Our Italian American Stories

For over a decade, Maria Teresa Lonetti has been a cornerstone of Shoreline Theater Academy Kidz Konnection, where her creative choreography has helped bring over 45 main stage performances to life. Known for her dedication to every child on stage and her passion for fostering creativity in young performers, Maria’s impact on young actors is immeasurable. From studying at the American Musical Dramatic Academy and The New School in New York City to learning at Santa Reparata in Florence, Italy, and building relationships with Broadway and off-Broadway performers, Maria’s life journey consists of continuous growth and commitment to cultivating talent in others.  She holds a degree in Theater and has worked as a drama teacher in public schools.   

In this interview, we dive into Maria’s experience in her current position as choreographer, musical theater director, and dance instructor at Kidz Konnection.  She explains how her Italian heritage plays a role in her labor of love. 

1. You've been with Shoreline Theater Academy Kidz Konnection for 10 years now. What initially drew you to the organization, and what has kept you inspired throughout the years?  

So, when I was initially interviewing at Kidz Konnection, I actually had no idea [Director Laura Attanasio] was looking for a choreographer. I was coaching competitive gymnastics in Guilford and one of the women I worked with there knew Laura and the company.  So, when I went into interview with Laura, I remember at the time she was still in the basement of Chips Pub.  They were renting the space there and it reminded me of all like the super cool bohemian spaces in New York. And I met Laura and she actually reminded me so much of my high school drama teacher and her style of teaching, that I was like oh my goodness this is a great fit. 

And it’s funny because I was initially interviewing to do Legally Blonde, Jr. which was the next show on the docket. And I was super pumped for that show because my dog Adison was trained for the role of Bruiser. So, she was getting a choreographer and stunt dog all in one.  And as she was talking, she was like I’m in the middle of a Pinocchio rehearsal.  I have these puppet dances. Would you want to come in and try your hand at it? I was like of course, why not?  And I remember walking into the theater at the town hall during the tech week, and she introduced me to a couple of the kids.  Laura said, "Go for it!”  And I did. The rest was history. 

I think the thing that keeps me going is the kids. You know I come in sometimes with some wild ideas and I was like you guys want to try this, and it’s always sure. And, you know, I know how important the performing arts are to these kids.   Having a program like Laura’s that doesn’t turn anyone [away] is so important. I also love to challenge myself and one up myself every time I do a show. It’s just kind of how I was raised. I always just want to keep doing better. It’s fun for me. 

2. It sounds like your meeting with the director was meant to be.  You’ve worked on an impressive 45 performances over the years. How has your approach to choreography evolved from your first show to your most recent one, Newsies?  

It’s funny.  I don’t realize I direct between 9 to 10 shows a year. And I actually didn’t realize it was 10 years until we were actually about a few weeks out from tech week for Newsies. So, I think my approach to choreography changed because growing up in the theater world and especially performing at a few other theater companies, a lot of the times you see that they only have certain kids and all of the numbers, and a few of the kids will be plashed in a little bit as background. And that’s not how our company works. We want all the kids to be seen and showcased.  It’s more fun for them and honestly, it’s more fun for me. And it’s kind of turned into this fun challenge for me of how I can I fit 100 kids on stage, make them all look good, and oh, let’s give them all different choreography because I am a huge fan of layering my choreography.  

I’ve also never been a fan of copying the choreography from the Broadway shows. It’s actually a copyright infringement which a lot of people don’t know.  Also, what’s the fun in copying somebody else’s work?  I like to be creative and our kids are spectacular, but a lot of people forget those Broadway shows are choreographed for professional dancers that have been dancing for 35 years.  Performing and their skill set is much different than that of a 12-year-old who in their own right is incredibly talented, but they don’t have the years under their belt as the professionals. So, when I direct and choreograph a show, I get to be as creative as possible and I get to use our performers’ strengths and talents, which is a lot of fun. 

3. Choreographing a theater performance involves a lot of collaboration. How do you ensure that you’re building strong relationships with the children and volunteers to bring your vision to life?  

Most the kids in the company have grown up with us. We were actually talking about how there is a young lady who is turning 10 this year and I knew her before she was even born because her mother was pregnant with her when I first started. 

So, I think the big thing is getting to know the kids as individuals. I think a lot of times people don’t take children into consideration as individuals with their own thoughts and ideas, which is completely wrong. Each one of those kids is their own individual person and they’re brilliant, and I think we could actually learn a lot if we just listen to the kids more. And they’re just all eager and hungry to learn and be seen. And I feel like it’s my job to help foster that.  

