This program is for Montclair State University students only
(the selected students will be offered airfare, housing, a small stipend, and
the possibility of customizing the summer schedule for the rehearsal and shows)
ll Risveglio degli Dei / The Reawakening of the Gods is a dream-like voyage into the world of ancient Greek mythology. The stories being told take place in a time of fantasy that never existed – yet these tales were told 2600 years ago and have survived until today. In the show, the Gods of Olympus re-awake and reveal themselves to the eyes of the spectators. The show was conceived to be performed in real archeological sites, ancient theaters, palaces, and museums, allowing the audience to experience these places in a new and inspiring way.
Marco Savatteri – the composer and director of this Greek-mythology-inspired modern musical performed every summer in the enchanted archeological site of the Valley of the Temples – will be a special guest on our campus this March. He will offer a workshop in preparation for the audition for two cast members to be included in the 2025 summer calendar of performances of the show in Agrigento, Sicily.
Presentation/info session (optional): Friday March 21 10-10:30 AM and then again 11am-12noon in Leshowitz Hall (10:35-10:45AM in a class held in Life Hall 200)
Audition:Thursday March 27 2-4PM (Leshowitz Hall) Workshop 4-6PM (Chorale Room G55)
The workshop is an introduction to ancient Greek mythology and how it is translated into a contemporary site-specific production (a natural environment at dawn). Participants will learn a choreography from the show Il Risveglio degli Dei / The Reawakening of the Gods including dance, singing and acting. The workshop will be of great benefit to those who intend to audition for the show, but is open to any interested student.
For the audition, be prepared to:
Sing a song (possibly but not necessarily) in Italian (1-2 mins, ideally the finale of a song)
Sing a favorite song in any language, possibly pair it with dance/movement (1-2 mins)
Complete an exercise based on instructions provided by Marco Savatteri on the spot
For the workshop:
Choose a character from Greek mythology and pair it with any type of music you feel comfortable with in expressing that character as you move in space (no acting and no singing involved)
If interested in the workshop, or the audition, or both, please fill this GOOGLE FORM and feel free to reach out with questions: Prof. Lori McCann, Cali School of Music, and Prof. Teresa Fiore, Inserra Chair, Italian Program.
The company of Il Risveglio degli Dei / The Reawakening of the Gods is made up of dancers, actors, and singers from different parts of Italy who will rehearse in Agrigento starting in early June 2025 all the way to the beginning of the summer season (show dates: July 27, Aug. 3, 10, 17, 21, 24, 31, and Sept. 7 – NOTE: after the July premiere in English, students have the option of also performing in the Aug. and Sept. shows in Italian as part of individualized agreements). Besides acting as singers and dancers, the selected students will provide support to the translation of the script into English and will coach the Italian performers in English. The two students will receive financial support for the airfare and housing, and a small stipend depending on the number of shows they will perform in.
This opportunity, jointly designed by the Inserra Chair in Italian and Italian American Studies (WLC Dept.), the Cali School of Music, and Savatteri Produzioni, is supported by the Inserra Chair for travel, Savatteri Produzioni for housing and the Angelo and Marie Cali Fund for Italian Studies for a stipend. It is included in the Agrigento Capitale della Cultura 2025 initiatives.
Marco Savatteri is a musical theater playwright, director, and composer. Originally from Agrigento, he holds a a degree in Modern Literature from La Sapienza University in Rome. In his native Sicilian town, he is the founder of the school La Casa del Musical, the Artistic Director of Savatteri Produzioni and the coordinator of Innovative Productions at the Pirandello Theater. Inspired by the cultural heritage of Sicily and the Mediterranean, his site-specific and immersive shows have been presented throughout Italy and abroad with a diverse team of professional performers. “The Reawakening of the Gods” (2017) was presented in major archeological sites (Agrigento, Taormina Arte, Catania, Siracusa, and Selinunte); “White Shirts” (2017, about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire) was presented in Germany, Brazil, the U.S. and the prestigious Teatro San Babila in Milan in the fall 2024; while “Caravaggio: The Flight” (2022) toured Italian theaters for two seasons. See website and IG profile for more information.