The Reawakening of the Gods: An International Collaborative Project
The musical “The Reawakening of the Gods” is the core and engine of an international collaboration between Montclair State University (Inserra Chair in Italian and Italian American Studies, Musical Theatre Program, the John J. Cali School of Music) and Savatteri Produzioni, a musical theater company based in Italy (Agrigento, Sicily), including workshops, internships, meetings, performances and classes.
Written and directed by Maestro Marco Savatteri, “The Reawakening of the Gods” is a unique show that celebrates the timelessness of Greek mythology and its tensions (peace/war, love/hatred, generosity/selfishness, tragedy/comedy, gravitas/lightness). Through a lyrical and incisive script that combines acting and singing, and through magical make up, costumes, masks and head pieces, this musical is at once a pleasantly accessible introduction to Greek gods and goddesses and a deep reflection on their powerful topicality in our world. Designed to be presented with an immersive format (ancient theaters, archeological sites, etc.), “The Reawakening” has actually proven to be adaptable to different environments and formats as a collage of dynamic vignettes with short parts, and, as such, an ideal context for pluri-disciplinary educational projects as well as for the inclusion of new performers in the productions.
The collaboration is a multi-year initiative that has has included and will unfold through various phases:
Two students were selected from Montclair State University: Brianna Coppolino (Cali School of Music) and Mia Grizzuti (Musical Theatre)
2. Summer 2025 paid internship entailing the performance in the musical in Sicily (Valley of the Temples of Agrigento) (recap)
A total of three students participated (a third student joined after graduation, independently from the scholarship-supported program: Emma Mason (Cali School of Music). The experience included student performances in other shows presented by the Savatteri Produzioni (see last part of the video above).
3. Fall 2025 attendance of Italian Translation class (Montclair State University)
Brianna Coppolino under the supervision of Prof. Marisa Trubiano completes the full translation of the script characterized by complex rhymes and literary quotations
4. Fall 2025 Illustration of Summer 2025 experience with director Marco Savatteri and singer Toti Maria Geraci, including a short performance of excerpts from the script translated into English.
5. Spring 2026 Public Reading in English at the end of a week of rehearsals, followed by a short discussion of the translation process
6. Summer 2026 paid internship as members of the Savatteri Company in Agrigento for two weeks of shows and rehearsals in summer (recap)
7. Workshop for Theatre Studies class (taught by Melissa Schaffer (oct. 9) and Workshop for Summer 2027 internship auditions (Oct. 11)
8. Bilingual show with Savatteri company artists singing in English and Montclair State students singing in Italian (Oct. 11, 2026)
Video:
Photos: Full set
9. Talk with director Marco Savatteri moderated by Prof. Teresa Fiore about his artistic trajectory and the international project that they both designed in 2024 and have implemented since then, in collaboration with CART colleagues.
And the collaboration continues (stay tuned)
This inter-college international program reflects the Expand Reach and Amplify Impact commitment of Montclair State University’s mission: “Increase global engagement by creating international experiences, broadening access to Montclair programs and promoting a global mindset. It also fully reflects one of the seven capabilities illustrated by MSU President Koppell with the Harris's hawk: Collaboration.
It is coordinated by Prof. Teresa Fiore (Inserra Chair in Italian and Italian American Studies) in collaboration with Prof. Lori McCaan (Cali School of Music) and Prof. Ryan Kasprzak (Musical Theatre Program).
Sponsored by the Inserra Chair in Italian and Italian American Studies (Italian program, Global Cultural Studies Department) with partial support from the Cali School of Music and the Musical Theatre Program at Montclair State University, as well as Savatteri Produzioni for the Agrigento-based portions of the project, and in collaboration with the Office of International Academic Initiatives at Montclair. The 2026 edition included an experimental collaboration with Nexo Sicilia.
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For info, contact fiorete@montclair.edu
MEDIA COVERAGE
AgrigentoNotizie article about the Inserra International Paid Internship winners and the history of the collaborative project (Sept. 2, 2026).
Repubblica Palermo article about the 2026 Inserra International Paid Internship and the broader collaborative project (Aug. 28, 2026).
WMSC student radio interview with Dr. Teresa Fiore, Dr. Lori McCann, and Maestro Savatteri about the intercollege international project and the public reading in English (March 2026).