Commedia and Shakespeare Jam Session – February 28, 2026
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Commedia and Shakespeare Jam Session – February 28, 2026

In honor of International Commedia dell’ Arte Day, i Firenzi Commedia and Scrap Paper Shakespeare are hosting a…

JAM SESSION!

February 28, 2026 from 11:00am – 8:00pm at Theater Raleigh’s Studio! 3027 Barrow Drive, Raleigh NC

Sign up for a performance slot to bring your own favorite scene, monologue, or performance piece of any kind. Solo or groups can perform anything up to 15 minutes. Stay after your performance for a 30-minute networking session which could include feedback if you like. Sign up HERE.

Come early for the official i Firenzi performance as part of International Commedia dell’ Arte Day* “Everyone Wants to Get Lucky!”

Come even earlier for an Advanced Adult Improv class by Romni Rossi!

Price of admission is pay-what-you-can. Donations around the cost of a fancy coffee are suggested.

Schedule:

11:00am – 1:00pm – Improv Class by Romni Rossi

1:00 – 2:00pm – Networking / Meet and Greet

2:00 – 3:00pm – Commedia play “Everyone Wants to Get Lucky!”

3:00 – 3:30 – Introduction to Commedia class – student can try on real Italian Commedia masks and try out characters!

3:30 – 4:30 – Performance Block #1

4:30 – 5:00 – Networking / Meet and Greet

5:00 – 6:00 – Performing Block #2

6:00 – 6:30 – Networking / Meet and Greet

6:30 – 7:30 – Performing Block #3

7:30 – 8:00 – Networking / Meet and Greet and WRAP UP!

Our intention is to offer Shakespeare and Commedia performers a chance to do what they love, with an appreciative audience, and meet like-minded early theater fans. No pressure of auditioning! Just perform your favorite piece and meet new friends.

*International Commedia dell’ Arte Day is an international holiday, celebrated annually on February 25th, supported by UNESCO, and created by the “SAT” (cultural arts department of the Italian government) as a celebration of the cultural significance of Italian Commedia dell’ Arte! Read more about this holiday at https://www.commediadellarteday.org/about.asp?lin=eng .  See the i Firenzi official listing on the website at this link:  Commedia Performance by i Firenzi Commedia ! 

For any questions, please contact the i Firenzi Director, Lara Coutinho-Dean via orangesophie AT gmail. 

Commedia fans can also sign up for a Commedia class at the Cary Arts Center on February 25th! Click HERE.

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i Firenzi activities NOV 2025 – FEB 2026

November 8, 2025 – Advanced Improv Acting Skills Class from 3:00 – 5:00pm in Apex, NC: Get details and tickets here! https://www.ifirenzi.com/romni

November 15, 2025 – i Firenzi presents “Be Careful Who You Listen To!”, an original play in the style of 16th century Commedia dell’ Arte at Spring Haven Goat Farm in Chapel Hill, NC: Get tickets here!  https://www.simpletix.com/e/renaissance-faire-at-spring-haven-farm-tickets-228511

November 16, 2025 – i Firenzi presents “Iron Commedia Workshop” where any attendee can learn Commedia and put on a short skit with the troupe! At Spring Haven Goat Farm in Chapel Hill, NC: Get tickets here!  https://www.simpletix.com/e/renaissance-faire-at-spring-haven-farm-tickets-228511

November 22, 2025 – i Firenzi presents “Dungeons & Dragons Commedia Style!” An improvised commedia show where the characters are rolled up into D&D Characters and go on an adventure! Get details and tickets here! https://buckston.windmastershill.org/buckston-birthday-2025/

November 30, 2025 – Advanced Improv Acting Skills Class from 3:00 – 5:00pm in Apex, NC: Get details and tickets here! https://www.ifirenzi.com/romni

December 6, 2025 – Advanced Improv Acting Skills Class from 3:00 – 5:00pm in Apex, NC: Get details and tickets here! https://www.ifirenzi.com/romni

December 14, 2025 – Advanced Improv Acting Skills Class from 2:00 – 4:00pm in Apex, NC: Get details and tickets here! https://www.ifirenzi.com/romni

December 17, 2025 – Advanced Improv Acting Skills Class from 7:00 – 9:00pm in Apex, NC: Get details and tickets here! https://www.ifirenzi.com/romni

January 3, 2025 – Advanced Improv Acting Skills Class from 2:00 – 4:00pm in Apex, NC: Get details and tickets here! https://www.ifirenzi.com/romni

January 10, 2026 – i Firenzi presents a mummers’ play for the Twelfth Night celebration in Trenton, NC: Get details and tickets here! http://www.12thnight.atlantia.sca.org/

February 2026 – International Commedia dell’ Arte Day Celebration, Jam Session, and Networking Festival at Theatre Raleigh sometime in February 2026, details TBD!

