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Canadian Plays of Italian Heritage

Canadian Plays of Italian Heritage

By Anna Migliarisi

This landmark collection of thirteen plays plus a translation aims to displace critical misconceptions about Italian Canadian theatre. Chosen from a hidden treasure of more than 300 works, the selection honours vital contributions to Canadian theatre identity. By redefining the creators as Canadian playwrights of Italian origin rather than simply Italian writers living in Canada, the editor has presented an original and lively account of Italian Canadian performance history dating back to 1786. As well, she has reconsidered the definition of national theatre, addressed historical omissions, and confronted earlier dismissal of the work as merely marginal or ethnic. The endeavour to set the record straight is unequivocal. The recognition of these plays challenges the larger context of Canadian theatre practice and social history. The influential voices of Italian Canadian playwrights are loud and clear, and worthy of celebration.

Details

Guernica Editions (Essential Drama)

978-1771839952

pages |

$29.00 USD
$29.00 USD
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Reviews

As a Canadian and an immigrant, the question of identity, visibility and representation has been and continues to be, for me, a giant pea under the many mattresses of discomfort. In this collection of works for theatre, by Canadians of Italian Heritage, Professor Anna Migliarisi’s clarity is truly revealing and intelligent and intensely accurate. The works cited in this anthology are those of a generation of artists/writers whom I followed and whose work was inspiring in my own quest to communicate my writing as a Canadian/Italian author. The first generation of artists from my community to bring to the stages of Canada their Canadian stories which reflected their Italian Heritage in all of its light and darkness, humour and tragedy. The assumption that they were Italian plays, or ethnic theatre, is wrong as Migliarisi makes clear. They are a uniquely authentic theatre of a generation that wrote the reality of their times and have never been given the respect or recognition they deserve. This is an invaluable anthology not only for its artistic substance but for the history it provides for generations to come.

Gianna Patriarca

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About the author

Anna Migliarisi has trained actors in conservatory, liberal arts, as well as private studio settings. She is a longstanding member of CAEA and ACTRA, holds a BFA from the School of Dramatic Art, University of Windsor, and an MA and PhD in Drama from the University of Toronto. Anna has published numerous essays, book and play reviews, as well as several books on the history and practice of directing, including On Directing (2014) and Stanislavsky and Directing (2008). In addition, she has created and produced over twenty local, national and/or international theatre arts conferences and workshops. She is a professor of Theatre at Acadia University.