"Little Italies Revisited:-- Big Stone Gap, Virginia and Manhattan's Lower East Side," presentations by two Italian-American Writers, will be hosted by The Italian Cultural Roundtable on October 26, 2002.

"Little Italy" (Manhattan's Lower East Side) just released by Arcadia Publishing, 
will be discussed by its author and actress, Emelise Aleandri.
  
"Milk Glass Moon", (Big Stone Gap, Virginia) by Adriana Trigiani, will talk about her forthcoming novel, growing up Italian in Virginia. 

The session will be followed by Q & A.

Adriana Trigiani made her off-Broadway debut as a playwright at The Manhattan Theatre Club in 1985 when she was commissioned to write "Secrets of the Lava Lamp".  In 1986, Adriana sold her first screenplay, a comedy romp called "Three to Get Married."  She segued into television writing and producing. 

Since 1989 she has consistently written and produced for hit shows including The Cosby Show, A Different World, Good Sports, Working it Out, and Showtime's Linc's. She was executive producer/head writer for the critically acclaimed CityKids for Jim Henson/ABC. Adriana wrote, directed and appeared in her awards winning feature length documentary "Queens of the Big Time".

Adriana is writing and directing the film based upon her novel, "Big Stone Gap" and is expected to go into production in the fall of 2002. She is also the author of "Big Cherry Holler" and "Milk Glass Moon".  All three novels comprise her "Big Stone Gap" trilogy.

Dr. Emelise Aleandri's latest book, "Little Italy", is made up of stunning  photographs and begins with Lower Manhattan in the early 1800s, and covers the tumultuous history of the Five Points area, the "Bloody Auld Sixth Ward."

Her earlier work,"The Italian-American Immigrant Theatre of New York City" (Arcadia, 1999) was extremely well received.  Dr. Aleandri is the Artistic Director of Frizzi & Lazzi: The Olde Time Italian-American Music & Theatre Company which entertains Italian-American and others in the tri-state area (website:http://www.frizzilazzi.com). 

Emelise has appeared in numerous film, theatre and television productions, the off-Broadway productions, and in the leading role of Eleonora Duse in the teleplay, "Of Penguins and Peacocks". Emelise will next create the role of Lady Lulu in Eugene Celico's film about bocce ball, "The Tournament". A TV producer at the Manhattan Neighborhood Network, Emelise just produced the TV adaptation of  Anne Paolucci's award winning play, "Minions of the Race" for QPTV.
       
In 1984 the late Dr. Michael R. Cioffi and Angela Marrantino founded the American Italian Cultural Roundtable, Inc. as a not-for-profit, to promote an appreciation and understanding of  Italian and Italian American culture in the tri-state area. In 1986, Fordham University began sponsorship of the AICR. [RAA Note: I could not find the AICR Web Site].

Topics include: literature, art, drama, music, dance, fashion, science and History. Formats include: panel discussions, lectures, exhibits, presentations and performances.

"Little Italies Revisited" begins at 2 pm on October 26, 2002 in the Lowenstein Café, South Lounge, Plaza Level of Fordham University's Lincoln Center Campus, 113 West 60th Street, corner of Columbus Avenue. 

A reception with light refreshments follows the presentation. 
Donation is $8 for non-members, no charge for members. 

For further information about attending  this event or joining the Roundtable, contact Dr. Richard Sorrentino, President (732) 229-5877 (email: RSorren534@aol.com) or Joann Sicoli (212)  371-5281.
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[RAA Note: I do not mention any I-A artist's participation in any of Spike Lee’s trilogy
of Anti-Italian of films ("Summer of Sam", "Jungle Fever", & "Do The Right Thing" )      when that artist's contribution to the I-A Community have been otherwise overwhelmingly positive.

While were on the subject of Spike Lee, and his 20 + films, aside from the fact that he shows great bigotry, almost exclusively to Italian Americans, IF only the Italian Americans had such a consummate propagandist !!!! 

"Spade" Lee did give me food for thought in his "Drop Squad" where a secret para-military organization of African Americans decides an African American ad executive is selling out his race, it abducts him for deprogramming.

Don't quite a few prospective "candidates" come to mind for a like I-A "Drop Squad"?]