While most dads in the late 1950s ranted and raved against rock ‘n’ roll, Jim Tullio had the unique situation of living under the roof of an accomplished jazz drummer. So when Tullio and his older brother came home with records by Elvis, Bill Haley and Buddy Holly, their old man Nicholas responded like a card sharp upping the ante. “My dad bought a record, put it down on the table and said, ‘This is what all these guys are trying to do,'” Tullio recalls. “It was by Little Willie John, the guy who wrote ‘Fever.’ Back then it was …

Some kids get picked to decorate the hallways of their school with murals. Then there’s Esther Roby, who designed an intricate tile mosaic for her school in Rome during her formative years. No juvenile trifle this: Roby’s “Venere of Botticelli” still stands stands to this day as a testament to this native ItalianÍs artistic passion. “It was amazing growing up in Rome,” says Roby, 55, who now calls Geneva, Ill., home. “Rome is a magical town with so much energy, history and delicious food. And loving the arts, I was able to go see the most incredible masterpieces from renowned …

You might expect that after graduating the University of Chicago this past spring, Michael Guido would put his high-powered B.A. in Biology to work on the job front. And while that’s still a distinct possibility, Guido distinguished himself at the U. of C. as a top comic talent in the Off-Off Campus improv group, a forerunner of the famed Second City. Given his academic track, no one could’ve imagined the younger Michael turning into a comedy talent, as he discovered improv as an incoming freshman. “I first tried out my second day in college,” the younger Guido recalls. “I’ve always …

When you head a vocal ensemble that bears your name, the responsibility to keep the musical selection and performances fresh and engaging takes on added significance. But for Michael Teolis, leading the 30-member Michael Teolis Singers is a labor of joy — one with clear connections to his Italian upbringing. Teolis, 60, traces his Neapolitan roots on his father’s side to a small village near San Clemente called Campo Galluccio in the province of Caserta. (His mother is of Polish, Scotch, English and Irish heritage.) And he recalls growing up with his paternal grandmother, who’d sing in Italian around the …

Susan Nigro calls herself a “contrabassoon crusader,” and the handle certainly fits this native South Side Chicagoan, who not only plays the instrument, but also gives lectures, demonstrations and workshops on it. She even commissions and performs new works for the woodwind, which dates to the 18th Century, but sounds modern and relevant in Nigro’s capable hands. “My goal has been to bring this often-neglected instrument out into the limelight as a soloist, so the general public can hear and appreciate its unique and fascinating musical qualities,” Nigro says. In fact, her work spans seven CDs, in addition to a …

The theater world has many unsung heroes: folks such as Mark Mariani who work behind the scenes to make plays look great. A Philadelphia-based costume designer, Mariani designed the costumes for “Freud’s Last Session,” playing at the Mercury Theater, where it made its Midwest premiere in March and runs through June. Created by playwright Mark St. Germain, “Session” centers on legendary psychoanalyst Dr. Sigmund Freud, who invites the rising academic star C. S. Lewis to his home in London. Mariani comes from Abruzzi and Basilicata roots on his father’s side, and Neapolitan roots on his mother’s side — a fact …

Frankenstein is, of course, not an Italian name. But if you want to translate the zany humor of Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein’ to the stage, who better to tackle the task than two actors of Italian lineage? “I’ve loved Mel Brooks since I was a kid,” says Devin DeSantis, who pays the role of Dr. Frankenstein in the stage adaptation running at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace through March 16. “It’s a blast trying to pay homage to such a classic comedy. In addition to the well-crafted jokes and physical humor, there’s an opportunity to tap into the great …

The Our Lady of Angels fire of 1958 looms large in Chicago’s collective psyche, right alongside the Great Fire of 1871. The blazed that killed 92 children and two nuns has never been fully explained, though playwright Charles Grippo tackles it his latest work, “When Angels Wept,” running through April 7 at Prop Thtr. “I was in third grade, attending Resurrection school on the West Side, not far from Our Lady of Angels” recalls Grippo, who traces his roots on his father’s side to Basilicata; his mother was Polish. “Our pastor, Monsignor William Gorman, whom I mention in the play, …

Like few other producers in the Midwest, Abbie DeSantis can say that she literally grew up in the local theater scene: She’s been closely connected with it since childhood, learning the ropes from her grandfather, Drury Lane Theatre founder Anthony DeSantis. Today, Abbie produces for Drury Lane, working alongside brothers Kyle and Drew. (Cousins Jason and Tom VanLente also serve as producers.) “I love the quote, ‘Chi si volta, e chi si gira, sempre a casa va finire’ (‘No matter where you go or turn, you will always end up at home,’)” says DeSantis, whose ancestors hail from outside of …

It’s been eight years since Italy’s renowned Piccolo Teatro di Milano last visited Chicago, so drama fans will want to take note: the company is returning for the American premiere of “Inner Voices,” taking place June 25-29 at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s Courtyard Theater. If Piccolo Teatro’s return has been a long time coming, this production (to be staged in Italian) has been even longer in the making. Presented in conjunction with the Italian Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago, “Inner Voices” dates to 1948. It’s the work of Eduardo De Filippo, one of Italy’s …