The Miami cast set to perform from July 12 to 14 in "Ciao Bambino" includes Rachel Diamond, Rick Urban, Eliana Parenti, Sam Zilbertstein, David Afkham, Jeffrey O'Neill, Bryson Lund, Adrianne Chavarria, Yasamin Rezai, Christa Ready, Harold Petion, Francesca Kiglies, Daniel Rapoport, Sebastian Rivera, Franco Kiglies, Sienna Oquendo, Veronika Chubarova, Abigail Perez-Pinon, Gia Gonzalez, Keyla Zaltzberg, Yves Bienaime, Selene Serra, Samuel Romero, William McLaren, and Martin Davis.
Miami performer and educator Elizabeth Turner says that at its heart, her original musical, “Ciao Bambino,” is about starting over. More specifically, it relates the experience of beginning a new life in a strange country. And due to the musical’s universal themes, such as family and immigration, you don’t have to be Italian to find value in the show, the playwright says.
The musical settles into Miami for a weekend run from Friday, July 12 to Sunday, July 14 at the Manuel Artime Theatre in Miami.
According to press material about the show, “Ciao Bambino” is “an original family-friendly show, offering a slice of life inside the 1940s Italian-American immigrant experience.”
Turner's great-great-grandparents arrived at Ellis Island from Gambettola, Italy.
THE TIMELINE OF 'CIAO'
Turner, a professor of music at St. Thomas University and a self-proclaimed lifelong performer, created the show about a decade ago. She wrote the musical’s book, lyrics, and composed the music. The show also includes material by Vincent Pelligrino and Lucy Murray.
She says it began life in 2012 as an EP. In 2016, a staged reading took place at the Midtown International Theater Festival in New York. Two years later, performances started Off-Off Broadway. In 2019, concert performances took place in New York, and two years later, Turner released a book version in paperback and as an E-book in English and Italian.
In 2022, the show had an equity staged reading at the Florida Festival of New Musicals in Winter Park, Fla., and last year, “Ciao Bambino” experienced its first university production by Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, Fla.
“Ciao Bambino” literally means “goodbye little boy.” But metaphorically, it’s a good riddance to immaturity and a welcoming of new opportunities, traditions, and people, she says.
Starting over is exactly what Turner’s ancestors did beginning a century ago.
“One hundred years have gone by, and I’ve had multiple waves of family members coming to the U.S.,” says the musical's creator. “My family was forward-thinking and wanted to start a new life.”
REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCES
While names, dates, and places have changed, Turner based the musical on her family’s experiences. In the show, an Italian woman seeking new opportunities arrives in the U.S. during the 1940s. Elizabetta “navigates the delicate balance of trying to fit into ‘America’ society while also staying true to her ‘Italian’ traditions. By pursuing love and music, she discovers passion and joy where she least expected it.”
Student actors making up the cast of Gulf Coast State College's past production of "Ciao Bambino." From left, Emibel Medina, Justin Jeffreys, Karly Johnson, and Austin Radican. Photo by Lou Columbus.
While Elizabetta faces challenges and a bit of sexism, the show ends happily. Ultimately, “Ciao Bambino” is a feel-good musical for all ages, according to Turner.
“It’s a fun experience with original music,” she adds. “I would say the blend of both English and Italian lyrics make this musical unique.”
The show’s musical genres include a combination of Mediterranean-influence, Italian Pop, American rock ‘n roll, and jazz.
The cast is diverse as well.
“Our company consists of artists originally from Haiti, Venezuela, Ukraine, Russia, Tehran, Israel, and Switzerland to name a few,” says Turner. “We are proud that we have been able to put our cultural differences aside and work together to create beautiful art and bring a new story to the stage.”
A LARGE CAST
The performers range in age from 10 to 68 and the cast includes professional actors, as well as some performing in their first musical. With more than 25 actors, the local Miami cast is the largest that has worked on the show, according to Turner.
The cast includes Rachel Diamond, Rick Urban, Eliana Parenti, Sam Zilbertstein, David Afkham, Jeffrey O’Neill, Bryson Lund, Adrianne Chavarria, Yasamin Rezai, Christa Ready, Harold Petion, Francesca Kiglies, Daniel Rapoport, Sebastian Rivera, Franco Kiglies, Sienna Oquendo, Veronika Chubarova, Abigail Perez-Pinon, Gia Gonzalez, Keyla Zaltzberg, Yves Bienaime, Selene Serra, Samuel Romero, William McLaren, and Martin Davis.
Turner is directing the production while Brittni Taylor Rhodes is the choreographer.
Turner, a Portsmouth, New Hampshire native and a third-generation Italian, has been singing since she could talk, she says, and studied all types of music.
When she was nine years old, she took her first trip to Italy on vacation with her mother who wanted to explore the country’s rich culture. She recalls falling in love with Italy, which felt like home to her.
“Growing up, I knew that Italy would be in my heart forever” she says.
Student actors making up the cast of Gulf Coast State College's past production of "Ciao Bambino." Photographed from left are Landin Fisher, Emibel Medina, Austin Radican, Aaron Tauton, Payton Merry, Aly Matthews, Karly Johnson, Jacob Feldstein, and Aly Matthews. photo credit by Lou Columbus.
Over the years, Turner returned to her ancestors’ home country multiple times. In high school, she sang in a professional choir that had the opportunity to perform at the Vatican. It was “an eye-opening experience. I loved it,” recalls Turner.
A few years later, the Walt Disney Co. hired Turner to work in Italy for a year on an Italian show. At the time, Disney was trying to establish children’s entertainment in the country. Apparently, so was Nickelodeon, which also hired Turner.
Turner arrived in Miami about three and a half years ago, she says. At the time, she was working on her doctorate and university officials hired her to revamp its music program.
“Moving to Miami has definitely opened up (my) eyes,” she says, adding that, in particular, she has learned about the struggles of the Magic City’s large immigrant, diverse population.
A CERTAIN TYPE
She recalls that it was around 2010 when she was in New York auditioning for roles and says she was told she had a "great voice." But casting directors weren't looking for her type; they wanted tall blondes. By her own admission, Turner is a “short, Italian-looking woman” with dark hair.
The rejections that Turner received inspired her to create roles for people who looked like her. Further, a professor suggested that for her dissertation she write a musical. And that was when Turner began creating “Ciao Bambino.”
Turner estimates that it was about two years from the time she began writing to the show’s debut on a stage. Creating the show was the easiest part of the process, she admits. On the other hand, finding theaters, holding fundraisers, and getting the show on its feet was more difficult.
What are Turner’s future aspirations for “Ciao Bambino?”
“Obviously Broadway would be a dream one day,” she says.
IF YOU GO:
- WHAT “Ciao Bambino”
- WHEN: 7 p.m. July 12 and 13 and 2 p.m. July 14.
- WHERE: Manuel Artime Theatre, 900 S.W. 1st St. in Miami.
- TICKETS: $20 general entrance, $15 for children under 10 and $15 for seniors 65+.
- INFORMATION: www.ciaobambino.com
- PARKING: Free parking is available behind the theater, which is wheelchair accessible.
