Lorenzo Di Giunta Theatre Festival
The Leonforte popular theatre season at the Cineteatro Evolution
About Lorenzo Di Giunta Festival
Leonforte's theatre tells its story
The Lorenzo Di Giunta Theatre Festival is the annual event that transforms the Cineteatro Evolution (formerly Cinevolution) in Leonforte, in the province of Enna, into the beating heart of the town's cultural life. This is not just a simple season of shows, but a collective project: it is promoted and organized directly by local theatre companies, six local groups that have chosen to join forces to give continuity and dignity to Leonforte's amateur theatre scene.
A dedication that tells a story
The festival bears the name of Lorenzo Di Giunta, a recently deceased citizen of Leonforte. As a young man, he emigrated to Pistoia in search of work, like thousands of other Sicilians, yet he never severed the ties with his homeland. As president of the Crysa cultural association, a hub for the Leonforte community in Tuscany, he was the driving force behind the friendship pact between the two cities and the cultural exchanges that allowed Leonforte's theatre to cross regional borders and reach Tuscany. Naming the festival after him means preserving this legacy of passion and the bridges built between territories.
Popular theatre and Sicilian spirit
The program is a faithful portrait of a community that loves to take the stage. It ranges from three-act dialect comedies to brilliant theatre, from Sicilian-style cabaret to musicals, with plenty of room for local companies and a few notable guests. The common thread is the Sicilian spirit: the stories draw from popular tradition, local anecdotes, the dialect, and that irony which is a hallmark of the island's identity.
- Dialect comedies and popular Sicilian theatre
- Cabaret shows and original comedy
- Musical productions and musicals created by local academies
- Subscription model with a single package for the entire season
An event for the whole city
The audience's response is one of the hallmarks of the festival: every evening is well-attended, with the Cineteatro Evolution often sold out and numerous subscriptions sold as early as the start of the season. The Lorenzo Di Giunta Festival thus confirms itself as an identity-defining event for Leonforte and the entire Enna province, capable of showcasing local talent and keeping alive a theatrical tradition that belongs to the entire community.
Lorenzo Di Giunta Festival — edition 2026
Third edition: a season entirely from Leonforte
The 3rd edition of the Lorenzo Di Giunta Theatre Festival brought the Cineteatro Evolution of Leonforte (EN) to life from late January to early June 2026. Once again this year, the core of the festival was entrusted to local companies, with one notable exception: the opening comic monologue by guest artist Massimo Spata.
The public responded with great enthusiasm: well-attended evenings, a frequently sold-out hall, and over 88 subscriptions (single package) sold at the start of the season, confirming the event's deep roots in the community.
Programme Lorenzo Di Giunta Festival 2026
January 31, 2026 — Opening
"Il bandolo della matassa" with Massimo Spata, a comedian from Ragusa and the only external guest of the festival. A 90-minute monologue featuring family anecdotes, regional irony, and references to Sicilian culture.
February 27-28, March 1-2, 2026
"Il meglio deve ancora… tornare" by the Compagnia Teatrale Stabile dei Nomadi, directed by Giuseppe Oriti. Featuring Giuseppe Oriti, Alessandro Spinello, Claudia Laisa, Alessia Russo, Alessia Barbera, and Cicco Vicino. A contemporary-inspired comedy about time repeating itself, performed four times due to high demand.
May 29-31, 2026
"Fatti, fatturi e fattazzi", a popular three-act comedy by the amateur company Il Conoscersi of Leonforte, celebrating its 20th anniversary (2006-2026). Written by Pino Giambrone, directed by Filippo Vicino; starring Nino Mannarà (Vicè Tuffu) and Melania Digregorio (Angilina Salemi), with a large ensemble. A story set in 1940s Sicily, involving magic, trickery, and love triumphing over superstition.
June 6-7, 2026 — Closing
"Il Viaggio di Dorothy", a musical by LAdM – L'Accademia del Musical, directed and choreographed by Katia Nannavecchia, with Alice Costa as Dorothy. Aerial acrobatics by Silvia Nicolosi, technical direction by Serafino Forno. The festival closed with a welcome guest of honor, choreographer and dancer Garrison Rochelle.
Highlights Lorenzo Di Giunta Festival 2026
Prices Lorenzo Di Giunta Festival 2026
Practical information — Lorenzo Di Giunta Festival
Where
Performances are held at the Cineteatro Evolution (formerly Cinevolution) in Leonforte (EN), in the town center.
How to get there
Leonforte can be reached by car via the A19 Palermo-Catania motorway (Mulinello exit) and the SS117bis road. The Leonforte-Pirato train station is on the Catania-Palermo line, a few kilometers from the center; the final connection is by car or local bus.
Tickets
The festival primarily uses a subscription model (single package) for the entire season, with the option to purchase tickets for individual shows. Information and advance sales are managed by the organizing companies and at the theatre box office.
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Where does it take place — Lorenzo Di Giunta Festival
Cineteatro Evolution