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Trinacria-Brandeis Training Program
The Trinacria-Brandeis Training Program is presented in partnership and sponsored by the Brandeis Interdepartmental Program in Italian Studies. The program equips Brandeis students with the opportunity to train and travel with Trinacria as either a Company Manager or Assistant Director, roles they will then fill during the Trinacria Festival Residency and Trinacria Arts Festival.
We are particularly keen to provide this opportunity for BIPOC students and others that have been historically underrepresented in both Italian studies and the performing arts industry.
APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR 2025 | DEADLINE TO APPLY MARCH 28
About the program
Lola Calotychos
2023 & 2024 Company Manager, photo by Anna Finocchiaro
This program offers students the opportunity to serve as either a Company Manager or Assistant Director during the Trinacria Festival Residency.
Company Managers act as “R.A.s for artists,” handling hospitality, safety, logistics, and wellbeing, including communication, scheduling, transportation, meals, and expenses.
Assistant Directors support the director by assisting with blocking, note-taking, maintaining the production vision, and ensuring efficient rehearsals.
Before the residency, participants complete professional training with Artistic Director Mariagrazia La Fauci and Brandeis alum Iyvon E., along with training in CPR, mental health first aid, and anti-racism.
They then travel to Sicily with Trinacria Theatre Company for 3–4 weeks, arriving early for on-site preparation and staying briefly after for wrap-up. Throughout, they execute their roles, develop leadership and management skills, and engage with international artists and the local Sicilian community.
Iyvon and Mariagrazia provide 1-to-1 mentorship, and participants conclude with an essay or presentation on their experience. They also take part in Festival events, which in the past have included performances, workshops, games, concerts, and community activities.
Dylan Hoffman (far right)
2023 Assistant Director
Logistics & FAQs
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2025 Itinerary (subject to change)
July 20: Departure from home, if traveling from North/Central/South America
July 21: Arrival in Sicily
July 22 - 23: Brandeis Training Orientation & Work Days
July 24: Artist Arrival Day in Sicily
July 25: Artist Orientation Day
July 29: Excursion Day #1
August 2: Excursion Day #2
August 7 - 9: Trinacria Arts Festival
August 10: Community Clean Up Day & Farewell Dinner
August 11: Full Company Departure from Sicily
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All residencies take place in the mountain village of Pezzolo, in Messina, Sicily. To read more about the rich history and mythology of this region, please visit this page.
Pezzolo has about 300 inhabitants, and over 60% of the buildings in the village are currently abandoned.
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All participants are responsible for their own airfare, travel insurance, visas, and passports. Trinacria Theatre Company is on hand to assist with any necessary visa applications.
The nearest airport is Catania-Fontanarossa (CTA).
Upon arrival, you will receive instructions to take the bus from the airport to Messina-Tremestieri where local pick-ups can be arranged. the cost of your bus ticket will be reimbursed to you.
Local transportation is included in the cost of the program.
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Despite its remote location, Pezzolo is a warm and welcoming community that is proud to host guests from all over the world. Growing joy within our community is at the heart of Trinacria’s mission.
You may be invited to engage with local folks by sharing food or drink, listening to stories, learning about local language, history, customs, and so forth - no matter which Residency you participate in, we invite you to be open to these experiences and to welcome such interactions during your experience in Pezzolo.
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8am - 9am: Breakfast on your own (self-serve)
9am - 10am: Workshop led by a member of the cohort
10am - 1pm: Exercises & rehearsal. Company Managers may be asked to take part in rehearsals or complete independent tasks during this time.
1pm - 2pm: Communal lunch
2pm - 4pm: Break for rest (or journaling, exploring, meditation, etc.)
4pm - 7pm: Continued rehearsals. Company Managers may be asked to take part in rehearsals or complete independent tasks during this time.
7pm - 7:30pm: Evening reflection and wrap-up
8pm: Communal dinner and rest
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Most residencies are hosted at Casa Trinacria. This is a 4 story family home managed by Trinacria. The house consists of:
Floor 0: A large garage which can be utilized as a workspace, including a half bath
Floor 1: A fully equipped shared communal kitchen, communal living and dining room, terrace, and full bath
Floor 2: Three bedrooms, each with 2 single beds (can be pushed together to create a double bed), and a full bath
Floor 3: Laundry machine and large rooftop terrace
All participants should expect to share rooms, bathrooms, and other living spaces.
Rooms are not air conditioned. Fans are provided in each room.
Additional housing is at times used depending on the size of the group. These are in private family homes generously lent to us by members of the local community. All of the same expectations apply (room sharing, shared living spaces, and no air conditioning).
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Three meals per day are provided as part of the program, with the exception of excursion days.
In general, shared meals are an important part of Sicilian culture, and we encourage coming together for shared meals as we believe it contributes to a sense of community and camaraderie.
Main Meals:
In general, we strive to provide access to authentic, local, and seasonal foods. We also aim to eliminate food waste by encouraging participants to eat leftovers and use what is already in our fridge or pantry.
