Award-winning author Emilio and his musician-composer son Dante share a family story about a certain immigrant tree, and other trees written about in What Trees Know, a new collection of poetry entirely about trees.

“What Trees Know” is a duet in words and music.  The topic is given a mythic framework based on DeGrazia’s essay “Burying the Tree,” a narrative about the fig tree in his Winona back yard that represents, among other things, his immigrant origins.  Individual poems about the science, mythology, and personal experience of trees are interwoven into this narrative.  The music, which includes an overture to the narrative and solo flights, is original work composed and played on the piano by his son Dante DeGrazia.

The mission of Rochester Civic Theatre is to ENGAGE community organizations through collaboration and shared resources, ENRICH lives through education and outreach, and ELEVATE human connection through theatre arts.