Our parent volunteers are incredible. I cannot thank them enough. You know, we go back-and-forth about aesthetic for the show, because I also do build the sets as well. Sure, I know how to use a drill just in case from my dad.  But I digress, our costume team and lighting design team communication is great.  Sometimes we come up with idea ideas that might not work, but it’s not that anybody throws in the towel. It’s just kind of this thing where we’re like, “OK well, we can’t have this, but we can have this,” and it ends up being better in the end which is awesome. 

4. Newsies was a huge success! What unique challenges did you face in adapting the dance and movement styles for the characters, and how did you overcome them?  

So, the hardest part I think for Newsies is when we’re rehearsing in the Academy building and having to switch over to the town hall. There’s this one moment in Newsies “Once and For All” where the kids came down the aisles, marching and having them planted and just singing to the audience, and it’s very abstract when you’re just kind of standing in front of your chair in the rehearsal space and marching in place versus doing it in the town hall that is a 300 seat theater.  

But it’s so much fun when all the kids have the light bulb moment at the same time when we’re rehearsing and they’re like, “Oh my gosh!  Now we totally see what she’s talking about.”  Sometimes we are able to go into the space to rehearse, but for this show the space was booked a lot, so we weren’t able to get in as much as we usually do.  The kids were champs about acclimating.  

And it’s kind of like a giant jigsaw puzzle for me.  How do I get all of these kids to fit and be seen?  I am determined to make sure every single one of them is featured and seen, and they have their moment on stage. 

5. At Newsies, college students who were in your program returned to celebrate your 10-year anniversary, so clearly you know your kids.  Working with kids in theater must be a rewarding yet challenging experience. How do you keep them motivated and focused during rehearsals?  

I will say some days are harder than others.  You know the kids have lives outside of our program. Sometimes they have bad days at school or issues with their friend groups.  And they come in and they just don’t even want to be looked at, let alone work. And it’s my job to pick up on those cues from them, and if I see that going on, I might just stop and say, “All right, let’s play a drama game,” or I might have to talk to the group and just remind them why we are there and for them to think about the outcome because that is such a rewarding experience for them. 

6. Can you tell us about a particularly memorable moment or performance in your career at Kidz Konnection? Maybe a breakthrough in choreography or an unforgettable cast performance?  

I mean, I have loved every single show I directed, but I will say the advanced musical theater program with our older advanced kids does allow me to do more intricate work. I came up with the idea for that program when we were getting ready to make the move from our old space into the Academy as a way for those older kids to continue on with our program.  Once they hit high school, they get really wrapped up into a lot of activities and their schoolwork because they’re getting ready to be college bound. So, we started offering a Saturday program. And I love that we’re able to keep those kids active within the company. With that said, I honestly think the first time we did Les Mis really sticks out to me because we performed in the round upstairs, which is incredibly challenging for performers.  I think it is a very important acting tool for these kids because there is no hiding from the audience when you perform in the round. They were singing the song “At the End of the Day” and to feel that energy throughout the entire room and them being so close to the audience was really incredible.  

7. How do you balance the technical demands of choreography with making sure the performances remain fun and engaging for the young actors?  

What’s great about this program is the kids choose to be there.  This is their preferred extracurricular activity. At one point I did work in the public school system in New Haven as a drama teacher, and it was interesting because it was a class that was offered and some of my students weren’t really into the singing and dancing part.  So, I had to come up with other things for them to be interested in.  And of course, those kids were very appreciative of me, taking their feelings into consideration. At the Academy, these kids are hungry to learn and be challenged as performers. And it is my job to make sure that I nourish that hunger. 

And it’s funny because I will come in some days and I will have a whole concept in my head, and then I’ll go nope, that’s not going to work. Then I just have to recalibrate my way of thinking, and it ends up being better in the end. 

8. What role do you think theater and dance play in the development of children and young people, both artistically and personally?  

Well, I think it [theater and dance] gives them an outlet for them to utilize that creative side that they might not get to on the day-to-day. All kids are different. All people are different. Some of us have math brains.  I do not.  I can count to eight and start over again.  And I start with 5-6-7, so my brain is definitely not a math brain. Then it gives kids a chance to think outside of the box. I think that that is a major thing with the performing arts regardless if they want to be a performer or not.  It gives them a different way of looking at things. And that’s huge for problem-solving because no two problems that they’re going to face in life are going to be fixed the same way. And theater gives us a chance to look at something in a completely different way, which is something that they’ll be able to implement in their day-to-day lives now and one day as adults. 

