199 Chairs Under the Stars

A month of theater under the stars in Borgomanero

199 Chairs Under the Stars is the historic summer festival of independent theater that brings the town of Borgomanero to life in the heart of the Cusio and Upper Piedmont region, in the Province of Novara. Established in 2014 as the city's first independent theater festival, it reaches its twelfth edition in 2026, confirming its status as one of the most beloved events of the Piedmontese cultural summer. For about a month, from June 19 to July 19, the courtyard of the Giovanni M. Siniscalco School of Theater and Music on Via De Amicis becomes an open-air stage with 199 seats under the night sky.

From Greek classics to contemporary drama

The heart of the festival is a program that spans centuries of theater: from the tragedies of Sophocles to the comedies of Aristophanes, and from the great works of Friedrich Schiller and Molière to Luigi Pirandello. The stage features both students and actors from the School of Theater and Music, the result of year-round training, alongside nationally renowned professional guests.

• Sophocles, Aristophanes, Schiller, Molière, Pirandello: the great authors who serve as the common thread of the program
• Laura Marinoni, one of the most intense voices in Italian theater, with a live-accompanied reading
• Gaia Aprea, with a performance dedicated to the mythological figure of Cassandra

Atmosphere, aperitifs, and meetings with the actors

More than just a season of performances, 199 Chairs Under the Stars is a collective ritual: shows begin at 8:45 PM, but those who wish can arrive earlier for the Aperitif with the Actors, starting at 6:00 PM—an informal moment of meeting and conviviality that precedes many evenings. Admission is almost always free, with a voluntary donation formula that supports the association's activities.

A cultural landmark for Borgomanero and Upper Piedmont

Organized by APS Nati Domani ETS under the artistic direction of Giovanni Maria Siniscalco and sponsored by the Municipality of Borgomanero, the festival represents a precious cultural landmark for the area, capable of combining professional quality, the promotion of young talent, and public accessibility. In a summery, open-air setting, theater returns to being an occasion for entertainment, reflection, and shared emotion under the stars of Piedmont.