As part of its 2024 Spring Puppet Forum Series, the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry will host The Sicilian Puppet Theater of Agrippino Manteo (1884-1947): The Paladins of France in America, a discussion with Dr. Jo Ann Cavallo of Columbia University, on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2024 at 7 p.m. at the Ballard Institute Theater, located at 1 Royce Circle in Downtown Storrs. This forum will also be broadcast via Ballard Institute Facebook Live (facebook.com/BallardInstitute).

In the forum, Dr. Cavallo will discuss her recently published book The Sicilian Puppet Theater of Agrippino Manteo, the first-ever study of the vibrant popular spectacle of the Manteo family's puppet theater in New York City in the 1920s and 30s, including founder Agrippino Manteo's new-world presentation of original Paladini di Francia scripts from his mentors in Sicily.