Dept. of Theatre & Dance Presents Sacco & Vanzetti: A Tragedia dell’Arte
Production Explores the Controversial Trial and Execution of Two Italian Immigrants
through the Theatrical Tradition of Commedia dell’Arte
West Chester University’s Department of Theatre & Dance will present Sacco & Vanzetti: A Tragedia dell’Arte, an original play written and directed by WCU Associate Professor John Bellomo, Nov. 19–22 in the J.P. Adler Studio Theatre in the E.O. Bull Center for the Arts, 2 E. Rosedale Ave., West Chester, PA. Tickets are available at https://wcupatix.com/theatreanddance.
Performances are scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 19, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 20, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 21, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 22, at 2 p.m.
The production explores the infamous case of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, two Italian immigrants and anarchists arrested in 1919 on suspicion of robbing a shoe factory and murdering its paymaster and a guard. Their highly controversial trial and subsequent executions in 1927 sparked international protests amid widespread concerns that the men had been targeted because of their political beliefs and immigrant status.
Using the theatrical tradition of commedia dell’arte, Sacco & Vanzetti examines the absurdity and injustice surrounding the case, employing comedy as a counterpoint to the tragedy of the men's lives. The production combines historical events, court transcripts, traditional commedia scenarios, and excerpts from Sacco and Vanzetti's published prison letters to bring the story to life for the stage.
For Bellomo, the project represents the culmination of years of research and artistic exploration that began when he was a high school student.
“My father says I came home from high school one day asking if he knew about Sacco and Vanzetti,” said Bellomo. “From that point on, I consumed anything I could about the case. I watched documentaries, and whenever I would go into a used bookstore, I would look to see if there was a book I didn’t have.”
In 2018, Bellomo began developing a commedia dell’arte piece about the two men after learning about an Italian puppeteer's work, La Vendetta del Duca d'Alba, in which two characters are falsely accused of burglary and sentenced to death. Bellomo began translating the play and combining its storyline with historical commedia scenarios, elements of the Sacco and Vanzetti case, and material from the men's prison correspondence.
The current script was created in 2024. Bellomo presented a staged reading of the play at WCU in December 2024, and the play was produced professionally in April 2026 by Philadelphia’s Curio Theatre Company. The production was nominated for three Barrymore Awards, Philadelphia’s equivalent of the Tony Awards, including Outstanding Props or Puppetry Design by Assistant Puppet Designer Ren Bailey ‘29, a WCU theatre student, Outstanding Original Production, and the Philadelphia Award for Social Insight, which carries a $25,000 prize. The Barrymore Award winners will be announced on November 16, 2026.
The production has also been invited to the Sacco et Vanzetti 1927–2027 International Conference at Université Paul-Valéry in Montpellier, France, in July 2027, marking the centennial of the executions.
The cast of Sacco & Vanzetti includes Nicholas Oberto as Nicola Sacco, Will Rice as Bartolomeo Vanzetti, Mike De Vitto as Judge Thayer. Ensemble members play multiple roles and include: Mali Taylor, Calvin Carr, Stella Campbell, Xiomara Smith, Lily Rivenburgh, and Benjamin Prentiss. Michael E. Stewart also appears as Judge Thayer.