David Paladino

Champion David Paladino

Champion is a one-act play about Anthony Campione Jr. who was the first-born grandchild on both sides of Italian-American families. Loved and cherished by his entire family, especially his parents Anthony Sr. and Carol, no one ever questioned his darker skin but it was often ?logically? explained away. In his early thirties, after years of personal struggle and living as a "dark-Italian", Anthony unearths the truth about where he comes from and takes a drive to complete his journey of self-discovery. Champion is a compelling true story about courage, the persistence to find truth and unconditional love. Based on the real-life story of David Paladino as heard on NPR's "This American Life" with Ira Glass & Cris Beam.