And sometimes, the stories are transformed into plays, like My Italy Story, which ATG will proudly present as our 2024-25 season opener, running Oct. 24-Nov. 3rd.  The heartwarming story about a young man who quits his job to journey to the Italian village of his ancestors to uncover his past was conceived after Gallo experienced a visitation from his late grandmother. Initial drafts were strictly autobiographical, with the main character named “Joseph Gallo.” But, as the NJ native explains, the problem with the nonfictional approach is you are “stuck with the truth and events that don’t fall into the optimal three-act play structure.” Gallo decided instead on auto-fiction, combining characters and streamlining events, resulting in a more effective drama – one that is ”emotionally” true – and one that doesn’t offend real-life relatives.

ATG Producing Artistic Director Jim Vagias first became involved with My Italy Story when he produced a reading of an early iteration of the play in the 1990s. Next came workshops at Playwrights Horizon, and a full production was first produced Off-Broadway in 1997. In 2009, it was slightly revised to reflect modern technology and enjoyed a successful, sold-out run at Hoboken’s Mile Square Theater, starring Emmy award-winning actor Tom Pelphrey.  The play has been produced over the years at various theaters up and down the east coast and has twice been optioned for movie rights.

Vagias ran into Gallo earlier this year and told him he had been thinking about My Italy Story and was considering including it in our next season. “I was humbled that Jim expressed interest in producing this,” said Gallo. “It is a beautiful story, and it will be incredibly acted by Michael Notardonato, who previously performed a staged reading of the play. People respond to the universality of the play, because despite its title, it’s about families and how they’re made and how – especially today – come in all shapes and sizes.”  In its 1997 review, the New York Times noted: “Anyone who has ever been part of a large family is bound to respond… Filled with humor and a gallery of vivid characters...”

This production of My Italy Story also reunites Gallo and Director Charlotte Cohn, who first met years ago at NY’s Actors Studio Playwrights and Directors Workshop and have worked together in both acting and directing capacities. “It was serendipitous that Charlotte directed Canned Goods this year and we were able to connect once again,” Gallo noted. “I am so fortunate to be part of the shared communities of both theater and storytelling, both of which strongly support those of us who have something to say.”

Come hear Joseph’s story, Oct. 24-27 at Hamilton Stage, and Nov. 1-3rd at the Sieminski Theater.

 A noted playwright, actor, educator and storyteller, Joseph Gallo appeared in the original production of My Italy Story at Penguin Rep, which later had its debut Off-Broadway at the 47th Street Theatre in New York.  Gallo’s full-length plays include: Two-Man Kidnapping Rule (New Ohio Theatre); Warning: Adult Content (Theatre 54); Staten Island (Circle Rep Lab); and New York City 523. He is a current member of the Actors Studio Playwrights and Directors Workshop, a New Jersey Council of the Arts Playwriting Fellow, and a recipient of the NJ Council of the Humanities Incubation Grant for New Work. A frequent participant at The Moth in New York City, he has toured with The Moth Mainstage Ensemble, has been featured on The Moth Radio Hour and Podcast and is a four-time StorySLAM winner; he will soon be competing in the NYC Grand Slam event. Gallo is the former playwright-in-residence at Mile Square Theatre where his credits included writing and performing in pieces including Yuppies Invade My House at Dinnertime, The Magic Hour, The Playbill Gallery (a love story), AJ's Book and Long Gone Daddy. He is the founder and director of the Theatre Arts Program at Hudson County Community College and is a recipient of the Kennedy Center Prize for Innovative Teaching in Theatre.  He holds an MFA in Playwriting from Ohio University.