Angelo Musco National Theatre Award

A celebration of Sicilian amateur theatre

The Angelo Musco National Theatre Award is a prestigious competition dedicated to amateur and dialect theatre. Every summer, it transforms Milo—a small town in the Metropolitan City of Catania perched on the eastern slopes of Mount Etna—into a vibrant hub for theatre troupes from all over Sicily. The festival is named in honour of Angelo Musco (1872–1937), one of the most beloved actors from Catania and a master of Sicilian dialect comedy, whose legacy this award continues to celebrate and promote.

The competition and the jury

Over the course of several evenings, selected theatre companies perform their shows at the Teatro Comunale Lucio Dalla in Milo. A technical jury evaluates the performances and presents awards in key categories, including Best Actor and Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Actress, Best Young Performers, Best Director, and Best Production. In addition to these technical accolades, the Audience Choice Award allows spectators to vote directly, alongside special awards for Sicilian identity, culture, and lifetime achievement, presented to prominent figures in the island's theatre and entertainment scene.

Artistic direction

The festival is under the artistic direction of Mimì Scalia and is organised by the Premio Musco Cultural Association in collaboration with the Municipality of Milo, the Sicilian Region, the Pro Loco, and UILT Sicilia (Italian Free Theatre Union). Over the years, the award has grown, attracting companies from numerous towns across the island, from Catania to the Syracuse area, and from the Lecce region to the Ionian coast.

Milo and the Etna landscape

The event takes place in the heart of Milo, a village on Mount Etna renowned for its wines and volcanic landscape, during a summer season filled with cultural initiatives. The Teatro Comunale Lucio Dalla, named after the famous singer-songwriter who once had a home in Milo, provides the natural setting for the competition nights and the final "Milo Premia il Teatro" gala, where the winners are announced.

A summer highlight for theatre lovers

With its mix of dialect performances, award ceremonies, and musical interludes, the Angelo Musco Award is one of the most cherished events for Sicilian amateur theatre and for the audiences who travel to Milo every summer to experience the island's rich theatrical traditions.