Breakfast: Self-serve, if included. If not included, participants should make their own purchases at local grocery stores.
Lunch: In Sicily, particularly during the summers, lunch or pranzo is considered the most important meal of the day. It is usually a larger, heartier meal which involves more cooking or preparation. For this reason, we always offer a catered meal from a local restaurant partner, who will provide a rotating selection of authentic local specialities. We work directly with this partner to pre-set a weekly menu for the residency, which is open to suggestions!
Dinner: If included, this is usually a family-style or self-serve meal. Dinner is typically lighter, served cold, and consists of items such as fresh vegetables, salads, deli meats, cheeses, olives, and so on. Sometimes residents will offer to prepare a dish for their cohort, but this is not an expectation. If dinner is not included, participants should make their own purchases at local grocery stores.
Snacks, sweets, alcohol, and beverages:
Snacks are not included in any residency, and must be purchased at the participant’s own discretion. We remind all residents that food in shared areas are for communal consumption at breakfast, dinners, and lunches, and should not be used for snacking.
Although we will offer sweets or desserts at various occasions throughout the residency, please note these are not provided every day.
Coffee, hot tea, iced tea, and fruit juices are always available at hand.
Other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are not served at any residency. These must be purchased and consumed at the participant’s own discretion.
Allergies and dietary restrictions:
Trinacria takes allergies and dietary restrictions very seriously and will always make every effort to accommodate these.
We can very comfortably accommodate dairy-free, soy-free, and gluten-free diets.
We are always very happy to welcome vegetarians and vegans. We do want to note that, due to the nature of the local Sicilian diet, vegetarians and vegans staying for an extended period in Sicily have reported finding their local meal options somewhat limited or repetitive.
Trinacria may not be able to accommodate individuals with extremely sensitive nut allergies; celiac disease; or any similar instance in which cross-contamination cannot occur because of medical risk. Due to our limited facilities, we cannot offer fully kosher meals.
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Mobility: Our residency takes place in a village that is over 800 years old and was built on a mountainside. Unfortunately, many parts of the village are only accessible by footpath or stairs. The living quarters of Casa Trinacria can only be accessed by stairs.
Distance: The village of Pezzolo is separated from surrounding towns by a winding drive up a mountain road. This road is 7km long and takes approx. 15 - 20 minutes to drive. It may be challenging for inexperienced drivers or those who experience motion sickness.
Amenities: There is only one business remaining open in Pezzolo, which is a small butcher shop. The butcher shop also stocks a few other dry goods, such as pasta, rice, canned goods, beer, cleaning supplies, and other necessities. There is also a small pharmacy which operates on very limited hours. For all other amenities (such as grocery stores, supply shops, post office, ATM, etc.), it is necessary to drive to nearby towns, a drive which takes at least 15 - 20 min in both directions. Artists are encouraged to keep this in mind in their planning.
Wildlife: There are several colonies of feral cats living in Pezzolo. Other local wildlife include small lizards and geckos. Mosquitos are common in the summer. Less commonly seen, but still present in the local area, are garden snakes, hedgehogs, bats, owls, and even occasionally wild boar.
Heat: Summer in Sicily is extremely dry, hot, and sunny. Hydration and sun protection are essential. Artists are encouraged to always pack refillable water bottles, sunscreen, and protective coverings such as hats. Tap water in Pezzolo is potable, and there are additional public drinking fountains throughout the village, directly from fresh mountain spring sources, where bottles can be refilled.
If you have other access needs not covered here, please reach out to us at info@trinacriatheatre.com with any questions.
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There is no access to WiFi provided at any point during the residency.
Participants may choose to pay for their own wireless or cell phone services during the residency. However, please note that reception may be spotty.
For this reason, we encourage all participants to view this opportunity as an “unplugged” experience.
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For students in Italian Studies, residency is an opportunity to develop your Italian language skills.
The local community is primarily Italian-speaking. Many also speak the local Sicilian dialect.
Trinacria artists will be primarily speaking in English. There may be opportunities to assist artists with translation or interpretation.
“My time in Sicily taught me so much about myself as a person and as an artist.”
MAX SKLAR, RESIDENT ARTIST 2016 - 2019
Meet the Team
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Iyvon (she/her) is a 2013 graduate of Brandeis, where she earned her degree in International & Global Studies and Italian Studies with minors in Anthropology and Theatre Arts. Shortly after receiving her BA, Iyvon was awarded a Fulbright Graduate Scholarship to conduct ethnographic research with Italian natives and African immigrants to Italy. She later went on to receive her MA in Arts Administration from Baruch College of the City of New York (CUNY). Iyvon is now an NYC-based theatre producer, dramaturge, company manager, and the Artistic Director and Host of The Parsnip Ship podcast play company.
