Casa Italia will be presenting a live performance of the short play “Seatonville” at the end of the IA Literati conference on July 10. The play dramatizes the journey of Caterina and Antonio from Northern Italy to the coal fields of western Illinois and how one day changed their lives forever.

The work centers around the Cherry mine disaster of 1909, which still stands as the worst mine fire in U.S. history. The play will be directed by its author, Terry Quilico. The players are Frank Di Piero, C.J. Martello, Jeanette Risatti Viehman and Anna Weiss.