9. With the name Maria Teresa Lonetti, I can't help but wonder about your Italian heritage. How has growing up in an Italian family influenced your creativity, work ethic, and success as a choreographer? Are there any traditions or values from your heritage that you bring into your work at Kidz Konnection?    

I think dance and music is a huge part of the Italian culture. I mean, I always remember there being music in the house when I was growing up in Morris Cove. And if we had family get togethers, especially at weddings, dancing was a must. 

As far as my heritage goes, I am actually a first generation American. Both of my parents are from Calabria. They came over when they were about 12 and 14 years old. My father (Luigi) is one of eight and my mom (Assunta) is 1 of 4. Nothing was ever given to them. They worked hard their entire lives. They actually only retired in their late 70s, so I was always instilled with that workhorse mentality, and never doing anything halfway.
 

When I was a kid, my dad ran the soccer program in New Haven, so not only did I play soccer, but my father was my coach at home.  Even though I wasn’t one of the best people on the team, he always made sure I was working hard at it and never giving up.  My mom very much had instilled in me if I signed up for something, I saw it through till the end. And she also saw the importance of dance and the arts, so she had me involved in a dance program with my sister Emilia in East Haven while I was playing soccer on top of everything else. And so, I was able to get the best of both worlds in a way. I feel very fortunate for that. 

10. Looking ahead, do you have any exciting projects or goals for future performances? What’s next for you at Kidz Konnection? 

There are a few bucket list shows that I definitely have in the back of my head. Unfortunately, the rights and royalties are not available yet, so fingers crossed those come out soon. But currently the thing I am the most excited about is doing Beetlejuice Junior two ways. We are doing it as part of our beginner intermediate day intensive this summer, but we are also offering it as an advanced program, as well in the evening. It’s gonna be fun being able to present the show in two different ways, which is something I haven’t gotten to do yet.  

Italian-American Defense League invited you to share your family's stories of war heroes, including their heroism, valor, and sacrifice, so that we can share them with our members and Connecticut communities.  IADL subscriber William Corvo contacted us and shared his research about a person dear to his heart, Max Corvo, his father.  With a new documentary soon to be released, the following is meant to preview a film that I hope all of you view. 

According to William Corvo’s research, Major Max Corvo of the U.S. Army, who worked with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), was a native of Sicily and a lifelong resident of Middletown, CT.  While collaborating with OSS, he developed and implemented a plan that started by retaking Sicily from the fascists during World War II, and then the entire Italian peninsula. “OSS formed for the purpose of obtaining information about and sabotaging the military efforts of enemy nations during World War II.” (https://www.britannica.com/topic/Office-of-Strategic-Services, May 31, 2024).  The officer’s plan consisted of: 

• Recruiting mission leaders and radio operators loyal to the Allied cause from members of the Italian Army and Navy; 
• Training them in the methods of securing intelligence in enemy-held territory; 
• Briefing them on the type of intelligence desired by higher headquarters; 
• Delivering them to the field either by surface craft, submarine or parachuting them by plane; and 
• Servicing them with supplies, armaments and equipment while in the field. 

Corvo “received numerous medals and honors including the Legion of Merit from the U.S.; an official knighthood from King Umberto of Italy, the Italian War Cross from the Italian Government and the Lateran Cross from the Vatican.” (Max Corvo of OSS – An American Story.pdf, received May 27, 2024).  Max Corvo is an American hero who fulfilled a calling from his childhood to do something great with his life as an American, which he did by liberating his homeland.

At a quick glance, he could have been mistaken for Tony Bennett, but this man was not a singer, he was a family man and entrepreneur who lived the American Dream.  Michael Anthony Dattilo’s life came full circle from a humble upbringing in Italy.  Dattilo was born in Maida, Calabria on July 21, 1940, in the impoverished south.  While Italy recovered from the impact of World War II, more than 600,000 Italians emigrated to the United States from 1946 – 1970.  Dattilo was one of them.  His life in the United States began as he stepped off the Ocean Liner SS Christoforo Columbo and, fittingly, his burial was on October 9, 2023 on Columbus Day.  The SS Christoforo Columbo’s maiden voyage was July 15, 1954 following the path of the Admiral of the Ocean Sea to the Land of Opportunity.  Dattilo's journey began on Good Friday, April 8, 1955, and he never forgot the noisy sounds of the ocean liner on its ten-day trans-Atlantic crossing.  He held on to a framed print of the SS Christoforo Columbo that was given to him a few years ago. 