 

If you would like to join our i Firenzi Fan Club email list to get email reminders of our shows, classes, and commedia-adjacent activities with other historically informed performers like Shakespeare, singing pirates, museums, and other nerdy performing arts, please email directly to capo AT ifirenzi.com! I’ll add you to the list!

Advanced Improv Classes with Romni Rossi!

Our favorite improv instructor is teaching some special classes!

In partnership with i Firenzi Commedia and the Scrap Paper Shakespeare Company, the magnificent Romni Rossi is teaching Advanced Adult Improv classes with a special focus on advanced skills!

Romni Rossi is one of the Triangle’s few full time Improv instructors with over 30 years of experience teaching all ages and experience levels. Teaching professionally at North Raleigh Arts and Creative Theater, Raleigh, Little Theater, and Wake Tech Community College, Romni’s classes are proven effective at helping actors improve.  Her focus on improvisation skills makes her a rare gem in the Triangle’s community of instructors. This unique advanced class series will help students heighten skills in areas rarely covered as deeply in other improv classes:

  • Listening
  • Sharing Focus
  • Building on Scene Partners
  • Developing Characters
  • Teamwork

Join in this class series to hone skills that will help you in rehearsals, character development, and of course bringing the laughs!

Dates & Times:

  1. Sat. Nov 8th 2025, 3:00 pm – 5:00pm
  2. Sun. Nov 30th 2025, 3:00 pm – 5:00pm
  3. Sat. Dec 6th 2025, 3:00 pm – 5:00pm
  4. Sun. Dec 14th 2025, 2:00 pm – 4:00pm
  5. Wed. Dec 17th 2025, 7:00 pm – 9:00pm
  6. Sat. Jan 3rd, 2:00 pm – 4:00pm

Location:  Scrap Paper Shakespeare Rehearsal Studio at
101 E Chatham St, Apex, NC 27502

Cost: $10 per person per class. $50 to buy the 6 class package up front. Buy tickets here:  https://our.show/spsimprovclass

Students can attend any and all classes.  Attending classes in sequential order is not necessary.

Cancellation policy:

Three days before class, evaluation will happen to see if enough students have signed up. If fewer than 8 students have signed up, we will consider if the class needs to be cancelled. Students will receive a cancellation notice via email no later than 24 hours before start of class.

Direct questions to Lara Coutinho-Dean, Director of i Firenzi Commedia via email  capo AT ifirenzi.com

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Commedia at WoW 2025

Commedia dell’ Arte activities at Atlantia’s War of the Wings event – October 17 & 18, 2025

Since 2012, i Firenzi has brought the art of Commedia dell’ Arte to Atlantia’s biggest event, War of the Wings! https://warofthewings.atlantia.sca.org/
This year, two opportunities to enjoy commedia are happening at WoW:

  1. Annual Naughty Show – Friday at 9:00pm Casa Firenzi camp (BRING CHAIRS!)
  2. Iron Commedia workshop for all comers – Saturday from 11:00am – 1:00pm with student graduation show at 1:00 – 1:30pm at Casa Firenzi camp

Casa Firenzi Camp is in block D – Bronze Trojan. Look for the bright orange flags.

Annual Naughty Show – Friday

The i Firenzi Annual Naughty Show is for adults only. If you would like to see the show and you’re under 18 years old, please have a serious conversation with the Director, Dame Sophia the Orange, before the show. Non adults are allowed to watch if they and their parent or guardian has made an informed decision to attend. Please email Sophia at orangesophie@gmail.com . The content of this show is for adults, but not overly raunchy. No one gets nekked, but we do refer to enemas, swear words, sex, and private body parts. The purpose of this adult-content show is to incorporate content from period commedia which is historically accurate but not family friendly.

For example, this show uses an enema prop inspired by this etching by Jacques Callot circa 1615-1635 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Two_Commedia_dell%27arte_street_entertainers_using_a_clyster_a_Wellcome_V0011652.jpg

File:Two Commedia dell’arte street entertainers using a clyster a Wellcome V0011652.jpg. (2020, September 26). Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved October 5, 2025, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Two_Commedia_dell%27arte_street_entertainers_using_a_clyster_a_Wellcome_V0011652.jpg&oldid=472446433.

