Italy Marks 150th Anniversary
Italy may have provided many significant contributions over the past couple of hundred years, but it is still a young and thriving nation. Italian flags have begun to drape the cities and towns, a vision usually left for sports events and religious parades. Although the Berlusconi government has had its drama, the country still shows its patriotic fervour remembering the importance of the Expedition of The Thousand, a military campaign led by General Giuseppe Garbaldi in 1860 that helped create a unified Italy. This cultural event has not been received with open arms by all of Italy. Mixed feelings remain firm throughout the country, especially between the northern and southern regions. Turin is expected to use these festivities to its fullest, taking center stage as the venue for Esperienza Italia unfolds, beginning on March 17th and continuing for 9 months in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Italian States. In 1861 Italy was recognized as an independent and unified Italy and Turin was the first site of its parliament. As for the rest of the globe, Italy still shines as one of the most influential nations of our time and continues to dazzle the world with its food, fashion and history.
Rain and Stars
I’m not the fastest person at seven o’clock in the morning. Little Italy was still asleep and the regular characters were nowhere to be seen. The pouring rain and a wet cigarette hanging from my mouth pretty much painted the picture in living grey colors.
It was that time again, one year later to the day. The art deco Royal Theatre displayed a congratulatory sign welcoming another day of recognition. Water trickled down the photos of the faces of past inductees on the noveau flags hanging from the black ornate lampposts. The trolleys had had a few hours to run along College Street, allowing passengers to see the set up, before the road had been shut down.
The enthusiastic eclectic collection of people, most of them Italian or of Italo descent would unite with eyes wide open to see and listen to the heroes that had touched their lives in some way. Let’s not forget the press, those dedicated digiton camera zoomers who get an incredible high each time they capture “the moment”. The production unfolded as the trucks began to arrive with the necessary props needed to get the message across. Tony, the Asian owner of Cupps in the heart of the action, made me an Americano knowing I like it in a ceramic cup. He asked, “how many staws you put in sidewalk?” “Five, Tony, five this year.”
I glanced at the squares of plywood that covered the granite and brass stars and couldn’t help feel a slight rush of melancholy as I stood there drenched. The black plastic chairs were already lined up in the front of the podium for the expected dignitaries. The red carpet and velour stanchions separated the crowd from the limo pathway. It was going to be another spectacular event. I gazed up at the blue-gray sky and noticed a ray of sunshine fighting hard to penetrate the indecisive clouds that lingered overhead for no reason at all. This marked the 2nd year for this special event who many thought would never even get off the ground.
Not only did it get off the ground, it rocketted to heights of wondrous unexpectancy. Two kids from a homeland they left so long ago decided to keep the arteries of time flowing for new generations to come. History, education, subtle romance and a savory culture permeated the ambiance as the crowd grew larger. I wasn’t surprised by the eclectic group of individuals clutching their designer water that were gathered under umbrellas whispering to one another, “Can you believe Armand Assante is here today?” Icons are in our dreams and on the screens, but here? The truth is they were right.
Jets from the circus airshow pirouetted over our heads as the microphones delivered the speeches to the ears of curious fans. They were not disappointed as their idols touched both their hearts and souls as each, in turn, gratefully accepted their permanent place in history. I sat in one of those uncomfortable black plastic chairs and absorbed not only the dedication of people working together to achieve a common spirit, but also their honest desire to share with the world human kindness through the Italian Walk Of Fame
Italian Walk Of Fame Announces 2010 Inductees
Stars Presented at Unveiling Sept 6th, 2010
TORONTO, August, 16, 2010. Co-founders Jimi Bertucci and Marisa Beaco-Lang of the world’s first Italian Walk of Fame (IWOF) are delighted to announce the five inductees being honoured with stars on September 6, 2010 in Toronto, Canada.
Stars will be presented to:
Armand Assante – Emmy Award Winning actor
Enrico Colantoni – Gemini Award Winning actor
Frank Iacobucci – Companion of the Order of Canada, Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
Frank Mancuso Sr.- former Hollywood CEO & Chair of Paramount and MGM Studios
Dean Martin – (posthumous) Legendary Actor, Comedian and Singer –son, Ricci Martin, will accept the award on his father’s behalf.
The red carpet star unveiling ceremonies will take place in Toronto’s “Little Italy” in front of the CHIN Building (622 College St.) at 1:00 pm on Sept 6, 2010. A gala awards dinner will follow later that day at Riviera Parque Banquet & Convention Centre in Vaughan (2800 Hwy 7 West) at 6:00 pm.
Frank Iacobucci
Frank Iacobucci has had a distinguished career in private practice, academia, government and the judiciary.
After practising as a corporate and securities lawyer in New York , he joined the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto , as a professor of law. He later served as dean of the Faculty of Law and then vice-president and provost of the university.
In 1985, Mr. Iacobucci was appointed Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General for Canada ; in 1988, Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Canada; and in 1991, a Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada.
Mr. Iacobucci also holds honorary degrees from universities across Canada , as well as from the Università della Calabria in Cosenza , Italy . In July 2007, he was appointed a Companion in the Order of Canada.
He currently serves as chairman of the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario and is a director of a number of prestigious organizations.
Toronto Premiere of Questo Buio Feroce (The Wild Darkness) from Italy’s Compagnia Pippo Delbono
World Stage to host Toronto Premiere of Questo Buio Feroce (The Wild Darkness) from Italy’s Compagnia Pippo Delbono
TORONTO – Harbourfront Centre’s World Stage 2011 is proud to host Italian performer/director Pippo Delbono for his inaugural visit to a Toronto stage with the theatrical spectacle Questo Buio Feroce (The Wild Darkness), January 26 to January 29, 2011 at the Fleck Dance Theatre.
