Imagine coming off a boat to a foreign land where no one speaks your language, people  don’t dress the way you do, and what you find to be “normal” others find strange. Well every person who every immigrated to America, has felt those very feelings. Amidst the anxiety that comes along with moving to new land, people must find a way to balance making an identity for themselves in their new homes whilst still remaining true to the traditions of their ancestors. In the late 19th century an influx of Italian immigrants made their way to America, most of whom resided in NYC. The mass migration brought both the performers and the audiences necessary for theatrical entertainment. Hungry for recognition, support, and social exchange, the men and women from Italy formed amateur theatrical clubs as one way of satisfying emotional needs. By 1900, the community had produced the major forces that created Italian-American theatre of the ensuing decades