The Italian traditions of commedia dell’arte, opera, and 1960s film scores have influenced my work in video and performance. I’m drawn to the deep emotion, expressiveness, and subtlety found in each of these unique forms; equally to their potential for both dreamlike fantasy and social realism. With local dramatists Chiara Cimmino and Valerio Garaffa, I will train in their Relationship Acting, Mask, and Opera Methods, which have roots in commedia dell’arte. I’ll experience and research opera houses across Italy, their history, and stage design. Secondary explorations of 1960s and 1970s cinematic music will offer the opportunity to view analog B-film archives and recordings. Through this deepened context, I will evolve my own genre: the Soap Operetta. The Soap Operetta is a music-forward performance work that incorporates satire, melodramatic characters, and operatic song structures. Like the Spaghetti Western, the Soap Operetta consciously employs genre across cultural contexts.