to Shaun, Marlowe, and Aoife.

Paul Harrold (Fred Moore D.A. and Ensemble) is glad to return to Curio, where he was recently seen in Thanksgiving Play and Old Stock. Philly credits- Carl Perkins in Million Dollar Quartet (Walnut St Theatre), Banquo in I, Banquo, and Endlings (Hedgerow Theatre), A Man For All Seasons (Lantern Theatre), The Owl and the Pussycat and Other Nonsense (Quintessence Theatre) 12th Night (Delaware Shakespeare) Head Over Heels (Theatre Horizon). He has also appeared with Azuka Theatre, Egopo Classic Theatre, PAC, and more. Love to mom, dad and James. Besos to Tina.

Sharee Thinner (Maynard Shaw, Beltrando, Celestro F. Mederiros, Countee Cullen and Ensemble) is a senior at West Chester University pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre with a concentration in Performance. Her recent credits include Me, War, and Toy Grenade (Liza) and One Bottle Too Many (Linda), the latter being part of West Chester University’s student written One Acts.

Paul Kuhn (Chief Michael E. Stewart and Judge Thayer) Set Designer, founding member and Artistic Director of Curio Theatre Company.

Aetna Gallagher (D.A. Frederick G. Katzmann, Ensemble)
Costume Designer, Founding Member and Associate Artistic Director of Curio Theatre Company.  Aetna is thrilled to be back working again with her Commedia friends John Bellomo and Renato Arcuri after having great fun in the Philadelphia Fringe production presented by Ombelico way back in 2014 called The Flim Flam Phantom Sham. Last Curio acting credits include all the Make/Partake productions of Jack in the Bean Stalk, The Three Little Pigs and Hansel and Gretel. She is currently busy working with her brother and Artistic Director Paul Kuhn for Curio's Seniorosity program. A free theatre program at low-income senior centers. Currently at Trinity Health Pace/Mercy Life. Much love to her family. John, Elizabeth, Steve, Judy, Danny, Kennedy, and Jack!

Ren Bailey (The Jury, Ensemble, Assistant Puppet Designer, additional mask construction) appeared in Alice by Heart as the Queen of Hearts/Red Cross Nurse at Aspire Performing Arts Center, The Halloweekend Spooktacular as Frank N' Furter at West Chester University Theatre, The Lightning Thief as Clarisse and others at Bergen County Players, and many more.  Ren most recently designed and coordinated sound for the Student Written One-Acts at West Chester University.  They are a current student at West Chester University studying Musical Theatre and American Sign Language.  Ren is a passionate and hardworking performer who always gives their all to every project.  Their love of performing is equally matched by their love of puppetry and puppet construction.  Ren is a recipient of an NJACT Perry Award for Outstanding Youth Actor in a Play for their work in Jersey Voices' Three Items at a Time.  See more of Ren's work at renbailey.com

Celia HuttonJohns (Stage Manager) (she/her) is a Philly based stage manager and enjoys exploring the most likely haunted corners of any theater. In her free time, she can be found listening to Taylor Swift and watching Phillies games. Credits include Poor Judge and Franklin’s Key (Pig Iron Theatre Company), Amsterdam (Theatre Ariel), Sacco and Vanzetti, Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, and Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story (Curio Theatre Company), SPEECH (Lightning Rod Special), and The Taming! and Pericles: Prince of Tyre (Shakespeare in Clark Park). 

Eden Hershey (Assistant Stage Manager) (she/her) is excited to be back at Curio as an assistant stage manager. She has worked with Curio for several years and recently Assistant Stage managed The Thanksgiving Play, Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story, and Hansel and Gretel for them. Huge thank you to Curio and everyone who made this show happen, and all my love to my family and friends!

Olivia Opiela (Assistant Stage Manager and Assistant Sound Design) is a fourth-year student studying Theatre Production and Strategic Media at West Chester University. Throughout her time in school, she has explored many areas of theatre, including stage management, sound design, and directing. Olivia has stage managed alongside John Bellomo, director and playwright of Sacco and Vanzetti, several times before, making this their fourth piece working together. She is so grateful for the opportunities that Curio Theatre Company have given her, and she could not dream of a better cast and crew for this show.