For over 20 years Delbono has been creating works that defy the boundaries of contemporary theatre, working with world renowned dance and theatre creators, including the legendary Pina Bausch. His visions have been described as “part theater, part dance, part carnival, part music, the works … are hard to categorize; they leave viewers alternately elated, drained, shocked and thoughtful.” – Tara Mulholland, New York Times.
Delbono’s Questo Buio Feroce was inspired and adapted from the autobiographical essays This Wild Darkness: The Story of My Life by American writer Harold Brodkey, as he neared death from AIDS, first published in 1996. The stage adaptation is a reflection on life in the shadow of death: “a parade of haunting tableaux that connect in a poetic way, defying interpretation.” – Pat Donnelly, Montreal Gazette.
Questo Buio Feroce features actors and non-actors whom Delbono has assembled from various walks of life, including Bobò (who spent over 40 years in a Naples asylum for the clinically insane), former homeless people, and individuals confronted with other adverse circumstances. “After having worked with them,” said Delbono, “I can no longer accept that the more ‘difficult’ members of society be looked upon differently. They have become the stars of my success…It just goes to show that diversity can be a fundamental tool to opening up people’s perspectives.”
In celebration of the Toronto premiere of Questo Buio Feroce, Harbourfront Centre will launch the balance of World Stage 2010-11 with a contest offering audiences an opportunity to win a Trip for 2 to Campania, Italy, compliments of Transat Holidays. Details will be available on harbourfrontcentre.com in early to mid-December.
Harbourfront Centre’s World Stage 2010-11 Questo Buio Feroce (The Wild Darkness) – In English and Italian with English surtitles Compagnia Pippo Delbono (Italy) Jan. 26-29, 8 p.m. (*Post-show Q & A Jan. 27) Fleck Dance Theatre, 207 Queens Quay West, 3rd Floor Queen’s Quay Terminal Bldg.
Tickets: $15-$49, Box office: 416 973-4000 or HarbourfrontCentre.com
Cast and Crew:
QUESTO BUIO FEROCE World Premiere, Rome, 2006
Conceived and directed by Pippo Delbono
With Dolly Albertin, Gianluca Ballarè, Raffaella Banchelli, Bobò, Pippo Delbono, Lucia Della Ferrera, Ilaria Distante, Gustavo Giacosa, Simone Goggiano, Mario Intruglio, Nelson Lariccia, Julia Morawietz, Gianni Parenti, Pepe Robledo
Set designer: Claude Santerre
Light designer: Robert John Resteghini
Technical manager: Fabio Sajiz
Chief machinist: Gianluca Bolla
Machinist: Mattia Manna Sound: Angelo Colonna
Light: Orlando Bolognesi
Wardrobe: Elena Giampaoli Set and
costumes: realized in the workshops of Theatre de la Place-Liège
Complete information about performance times and tickets is available through the Harbourfront Centre box office by phone at 416-973-4000, or online at harbourfrontcentre.com
Harbourfront Centre’s World Stage 2010-11 gratefully acknowledges the support of Department of Canadian Heritage, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council and Intercontinental, the official host hotel of World Stage.
ABOUT HARBOURFRONT CENTRE
Harbourfront Centre is an innovative, non-profit cultural organization which provides internationally renowned programming in the arts, culture, education and recreation, all within a collection of distinctive venues on a 10-acre site it operates in the heart of Toronto’s downtown waterfront.
National Congress Honors The Man
IWOF board member and gala co-chair, Sam Ciccolini (left), gets the thumbs up from fellow board member, Lenny Lombardi (center), after receiving the prestigious Ordine al Merito award. The honor was bestowed to Mr. Ciccolini for his exceptional leadership, community service, and fellowship in the community. Sam is the man behind numerous charitable causes including the Oaklands Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises funds to improve the quality of education and development of impoverished nations, and of which he is the Founder and President. The event attracted some of the most influential Italians in the community, including co-founders of IWOF, Marisa Beaco-Lang and Jimi Bertucci, General Consul of Italy Dr. Gianni Bardini, Senator Consiglio Di Nino, Toronto Mayoral candidates Joe Pantelone and Michael Rossi, and Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police, Julian Fantino. Those and many others contributed to making the evening memorable and successful.
Giancarlo Giannini
Giancarlo Giannini, Oscar-nominated Italian actor and director was born in La Spezia, Italy. At 18, he enrolled in the Academy of Dramatic Art D’Amico in Rome. In 1965, Giannini made his big-screen debut in Libido. His successful collaboration with the legendary Italian director Lina Wertmüller resulted in several award-winning films with Giannini as the male lead. His many appearances include, Film d’amore e d’anarchia, ovvero ‘stamattina alle 10 in via dei Fiori nella nota casa di tolleranza…(1973), Travolti da un insolito destino nell’azzurro mare d’agosto (1974) and Pasqualino Settebellezze (1975). He also starred in Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s masterpiece, Lili Marleen (1981).
Giannini is well known for his dubbing of international stars. His fluency in English and mastery of dialects have brought him a number of supporting roles in Hollywood, including, A Walk in the Clouds (1995), Hannibal (2001), Darkness (2002) and Man on Fire (2004). He appeared in Casino Royale (2006), and in the sequel, Quantum of Solace (2008).
