STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Comedian Candice Guardino has been telling Staten Island stories onstage for more than a decade, but her upcoming comedy special “Italian Bred” will bring her family stories and borough pride to a global audience.

The Staten Island-raised comedian will release the special on Jan. 27, 2026, through independent comedy production and distribution company Comedy Dynamics. Inspired by true events, “Italian Bred” finds Guardino slipping seamlessly into a lineup of characters pulled straight from her upbringing. The show traces her childhood in a loud, loving Italian family.

It’s a familiar picture for anyone who grew up on Staten Island, where, as Guardino told the Advance/SILive.com in 2017, “Growing up on Staten Island is about family and community … I’m drawn to tell stories about real people. I want to turn on the TV, see a show or a movie that’s about the real heroes in life — our family.”

Shot at the Two River Theater in Red Bank, New Jersey, the special was written and performed by Guardino and directed by Samuel Brownfield, with Chris DiPetta producing.

Comedy Dynamics CEO Brian Volk-Weiss praised the project in a statement to “Deadline,” saying, “I am so excited for the world to see Italian Bred because I know everybody will be laughing as hard as I did the first time I saw it! Comedy Dynamics is very proud to be in business with Candice!”

Guardino summed up the heart of the show to the outlet herself: “I’m thrilled to be working with Brian and Comedy Dynamics. I’m beyond excited to finally share these true stories and have people laugh with me about my childhood trauma — because if I don’t laugh, I’ll cry!”

Born in Brooklyn and raised in Huguenot, Guardino graduated from St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School before earning a theater degree from Wagner College. She later made her mark on the New York theater scene with her revealing one-woman shows and has continued to build a career as a comedian, screenwriter, playwright and actress.

Guardino is hitting the road again this year, and you can check out the dates below or at her website here:

2026 tour dates:

Feb. 27 – DelRay Playhouse – Delray Beach, Fla.Feb. 28 – Pompano Center – Pompano, Fla.March 6 – Orlando Theatre – Orlando, Fla.April 18 – Wortham Arts – Asheville, N.C.May 8 – Suffolk Theater – Riverhead, N.Y.June 13 – SoulJoel’s at SunnyBrook – Pottstown, Pa.July 25 – Greenwich Odeum – East Greenwich, R.I.Aug. 8 – The Oaks Theater – Oakmont, Pa.