Dattilo’s family surrounded him on his last day of life in this world on October 2, 2023 after a brief battle with cancer.  Only at the very end of his fulfilling life could something slow Dattilo down.  In 1955, Dattilo, accompanied by his parents and three sisters, made the journey to Nyack, New York, where they set down roots and forged their life in America. Upon their arrival in New York, Dattilo used skills from his homeland to embark on a career in the field of construction and development. His professional journey took him from being a self-made oil marketer and distributor to a hotel and real estate developer, restaurateur, and venture capitalist. Starting from modest beginnings, he climbed the ladder of success, transitioning from owning a small hair salon to ultimately acquiring his first gas station and founding Super Value Oil, which expanded its presence throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and beyond. 

In the 1970s, Dattilo began his own family and eventually relocated to the picturesque Connecticut shoreline, where he discovered his dream home. At the age of 40, he purchased the historic, beach front Bill Hahn Inn in Westbrook, Connecticut, and with determination and vision, transformed it into the renowned Water's Edge Resort and Spa. Dattilo dedicated himself wholeheartedly to creating a haven where families could forge enduring memories. Like his family, others could share life-long memories by the sea at Dattilo's resort.  At 70, he made a move to Naples, Florida, enjoying a climate reminiscent of his southern Italian birthplace. Dattilo, never one to retire or slow down, channeled his active business acumen into a new real estate development company, Five Diamonds, a tribute to his five beloved children. 

Despite his ardent dedication to building and development, Dattilo’s one true love in life was the precious time spent with family and friends. He was known for his generous spirit, often hosting family gatherings marked by delectable cuisine, fine wine, love, and abundant laughter, with open arms of a welcoming Italian family. 

Dattilo’s parents, sisters, children, and grandchildren knew him as son, brother, father, and grandfather.  According to his children, nothing was more important to him than his family.  To Italian Americans like me, who did not know him personally, knew of him – an Italian immigrant who, through hard-work, commitment, and a love of his new country, made it big.  Italian Americans up and down the shoreline knew an Italian owned Water’s Edge.  It made us proud. Dattilo paved his own path of success in a foreign land, made a new home, and now his legacy gives hope to every immigrant pursing the American Dream. 

Vincent Casanova has a B.A. in History from SCSU, a Masters of Religious Studies, M.A.R. (non denominational) from Yale University, and he has taught for 35 years in Public Education (27 years at the high school level and two years at the College of Greater New Haven State of Connecticut Technical College).  On October 8, 2023, Historian and Educator Vincent Casanova read his poem written in 2014 in front of the empty pedestal where the Christopher Columbus statue that was dedicated to "Gli Italiani di New Haven" once stood.  His words from 2014 foreshadowed events six years later that led to the Columbus Statue in Wooster Square being removed and taken from the Italians of Connecticut.  Here is Casanova's poem:

A Statue in the Park (Listen on YouTube)

Not in the center of the city,

In the center of a neighborhood.

In a place called Wooster Square,

That's where your statue stood.

Always there in the morning

And long after dark.

A monument of stone and steel,

A statue in the park.

To the sons and daughters of Italy

An enduring symbol of pride.

Like all those patron saints,

Always on their side.

You stood for undaunting courage

And pious humility.

Left convention behind you

And faced life's open sea.

And through the vagaries of politics

Have stolen some of your fame,

No amount of revisionist history

Will ever tarnish your name.

It's sad that such tireless exploration

Never pleased your benefactor, the queen.

But the opening of a new world

Was a vision not foreseen.

Yes, your new friends in the neighborhood

Came with visions of their own.

They left the miseries of an old world

For the hope of a better home.

Today I found my daughter’s social studies project that she wrote when she was a freshman in high school.  She was asked to interview her grandparents and learn more about their parents and their life stories as Italian Americans.

What a family treasure she created.  By interviewing my parents and my wife’s parents she uncovered the essence of why so many Italian Americans found success and prosperity in America.

Her conversation with them clearly revealed the incredible challenges her great grandparents experienced and how difficult it was to leave their homes in Italy to start a new life here in America.

The circumstances were not all the same between the two families, but there was a consensus that their love for family and commitment to providing for their families was their primary duty and purpose.  No matter how hard they worked when Sunday came it was family time.  This is where my grandparents nurtured family conversations with their children, and it is also what I experienced with my parents at the family dinner table.

It was at these family gatherings that I learned how to respect our elders and appreciate who they were.  The word extended family is synonymous with Italians.  I not only was taught how to love, respect, and live with integrity from my parents, but I also learned these important traits to building character from my aunts and grandparents.

My home environment became the basis for whom I became as a person.  The fact that I worked together in a family business partnership with my parents became my compass as to how to treat people by having compassion and kindness while at the same time have a sense of gratitude for having the opportunity to prosper by being an American.  They were living the American dream.