Iron Commedia Workshop -Saturday

The Iron Commedia workshop is a class for any level of Commedia actor from beginner to advanced. Students gather at 11:00am to learn the basics of Commedia history and performance, then as a group we create a new commedia scenario based on the characters students want to play. We rehearse a little and perform the show at 1:00pm. Anyone is welcome to join in the workshop as an actor. Anyone is welcome to watch the student graduation performance at 1:00!

See you at Casa Firenzi at War of the Wings!

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Commedia Classes at Cary Arts Center

The Cary Arts Center is hosting Commedia classes taught by the Director of i Firenzi!

Two classes are available in July:

Thursday July 17 and Tuesday July 22 – both classes run from 7:00 – 9:00pm. Same class – two sessions.

Students will enjoy some classic improv comedy skills building with an intro to 16th century Italian Commedia dell’ Arte! We’ll use commedia stock characters, classic half face masks, costume pieces, and play short scenes.

If you’re already on the Cary RecTrack platform, do a search for “improv” and you’ll find it.

Or go directly to these links to sign up!

Thursday:

https://nccaryweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/iteminfo.html?Module=AR&FMID=30822328&InterfaceParameter=WebTrac

Tuesday:

https://nccaryweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/iteminfo.html?Module=AR&FMID=30831901&InterfaceParameter=WebTrac

Raleigh Fringe Fest hosts i Firenzi Commedia!
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Raleigh Fringe Fest hosts i Firenzi Commedia!

I Firenzi Commedia is performing at the Raleigh Fringe Festival!

TWO shows and a class!

As “busking” performers, you do NOT need a ticket to come see our show! Just show up and enjoy our laughter machine!

If you bring cash and can donate a few dollars to our troupe when we pass the hat at our show, THAT is how we’ll get paid! Then we can produce more commedia!

WHAT: i Firenzi improvised comedy show in the style of Commedia dell’ Arte!

WHEN: i Firenzi shows are on July 12, from 2:00 – 3:00, and from 4:00 – 5:00pm.

From 3:00 – 3:30, we will hold a mini-class/workshop for anyone who wants to try out Commedia characters, masks, and a little improvisation with the troupe!

WHERE: Theatre Raleigh – 6638 Old Wake Forest Rd.; Raleigh, NC 27616

Raleigh Fringe Festival 2025

July 10th-13th |Theatre Raleigh Arts Center

https://raleighfringefestival.squarespace.com/ 

The Raleigh Fringe Festival is a performing arts festival celebrating everything weird and wonderful in the Raleigh region!

This year’s event will feature: 14 ticketed shows in our primary lineup, street performers/buskers throughout the lobby and outside, as well as free community events like a Prop Swap, Fringe on Film, and more.

Get tickets for other amazing shows here: https://www.ticketleap.events/events/raleighfringe

 

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International Commedia dell Arte Day 2025!

What: Comedy Improv Play in the style of 16th century Commedia dell’ Arte
Where: Downtown Cary Park, Cary, NC
When: Sunday, February 23, 2025 at 2:30pm
How: FREE!!! No RSVP necessary!

Official Commedia Day Poster

Need to laugh? Want to laugh IRL with other people laughing? Need a screen break?

You’re in the right place!

Come join the merrymakers of i Firenzi as we present a comedy play in the style of 16th century improvised Italian Commedia dell’ Arte!

Commedia dell’ Arte is the 16the century version of modern day TV sitcoms. An ensemble cast of comedy improvisors present a story of love, challenges, adventure, and happy endings! This year’s play shares the story of Pantalone, Dottore, Capitano, Arlecchino, and their families, friends, and enemies!

International Commedia dell’ Arte Day is a celebration of Italian culture under the patronage of UNESCO. The official holiday is February 25 annually and commedia shows, classes, and other activities accepted by the organization are shared on their website here: https://www.commediadellarteday.org/default.asp?lin=eng

See the direct i Firenzi listing here: https://www.commediadellarteday.org/eventiDetail.asp?id=73&lin=eng

I Firenzi has been an approved part of this celebration for the past 11 years! We are excited to bring this laughter to the new Downtown Cary Park in Cary, North Carolina on February 23, 2025 starting at 2:30pm. The show will last about 45 minutes.

No cost to come see the play! No tickets needed! Just come on down to the Cary Downtown Park and laugh with us!

https://downtowncarypark.com
327 S. Academy St.
Cary, NC 27511
 

 

International Commedia dell’ Arte Day 2024!