Damien Figueras (Sound and Projection Designer) is an 8-time Barrymore nominated artist. Recent credits include: Party Face (Off-Broadway, NY City Center), Penelope (Theatre Horizon/PSF), Wishing to Grow Up Brightly (Theatre Horizon), Falsettos (Arden Theatre Company), Peter and the Starcatcher (Delaware Theatre Company), Iphigenia in Splott (Inis Nua Theatre), Cabaret (Bristol Riverside), Nichos (Esperanza Arts Center), Beehive (Walnut Street Theatre), The Play That Goes Wrong (1812 Productions), Winter Wonderettes (Gulfshore Playhouse), A Hit Dog Will Holler (Azuka Theatre), Kiss (Wilma Theatre), Topdog/Underdog (Passage Theatre). In addition to his design work, Damien is the Production Manager for Wolf Performing Arts Center. As always, he would like to dedicate his work to the memory of his mother. www.DFigueras.com

Myles Martin (Lighting Designer)
Myra Kelly (Assistant Lighting Design)

Victoria Squicciarini 
(Music Themes Composer and Instrumentalist) 
was an active performer, accompanist, and piano teacher in the Philadelphia area before pursuing a career in nursing. She remains an active chamber musician and continues to collaborate on projects such as Sacco & Vanzetti while working in the hospital and serving as a full-time professor of nursing. She credits her ability to enjoy a full musical life to her teacher, Robert Durso, who retrained her technique following a debilitating repetitive stress injury, enabling her to play without pain and removing previous technical and artistic limitations.

Brendon Gawel (Mask Designer and Maker) 
Mask and Puppet Builder: The University of the Arts, Mary Baldwin University, Ombelico Mask Ensemble, Beacon Theatre Productions.  Puppeteer: The Philly Specials’ White Christmas for Big Howl/Vera Y, Albie’s Elevator for WHYY/Big Howl, The Spout Sharing Show and The Sunny Side Up Show for PBS Kids Sprout, Our Street is Sesame Street for Sesame Workshop. Instructor: Semester course in Commedia dell’Arte for The University of the Arts, Summer course in Commedia dell’Arte for Ombelico Mask Academy at West Chester University, Commedia workshops for Villanova University, Drexel University, Curio Theatre and Ombelico Mask Ensemble. Director: Ombelico Mask Ensemble, Drexel University, West Chester University,  Mum Puppettheatre, Philadelphia Children’s Theatre. Actor: Ombelico Mask Ensemble, Healthy Humor Inc., Clowns Without Borders USA, Lantern Theater.  Brendon lives with his wife and two children in West Philadelphia and is thrilled to be part of Sacco & Vanzetti!

Alexandra "Ra" Del (Assistant Director) is excited to join Curio Theater as one of the Assistant Directors for Sacco & Vanzetti: A Tragedia Dell'Arte. Alexandra was part of the workshop in 2024 and is thrilled to revisit this piece and work alongside her former professor, John, again. Alexandra is on the leadership team for Revolution Shakespeare, a Philadelphia Shakespeare Company focused on decolonizing the Bard’s work, and can also be found working around the city in various production positions’

Nicci Hardaway (Assistant Director) (she/her) is a Philadelphia based theatre artist and performer. She is a graduate of West Chester University class of 2025 and has recently been working at the Candlelight theatre. She had so much fun working on on this show and would like to thank her friends and family for all their support!

Elijah McBride (he/him) (Dramaturg) is a theatre artist about to graduate from West Chester University. Primarily a performer, he is also a stage manager, dramaturg, and educator. Past credits include Charlotte's Web (Wilbur), RED BIKE (Dramaturg), and Little Women (Stage Manager). Upon graduation, Elijah will be returning to school at Bloomsburg University to study ASL Interpretation with the goal of becoming a theatrical interpreter. IG: @elijahcmcbride


Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • 2025/26 Season Tickets
  • 2026 CURIO THEATRE CAMP
  • CuriosiTeens!
  • Donate to Curio
  • Join our mailing list
  • About Us
    • Curio Staff and Board
    • Mission and History
  • Contact Us
  • Patron Survey
  • Directions
  • SACCO & VANZETTI: A TRAGEDIA DELL' ARTE- Digital Playbill