Festa Italiana set for Aug. 6-8 at Boylan High School

By Susan Johnson
Copy Editor

The 32nd Annual Festa Italiana will be Aug. 6-8 on the Boylan Catholic High School grounds, featuring all your favorite attractions.

Chairman Frank Perrecone of the Greater Rockford Italian American Association and 2010 Festa Chairman Bonnie Falzone-Capriola welcome the public to this year’s event. Hours are: 5 to 11 p.m., Friday, Aug. 6; noon to 11 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 7; and noon to 8:30 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 8. A Sunday Mass will be held on the grounds at 10 a.m.

The popular Amici Italiani Dance Troupe returns for your entertainment. Started in 1985 by Shirley Martignoni Fedeli, the troupe will perform quadriglias, saltarellos, mazurcas, tarantellas and codigliones. The troupe gathers Italian-Americans of all ages and backgrounds to learn and share the rich tradition of Italian Folk Dance.

Other performers will be Vince Chiarelli, Classix, Kashmir, Guzzardo Performance Music, Peter Guerin, Tony Spavone, Men of Our Times, Mr. Big Stuff, The Tenors Three, John Truncali, Clutch Cargo, Tin Horse and The Be-Bop Boys.

Boylan High School alumna Jodi Benson returned this spring to help the school celebrate its 50th anniversary. The voice of Ariel, The Little Mermaid, Jodi performed and met with students and toured the school April 17. She also appeared at Afterglo, Boylan’s annual fund-raiser with Gershwin and other favorites. Jodi, nee Marzorati, a Rockford native and 1979 Boylan graduate, has received worldwide recognition and critical acclaim for her extensive achievements in the Disney film, The Little Mermaid, the voice of Tour Guide Barbie in Toy Story 2, and received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for her appearance in the Gershwin musical Crazy For You. She also appeared as guest soloist at the Kennedy Center Honors for Ginger Rogers; Walt Disney: 75 Years of Music at The Hollywood Bowl; and with symphonies around the world.

This year, the Ethnic Heritage Museum honors the 2010 Italian Woman of the Year, the Honorable Lisa Fabiano, 17th Circuit judge, and 2010 Father of the Year, Joe P. Bruscato, Winnebago County State’s Attorney. The Museum’s Italian Gallery features Italian needlework such as laces, trapunto and handmade linens; wedding gowns from 1917 through the war years; Salvatore Castronovo’s original gown; and the wonderful stories and shapes of Bombonieri’s.

The Festa Italiana 2010 Culture Tent theme is “Tutto Italiano”—“All Things Italian.” Daily demonstrations will be given in the Culture Tent, including: learn to make homemade pasta, cannolis, learn to play Briscola, and a wine-tasting event.

Some of the taste treats this year include: granita, hot dogs, Italian margaritas, meatball sandwiches, Italian subs, pastries, pizza, pork chop sandwiches, ravioli, mozzarella, sausage sandwiches, sfingi, wine and zucchini.

Admission is $10 per day for adults from noon to 5 p.m. Children 12 years and younger are admitted free and must be accompanied by an adult. Proceeds will go to the scholarship fund. For more information, go to www.griaa.com.

From the Aug. 4-10, 2010 issue