In 1964, when the "living" theatre appeared to be dying in New York, theater in Italy began changing from an author-oriented to a performance-oriented, nonliterary form. The articles in this document trace the historical development of Italian theatre and analyze current dramas which demonstrate the diversity of approaches and the energy and commitment of Italian theatrical art. The topics discussed include the "adriani lazzi" of the "commedia dell'arte," the theatre of the grotesque, contemporary Italian Theatre, the theatre of Meme Perlini, and the post avant-garde theatre movement. The following dramas are analyzed individually: Giuliano Vasilico's "Proust," Group Altro's "ICS,""Ostal" by Cfr. (an Italian experimental group), Spazio Zero's "To Salvatore Giuliano," Ouroboros's"The Death of Geometry," Stran'amore's "City Lights,""La Gaia Scienza," and Il Carrozzone's "Presages of the Vampire." The scenery, acting style, theme, and plot are described for each drama and numerous photographs of actual presentations accompany the articles. The document also includes an interview with Dario Fo, a well-known Italian actor who began acting in the postwar years, and reviews of nine new books on the dramatic arts. (MAI)