The Italian American Museum will host a traveling exhibition celebrating the life of Antonio De Curtis, the Neapolitan comedic actor better known by his stage name, “Totò” (emphasis on the second syllable), from April 16 to August 29, 2026. The star of nearly 100 films, Totò was also a prolific theater performer, singer, and poet who dominated the comedic genre in Italy from 1922 to 1967.
The exhibit, “Toto and His Naples,” presented with the generous cooperation of the Italian Cultural Institute and Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also marks the 2,500th anniversary of the founding of the city of Naples, Italy. One-quarter of the four million Italians who immigrated to the United States from 1880 to 1920 came from Naples and the Campania region of southern Italy. Neapolitan culture is celebrated with events throughout the U.S., most notably the annual San Gennaro Festival in New York City’s Little Italy.
The Italian government chose to honor Totò as an emblem of Neapolitan identity. His legacy embodies an eternal and poetic bond that transcends time and continues to sustain the life of the city.
“Totò represents a cornerstone of Italian cultural heritage and, in particular, of Neapolitan identity,” said Claudio Pagliara, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute of New York. “For the large community of Neapolitan descendants in New York, his legacy remains deeply meaningful, offering a powerful link between past and present, Italy and the United States.”
“We are honored to host an exhibition which documents the life of one Italy’s most prolific entertainers,” said Dr. Joseph V. Scelsa, founder and president of the Italian American Museum. “This is an important piece of history that all visitors will find informative and whimsical.”
“Totò and His Naples” seeks to reveal the deep and indissoluble bond between Mr. de Curtis and his city—a connection that permeates his entire artistic oeuvre. In theatre, through the performances of the Compagnia Stabile Napoletana; in cinema, with films such as Miseria e nobiltà and L’oro di Napoli; in poetry, with verses celebrating the beauty and soul of the city, including ’A livella and Napule, tu e io; and in music, with Marechiaro blu and the masterpiece Malafemmena, expressions of that almost sacred lyricism the Neapolitan people reserve for l’ammore.
This major exhibition traces the Maestro’s cultural, professional, and personal ties to Naples, bringing to light many lesser-known aspects of his life. Through photographs, film clips, artifacts, costumes, and original documents, it offers visitors an immersive journey into Totò’s world, retracing the full arc of his story.
Admission to “Totò and His Naples” is $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and students, with access to the Museum’s other exhibits included. Hours are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 12:00 to 5:00 PM.
About the Italian American Museum
The Italian American Museum (IAM) is a nonprofit cultural institution located at
151 Mulberry Street in Little Italy, New York City. It preserves, presents, and celebrate the
history, culture, and contributions of Italian Americans through exhibitions, educational
programming, and community partnerships.
About the Italian Cultural Institute
The Italian Cultural Institute in New York was founded in 1961 by the Italian Government. Its mission is to promote Italian language and culture in the United States. Under the guidance of its trustees at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, its advisory board, and its staff, the Italian Cultural Institute in New York fosters cultural exchanges between Italy and the U.S. in a variety of areas, from the arts to the humanities, to science, and technology.
