The LADY OF SING SING is the true story of an epic battle for justice in New York’s Gilded Age. In 1895, 20-year-old Maria Barbella, an illiterate Italian immigrant, was tried and convicted of murdering the man who assaulted her. The trial was a travesty of justice; the judge was biased and Maria's lawyer, incompetent. A complete stranger comes to Maria's rescue: Cora Slocomb, an American heiress, countess, and social activist, who launched the nation's first campaign against the death penalty in order to save Maria's life. A century later, Maria's story is more relevant than ever, exploring subjects such as immigration, capital punishment, violence against women, and bigotry.
Idanna Pucci writer and producer divides her time between her hometown of Florence in Italy, and New York.
Participating in the discussion will be Lynda Bruno, the great-granddaughter of Maria Barbella, and Duke University professor Thomas Ferraro.