In support of International Commedia dell’ Arte Day 2024, i Firenzi is presenting TWO CELEBRATIONS!

  1. Saturday, February 24, CLASS!
    1. A workshop in Commedia called “Iron Commedia!” where we will gather all enthusiastic participants at 12:00noon at the SCA Event called “Ymir”, teach a short intro class to Commedia, then write a scenario, rehearse it, and present it! Participants will get to pick which character they want to play and then play it!
    2. Find the location and admission info here: https://ymir.windmastershill.org
  2. Sunday, February 25, SHOW!
    1. FREE SHOW of our latest original commedia scenario presented at the Cary Arts Center in downtown Cary, NC!
    2. 4:00pm show! Free admission – just show up at the Cary Arts Center ( 101 Dry Avenue
      Cary, NC 27511       (919) 469-4069) and enjoy Commedia dell’ Arte Day!

 

International Commedia dell’ Arte Day is a celebration of Italian culture under the patronage of UNESCO. The official holiday is February 25 and commedia shows, classes, and other activities accepted by the organization are shared on their website here: https://www.commediadellarteday.org/default.asp?lin=eng

I Firenzi has been an approved part of this celebration for the past 10 years! This year’s activities are the show and workshop below:

FREE show: https://www.commediadellarteday.org/eventiDetail.asp?id=32&lin=eng
Workshop: https://www.commediadellarteday.org/eventiDetail.asp?id=33&lin=eng

See the whole events list here: https://www.commediadellarteday.org/eventi.asp?lin=eng

For specific questions, email capo@ifirenzi DOT com

 

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Free Commedia Class

Free Commedia class – one night only!

NOV 30, 2023!

Lara Coutinho-Dean, AKA: “Dame Sophia the Orange, Order of the Laurel,” Director of i Firenzi, will teach an Introduction to Commedia class on November 30, 2023, starting at 7:00pm at the meeting place of the SCA’s Canton of Elvegast –> Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 1500 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27608  –  Please park behind the church.

Class is FREE of charge!  Lasting approximately 90 minutes, students will learn the history of where Commedia started in the middle 16th century, the core characters of Commedia’s Golden Age, common themes in the scenarios, and get to try on authentic Italian leather commedia character masks. Students will get the chance to act short scenes in these masks with costume pieces.

To sign up for this free class, please email the teacher via orangesophie AT Gmail.

Longer and more in depth classes are sometimes also offered for a price at the Town of Cary:  https://www.carync.gov/recreation-enjoyment/programs-classes  Please contact them to let them know that you want classes to be offered!

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Commedia dell’ Arte education resources in September!

Commedia dell’ Arte education resources in September! A rare surge in opportunities for learning and doing Commedia dell’ Arte!

1) Saturday, September 2, 4:00pm to 5:30pm Italy time / 10:00am to 11:30am US Eastern Time – 90 minute online interactive lesson from Fabrizio Paladin, internationally renown professional commedia actor and coach – https://fb.me/e/Yuwn81Fo
Pre-registration required.

2) Saturday, September 9, 6:00pm – 7:15pm US Eastern Time, FREE in person commedia class and skit as part of Carolina Circus Festival in Cary, NC at WakeMed Soccer Park. Taught by Nancy Kramer, member of i Firenzi Commedia Troupe. https://carolinacircusfestival.com/
No pre-registration necessary. Just show up!

3) Saturday, September 16, 10:00 – 5:00pm, Four separate FREE classes on various commedia topics as part of Atlantia University (Intro to Commedia, Scenarios, Improv skills, Put It Together Workshop) https://university.atlantia.sca.org//catalog.php?university_id=236
Location: Duke Memorial United Methodist Church in Durham, NC
No pre-registration necessary. Just show up!

4) October 5- November 2, Five week long commedia class sessions, weekly class of 90 minutes each, produced by the Town of Cary, NC “Cary Arts Center”
Link: https://mycary.org/s/programs?programId=a7g4u000000Toc7
Classes resulting in a student performance on November 2.
Class is designed for adults interested in doing commedia dell’ arte which usually just serves as an educational piece of theater history classes. This class will allow students to wear masks, dive into the archetypical characters, and create a short play based on their own favorite pieces of commedia.

Please reach out to me (via orangesophie AT gmail) if you have any questions about these resources and how to participate!
Sincerely,
Lara Coutinho-Dean, Capocomico of i Firenzi (www.ifirenzi.com)