During her 66th birthday celebrations in Pompeii, Madonna revealed plans to support an artistic endeavor involving young individuals. The American pop icon made the announcement while visiting the Pompeii archeological park alongside its director, Gabriel Zuchtriegel. They met with a group of teenagers engaged in the “Dream of Flying” project. This initiative, now in its fourth year, sees hundreds of young artists performing re-adapted Aristophanes comedies at various Italian theaters, starting at Pompeii’s amphitheater, Teatro Grande. Madonna declared her sponsorship of “Dream of Flying” for a year, contributing around 250,000 euros ($275,000).
Zuchtriegel praised the significance of Madonna’s support, describing the project as instrumental for Pompeii as it targets the local community, particularly the youth. Many of the participating teenagers reside in economically challenged towns in the south, where school dropout and unemployment rates are substantial. The director mentioned that the show backed by Madonna’s foundation is scheduled to take place at Pompeii’s Teatro Grande in May 2025.