Profiles

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 …

Jeff Award nominee Dina DiCostanzo, who stars as Shelly in the musical “Hairspray” at Drury Lane Theatre, has fine-tuned her acting chops enough for some very discriminating critics to take notice, including Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune, who called her “quirky, droll, empathetic and nimble on her feet.” That’s quite a collision of star qualities, but her talents only begin there: DiCostanzo can also sing and dance (making her the proverbial “triple threat” in stage parlance), and has a flair for comedy as well. And if being a “full-blood” Italian counts for anything, DiCostanzo scores points there as well. …

It’s a testament to the vision and endurance of Rose Sperrazza that the group she founded six years ago is still going strong. The Chicago Clarinet Ensemble is in residence at Northeastern Illinois University, where Sperrazza works as a tenured music professor. Thus far, the CCE has commissioned eight works for clarinet ensemble; it ranges from 2 to 35-plus members and has appeared everywhere from the University of Iowa to broadcasts on WFMT-FM 98.7 FM. “My mother is completely responsible for my love of music,” says Sperrazza, who lives on Chicago’s Northwest Side. “She played piano and sang quite a …

If someone gives you Fabrizio Rodio’s phone number and you feel like giving him a buzz some night, think twice. It’s not that the Rome native is stuck up, or screens his calls. Rather, he’s probably on stage tearing it up at a Chicago blues haunt. “I pretty much play out every night,” he says. (OK, about 24 times a month, but who’s counting?) While it’s a long way from Rome to Chicago, Rodio, 32, has bridged the gap by pouring his Italian flair and passion into the deep well that is Chicago blues. The result: musical magic. Since landing …

You never know where Italian Americans might lurk in Chicago-area theater, especially if their proud lineage is obscured by a non-Italian last name. But when the subject is love — a matter in which Italians are decidedly fluent– it makes sense that one spunky show has not one, but two Italian-American ladies leading the cast. “Cupid Has A Heart On: A Musical Guide to Relationships” just celebrated its 10th anniversary. And helping to drive the witty, zesty proceedings are Ashley Bush and Katie Johnston-Smith. Both actresses witness proudly to their Italian ancestry, yet also share a cultural coincidence: They grew …