A preliminary survey of the modern Italian theater

The purpose of this paper was to record observations of the Italian theater in 1969, including such aspects as its organization, popularity, plays, directors, actors, and acting. There are also necessarily brief observations about L'Accademia dell’ Arte Drammatica, the state supported dramatic school in Rome.

Noteworthy is the fact that the Italian government subsidizes permanent companies in principal cities. In addition there are other relatively permanent companies organized by one or more actors who may also write and direct.

Perhaps the most striking phenomenon observed was the Italian predilection for foreign playwrights and dead Italian authors, whose works make up a large percentage of the theatrical bill‐of‐fare. Among living playwrights, the names of Diego Fabbri and Eduardo di Filippo are most often mentioned by those Italians questioned.

Italian acting is broad, beautiful, and—above all—effective.