The Italian JITNEY

What happens when an iconic American play travels across the ocean and returns with a new voice? Powerful Long Ladder, in association with Case Western Reserve University, proudly presents Sardegna Teatro and La Piccionaia's Italian production of August Wilson's Jitney, performed in Italian with English supertitles and featuring an all Black-Italian cast. Directed by Renzo Carbonera, the production first premiered in Vicenza, Italy, in 2024. This marks the first foreign language production of Jitney. The production runs May 5 & 6, 2026 at The Treelawn - 15335 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110. Powerful Long Ladder was founded in 2018 by Terrence Spivey, former Artistic Director of Karamu House. lts mission is to educate, inform, and inspire through classics and new works that reflect Black experiences unapologetically. “Wilson's works in a foreign language confirm his global impact,” said Spivey. Set in Pittsburgh in 1977 during the steel industry crisis, Jitney follows five unlicensed taxi drivers - Becker, Youngblood, Turnbo, Fielding, and Doub - struggling to survive in in a changing neighborhood. As businesses close and uncertainty grows, these men cling to friendship, pride, and hope while facing an uncertain future. Though rooted in the African American experience, Jitney has found new life in Italy. This unique production brings together culture, language, and shared history, demonstrating how August Wilson's work continues to connect communities across continents. This limited two-day engagement is not only an experience, but a celebration - an international collaboration of Black storytelling. Tickets now on sale on The Treelawn Music Hall website - one link for May 5 and one link for May 6: https://thetreelawn.com/ GRAZIE!

Event Links

Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/3545658-0

Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3545658-2

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