SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — For Catherine “Cathy” Fiorillo, teaching professor of theatre and communication arts and sciences at Penn State Schuylkill, bringing the story of influential American writer John O’Hara to a wider audience is both a creative endeavor and an educational opportunity.
Fiorillo is producing “Carrying the Torch for John O’Hara,” a feature-length documentary highlighting the life and legacy of O’Hara, an influential but often underrecognized American writer whose work is frequently overshadowed by that of F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Through the documentary, Fiorillo hopes to provide educational and cultural insight for audiences locally, nationally and internationally while bringing greater recognition to O’Hara’s literary contributions and creating a resource that can be used in educational settings.
“O’Hara’s life and work connect small-town America, Hollywood, Broadway and the mid-20th century,” Fiorillo said.
O’Hara was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, and his experiences growing up in Schuylkill County influenced his writing. His career included novels, short stories and screenwriting, providing a connection between his Pennsylvania roots and the broader cultural landscape of his era.
Fiorillo’s documentary is being filmed at locations connected to O’Hara’s life and legacy, including his childhood home on Mahantango Street, the Schuylkill County Council for the Arts Center, the Schuylkill Country Club and downtown Pottsville.
The production also has taken Fiorillo and her student production assistants to Penn State’s University Park campus, where filming has taken place at Paterno Library and the Eberly Special Collections Room. Additional filming is planned in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at the home of O’Hara’s daughter, Wylie Delaney O’Hara.
The project also has provided Penn State Schuylkill students with an opportunity to gain professional, hands-on experience in documentary production.
Fiorillo has included five Penn State students in her projects as production assistants. During filming for the documentary, the students have gained firsthand experience working behind the scenes and learning about the production process.
For Fiorillo, incorporating students into the project is an important part of the educational value of the work.
The experience gives students the opportunity to apply concepts learned in the classroom to a professional creative project while developing skills related to filmmaking, production and communication.
“Carrying the Torch for John O’Hara” also reflects Fiorillo’s broader interest in connecting the arts and humanities with the region and providing students with experiential learning opportunities.
By documenting O’Hara’s life and work, Fiorillo hopes to introduce new audiences to an important American writer and encourage greater appreciation of his contributions to literature and popular culture.
The documentary’s connections to Pottsville and Schuylkill County are particularly significant, allowing the project to explore the places and experiences that helped shape O’Hara while connecting his story to audiences beyond the region.
Fiorillo’s goal is to complete the documentary and hold its world premiere in spring 2027 at Penn State Schuylkill.
The premiere would bring the project full circle, showcasing the work of a writer with deep connections to the region while highlighting the work of a Penn State Schuylkill faculty member and the students who contributed to the production. Through “Carrying the Torch for John O’Hara,” Fiorillo is helping to preserve and share O’Hara’s legacy while creating meaningful opportunities for students to experience the art and process of documentary filmmaking firsthand.