My parents and in laws were loved and respected by all their peers socially and in business.  My father was an iconic and most regarded person in the entire company of Tupperware.  He helped to build not only his business but others as well.  My parents were generous not only with their wealth but their time.

It is not very complicated or at all a mystery as to who or why I am the person I try to be today.  I learned that from not only my parents, but also from our rich and vibrant Italian American culture.

Ok.  Here it comes.  Those trite over used words that people preach to others if a person is to lead a good life.  Ready?  Integrity, loyalty, person of conviction, generosity (what goes around, comes around), service, and friendships.  This is what my big, fat Italian family taught me not by just with words but with their actions.  I always felt loved and appreciated and this is what my wife and I have also created for our children and family members.

To sum up my short story of who I am or why, let me quote the last paragraph my daughter wrote in her social study family history paper.

“When I think about my grandparents and the times in which they grew up I am left with a sense of pride and respect for what they accomplished.  In a way they were an example of the American dream, that any person can come to this country, or be the children of humble immigrants and still find riches and happiness in America.  This project has helped to give me a better feeling of who my grandparents were and what kind of people they were and still are today.” Jackie Damigella

We owe much to our parents and it is our duty and love for them.  They are the type of people that love people and always continue to show kindness and a genuine interest in understanding and helping others.

It’s the only way I know to be, and it has always nourished my soul.

A Visit from Zio Luigi

Just a little context before I talk about my Great Uncle Luigi DeDonato and his visit to us in the 1950s. As those of a certain age know, the memories and scars of WW2 were still a part of our consciousness in the 1950s. Our family lived on the edge of Westville [New Haven], along with many Jewish neighbors for whom the horror of the holocaust was a fresh and seething wound. 

Around our kitchen table neighborhood women gathered regularly to play cards with my mother betting dimes and quarters, all hoping for a good night that could net winnings of six or seven dollars. Jewish women would speak about the horrors of the holocaust. I clearly remember hearing one woman’s statement that stayed with me, “It was the Germans. It wasn’t the Italians. The Italians stopped it where they could.” Her statement is largely true according to this article by the United States Holocaust Museum. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/italy 

That said, Zio Luigi had been both the Sindaco (mayor) and the Blackshirt officer in charge of San Lorenzo Maggiore. Luigi told stories of the war, the German occupation, and hiding Jewish families both Italian and foreign in their mountain town to protect them from the Nazis. 

He was asked, “What would have happened if the German’s had found you were hiding Jewish people?” He responded, as his Italian was translated to my young self, “Then we would have been killed too; but in Italy we don’t allow people to die because of their religion.” 

Zio Luigi who was childless and looking for an heir offered to take me to Italy for the summer. For better or worse, as a nine or ten-year-old who didn’t speak Italian I refused out of fear. I never saw Zio Luigi again but I’ve always remembered his words that remind me to try to be courageous and to do the right thing. 

Here is the story of Gaspar "Gus" Marrone:   My great uncle, Gaspar B. Marrone, touched many lives through his service in World War II, his work as a carpentry instructor, and his volunteer activities for numerous charities.

Gaspar (known as "Gus" for short) was born in Philadelphia but spent most of his life in Boston. His parents, Egidio and Caterina Marrone, were Italian immigrants. He had four brothers named Michael, Rudy, Joey, and Al, and two sisters named Catherine and Cina (my grandmother).

In 1943, shortly after graduating from high school, Gaspar joined the Army, fighting on the front lines in Japan. He reenlisted in 1945. He attained the rank of Corporal and earned two Bronze Stars, a Good Conduct Medal, the Philippine Liberation Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal with a Japanese Clasp, the WWII Victory Medal, and two overseas bars. He was honorably discharged in 1948.

After the war, Gaspar dedicated his life to helping others. In the 1950s he began working at the Spanish Center in Boston, teaching woodworking and other technical skills. He had a special talent for fixing things and figuring out how things worked. He also had a gift for connecting with the "tough" kids and serving as a mentor. 

Outside of work, Gaspar volunteered at the Church of the Holy Cross in the South End of Boston, as well as various homeless shelters. Additionally, each Christmas, he would fill a big yellow bus with toys and drive around to deliver them to poor children.

Although Gaspar never married or had children, he had numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. I had the pleasure of getting to know my Uncle Gus better during the final months of his life. He was truly one of the kindest people one could hope to meet, with a twinkle in his eye and a great sense of humor. Gus passed away from lung cancer in 2014 at age 89. He exemplified the values of self-reliance, dignity, and strong religious faith through the very end of his life. He is buried in Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge.