SOOP THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce the world premiere production of Anthony P. Pennino’s
AMERICAN, ITALIAN -
directed by Mike Keller
On what side of the hyphen do you stand?
“I caught the closing night of SOOP Theatre Company’s production of A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE by Arthur Miller…it was simply flawless! Thank you so much for the invite and congratulations to producer Paul Romanello, Director Francesco Campari and the entire Company! The best thing I’ve seen all season… And I’ve seen everything! Congratulations, Congratulations, Congratulations! Really… Just impeccable.” Christine Pedi / Sirius XM "On Broadway"
"[A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE] is a stellar example of how very talented people can create something really, really wonderful on stage with very little money if they have the talent...and boy they sure do! It's the best version of the play I have ever seen...including my own!" Michael Portantiere / Broadway Radio, "This Week on Broadway"
Starring ISABELLA BERTONI, DONOVAN COUNTS, DANTE PALMINTERI, PAUL ROMANELLO, SARA ROMANELLO, MARC ROMEO
Directed by MIKE KELLER
THREE-WEEK LIMITED ENGAGEMENT
APRIL 29 - MAY 16, 2026 AT THE CHAIN THEATRE
OPENING NIGHT IS MONDAY, MAY 4 AT 7:30 pm
TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT SOOPTHEATRE.BOOKTIX.COM
SOOP THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce the world premiere production of Anthony P. Pennino’s AMERICAN, ITALIAN -, directed by Mike Keller (The Pitch, Off Broadway). AMERICAN, ITALIAN - will play a three-week limited engagement at The Chain Theatre (312 W 36th St, New York, NY 10018), as part of their 2026 The Factory Series. Performances begin Wednesday, April 29, and continue through Saturday, May 16. Opening Night is Monday, May 4 (7:30 p.m.). Tickets are $49 and available at sooptheatre.Booktix.com or by calling 732-743-5849.
It’s the summer of 1984. Gio and Vin are best friends, first cousins, and third-generation Italian immigrants. While Gio can navigate this new world, Vin struggles to understand where he belongs. As he spirals into despair and addiction, can the love of his friend restore him to a sense of himself?
The production stars Isabella Bertoni (Mac-Haydn Theatre: A Grand Night for Singing, Guys and Dolls, A Bronx Tale, Beehive: 70s) as Gina, Donovan Counts (Legally Blonde) as Gio, Dante Palminteri* (Bleed for This (2016)) as Vin, Paul Romanello* (Soop Theatre: A View from The Bridge, God Of Carnage, and Amadeus) as Vincenzo, Sara Romanello* (Soop Theatre: A View From The Bridge, Spring Awakening, The Way We Get By) as Lisa and Marc Romeo* (Black Eyed Susan (2024)) as Frank. *Performing courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association.
The production features scenic design by Reilly Rabitaille, costume design by Michele Romanello, and lighting design by Elijah Schreiner. Sebastian Gutierriez is the sound designer and Max Evans is the stage manager. Publicity by Katie Rosin/Kampfire PR.
AMERICAN, ITALIAN plays the following regular schedule through Saturday, May 16:
Mondays at 7:30 pm
Wednesdays at. 7:30 pm
Thursdays at 7:30 pm
Fridays at 7:30 pm
Saturdays at 7:30 pm
Sundays at 4:00 pm
Tickets are $49 and are available online at sooptheatre.Booktix.com or 732-743-5849. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Chain Theatre Box Office, a half hour before the show.
Running Time: 95 minutes
Website: www.sooptheatre.org
Westchester Council of the Arts, Broadway World West/Rockland award winner
BIOGRAPHIES
MIKE KELLER (director) was born & raised in New Jersey, and though he’s lived & worked in New York City for the past 25 years, he will always call New Jersey home. He recently directed THE PITCH, Off-Broadway, at The Actor’s Temple, as well as The Legend of Sleepy Hollow in West Virginia’s state theater, Greenbrier Valley. Mike also directed Deadly Sins & Other Tales, by acclaimed playwright Lyle Kessler, at The Chain Theater in NYC. Other NYC highlights include directing The Grade, and Drawing The Line, both by Seth Freeman, and a reading of Chazz Palminteri’s play The Bench at the Actor’s Studio. Mike has appeared in over 40 different film and television projects, he is a director member in the Actors Studio Playwright & Directors Unit, and an MFA graduate of the New School for Drama. He recently appeared onstage as “Captain Brackett” in South Pacific, "Gyp" in Jersey Boys, and as “Cliff” in William Mastrosimone’s The Woolgatherer. Next, Mike appears as “Sonny” in his fourth production of A BRONX TALE at The Rev in Auburn, NY.
ANTHONY P. PENNINO (Playwright) has written numerous plays, including Chokehold, Act VI, The Land of Nod, Story of an Unknown Man, Your Love Isn’t Love, Howard Hopped The A-Train, and Iron Tongue of Midnight. His works have been seen across the United States and across the globe. He is currently a seasonal member of the Playwright/Directors Unit at The Actors Studio. Pennino holds an MFA in Playwriting from Columbia University and a PhD in Drama from the University of London. He teaches literature and film at Stevens Institute of Technology and served as a senior lecturer at Kadir Has University in Istanbul Turkey through the Fulbright Scholars Program. He is the author of several articles on dramatic literature as well as a book entitled Staging the Past in the Age of Thatcher: “The History We Haven’t Had”. He is currently completing a book on the theatrical work of James Baldwin.
THE SOOP ACTING COMPANY mainstage productions are, quite literally, as old as SOOP itself! Founded in 1998, the SOOP Theatre Company, was producing only “Mainstage” original works in NYC at venues such as the now defunct UBU Repertory Theatre and The Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex. With the additions of our “educational arm”, the SOOP Theatre Arts Repertory (STAR) and our NEW home base, The 530 Studios at 530 Fifth Avenue in Pelham, NY, our “professional arm” took the moniker SOOP Acting Company and continues to produce both established and original works, now in two locations – NYC and Pelham, NY!
The SOOP Acting Company, always seeking projects that INSPIRE (inquire, nurture, support, promote, immerse, reveal, encourage), is a professional regional, non-union theatre company. We often work with Actors’ Equity Association to provide a Guest Artist Agreement or an AEA Showcase Code, allowing us to cast union members. All of our mainstage productions are cast out of and rehearse in NYC and perform either there, or move to Pelham for final tech week and performance. Our move to Westchester and the new studio facility has been an incredibly rewarding one! The ability to provide such a professional, quality theatre experience in a place where we provide theatre education truly completes our company’s mission!
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Listings Information:
Who: Soop Theatre Company
What: American, Italian -
Where: Chain Theatre (312 W 36th St, New York NY 10018)
When: April 29 - May 16 (Opening Night May 4)
How: Tickets are $49 and available at sooptheatre.booktix.com
It’s the summer of 1984. Gio and Vin are best friends, first cousins, and third generation Italian immigrants. While Gio can navigate this new world, Vin struggles to understand where he belongs. As he spirals into despair and addiction, can the love of his friend restore him to a sense of himself?