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Mariagrazia (she/her) is a bilingual Italian-American theatre maker, born and raised in Waltham, MA. After graduating from Brown University in 2012, Mariagrazia became a full-time theatre director educator, founding the academic and extracurricular theatre programs at Saint Joseph Preparatory High School. In 2016 she founded Trinacria Theatre Company, and in 2017 she received her MA with Distinction in Theatre Directing from LAMDA in London. She was a finalist for the JMK Young Director Award and a keynote speaker at the SETC National Outdoor Theatre Conference in Santa Fe. She was recently a speaker at the 2024 TEDxModenaWomen Conference.
Key information for applicants
Photo left: Lang Cheng & D’Jassie Barham,
2022 Company Managers
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To build more diverse pathways into the professional nonprofit/arts world, especially for BIPOC students and others who have been historically underrepresented in the industry.
To offer an opportunity for Brandeis students to engage in Trinacria’s mission of intercultural exchange, community building, and place-making in Sicily.
To provide students with a unique opportunity to develop their Italian language skills while immersing themselves in Sicilian culture and working meaningfully within a high-needs community.
To develop strong protocols that will set a higher standard for the safety, comfort, and support of all Trinacria participants.
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By the end of the program, participants will:
Gain approximately 1 month of Italian language immersion in Sicily.
Undergo professional training in company management or assistant directing, CPR, Anti-Racism, and Mental Health Crisis Response, with additional trainings to be tailored to the participants’ specific area of interest.
Participate in workshops in Sicilian dialect & culture.
Engage with the local community through meaningful, arts-focused projects and events.
Receive professional mentorship from Iyvon E and Mariagrazia La Fauci.
Develop a skill set applicable in a wide variety of careers—organization, administration, nonprofit management, hospitality, human resources, crisis/conflict resolution, communication, and more.
Work with the Artistic Director to create and uphold procedures for mental health crisis, medical emergencies, incidents of sexual harassment or racial discrimination, and other protocols.
Earn the Trinacria Certificate of Company Management Training, issued by Trinacria Theatre Company.
Company Managers will be expected to complete tasks such as:
Act as a front line for any and all hospitality or interpersonal issues with which the artists may need assistance.
Gather travel information from artists and coordinate their transport to/from the airport.
Communicate information related to visas, vaccinations, or entry into Italy.
Gather pre-production notes and requests from artists.
Write and distribute intake forms.
Create and communicate a company schedule, including cooking and cleaning rotas.
Assistant Directors will be expected to complete tasks such as:
Documenting the rehearsal process.
Facilitating rehearsal exercises and/or devising exercises with performers.
Assist with scouting and assessing the safety of performance locations.
Conduct dramaturgical research.
Assist with production-related tasks.
Help ensure production stays on budget and timeline.
Additional tasks for either participant may include:
Tracking receipts & expenses and send Artistic Director weekly reconciliation reports.
Participate in a rotating schedule of meal preparation and clean up.
Quick translations or Italian language instruction.
Planning internal company development activities.
Outreach to local and community partners.
Assisting with the preparation or facilitation of Festival events.
Driving, if licensed driver.
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Shares Trinacria’s passion for community building, place-making, and/or intercultural exchange.
Has excellent interpersonal skills.
Demonstrates strong, responsible, compassionate leadership.
Is effective at managing people.
Is flexible and adabtable.
Remains clear-headed in high-pressure situations.
Is committed to the principles of inclusion, equity, diversity, and accessibility.
Open to students in all departments.
Students in the Interdepartmental Program for Italian Studies will be eligible for additional funding to cover all or a portion of the program cost.
In addition to BIPOC, we are particularly interested to hear from candidates who have experience or interest in one or more of the following areas:
Theatre, performing, or visual arts
Cultural programming
Social justice
Community engagement
Nonprofit administration
Hospitality
Human resources
Psychology
Communications
Business
Community Advisors
Volunteers with the Waltham Group
University Dining Managers
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February 14th: Applications open.
February 28th at 3:30pm: Virtual info session. Click here to RSVP.
March 28th: Applications close.
Early- to mid-April: Interviews.
Mid- to late-April: Selected candidates notified and announced.
May - June: Virtual training pre-residency
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The program costs are $1500. This includes:
Accommodations in Sicily
3 meals per day (excluding excursion days)
Local transportation in Sicily
Pre-residency training in Company Management or Assistant Directing, CPR, Mental Health First Aid, and Bystander Intervention
Travel medical & emergency insurance
An international driving permit, if applicable
Optional excursions to nearby sites of interest (Note: the cost of meals, souvenirs, and any entry to attractions incurred during these excursion are personal expenses incurred at one’s own discretion and are not covered by the company)
Trinacria Certificate of Training
One-on-one mentorship throughout the Residency
Workshops in Sicilian dialect & culture
The Interdepartmental Program in Italian Studies offers a scholarship that will cover all or a portion of the program costs for eligible students actively participating in Italian Studies.
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Airfare & travel insurance
Passports and/or visas for entry
Alcohol
Snacks
WiFi
Any required vaccinations, medications, and/or medical devices
The cost of meals, souvenirs, or entry to attractions during excursions to nearby areas of interest (optional and at your discretion)