By Mary Ann Bourbeau
RED BANK – Many people have warm memories of time spent with their silver-haired grandmother, drinking hot cocoa and snuggling under a cozy hand-knitted afghan.
Not Candice Guardino. She grew up in an Italian-American family where everyone was loud and brash but, at the same time, loving. Guardino, who comes from a comedy and theatrical background, has taken those memories and created a one-woman show called “Italian Bred,” a hilarious and heartwarming theatrical comedy based on true life events about growing up Italian.
This 85-minute show, called “A Must See!” by Broadway World, comes to the Two River Theater for two performances Jan. 18 for a special live taping. In the show, Guardino talks about what it was like growing up Italian on Staten Island. Her stories are derived from her real childhood experiences, as she recounts her upbringing by impersonating her family members and their unique personalities while also singing both original and iconic songs.
“They say you write what you know,” said Guardino. “This is comedy to me. It’s in my blood, it’s what I breathe. I didn’t choose to be Italian, but I am blessed to be. There’s so much drama and comedy. My family is very loud, dramatic and eccentric.”
Guardino points to her paternal grandmother, who came to the United States in the late 1950s, as the most fun family member to recreate on stage.
“She was so crude and outspoken,” said Guardino. “She was very bawdy with a loud mouth, definitely not PC. She taught me things you shouldn’t be teaching a 6-year-old, talking about men and her sex life. It was very unique.”
Her grandmother wasn’t the type to be dressed in a housecoat or a cozy cardigan either.
“She wore these sexy black slips, high heels and bright red lipstick,” said Guardino. “When she got divorced, she cut her husband out of the pictures but would still show off her wedding album. If I ever get a TV show, the actress who gets to play her will be so lucky – she can just go crazy!”
Trained in the theater as both a singer and comedian, Guardino said her talents made her feel like a square peg, so she decided to create a show of her own.
“It’s sort of stand-up comedy with music intersected in it,” she said. “Theatrical comedy!”
This show will remind audiences of their own unique upbringing and relatable childhood memories. It also includes virtual cameos from Italian-American celebrities such as Steve Schirripa (“Blue Bloods,” “The Sopranos”) and Mario Cantone (“Sex and the City,” “The View”).
Guardino graduated with a bachelor’s degree in musical theater from Wagner College and then decided to follow in the footsteps of her idols, Lily Tomlin, Bette Midler and her great uncle, the late actor Harry Guardino. She studied at Upright Citizens Brigade in both Los Angeles and New York City and perfected her “Italian Bred” characters in comedy clubs. She has since written screenplays, dramas, sketch comedies and sitcoms. She splits her time between Los Angeles and New York City with her husband Tom, their 7-month-old son and their dog Cannoli.
“My mom still tries to keep the traditional Sunday dinner going,” she said. “My grandmother is up at 7 a.m. stirring a big bucket of sauce. We eat at 3 p.m. It’s an all-day feast!”
Still, Guardino insists you don’t need to be Italian to relate to this show.
“Family is universal,” she said.
“Italian Bred” comes to the Two River Theater for performances at 2 and 8 p.m. Jan. 18. Tickets are $30-45. For more information, visit tworivertheater.org.
The article originally appeared in the January 2 – 8, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
