The Lakewood Cultural Center
Presents
Frank Ferrante in
An Evening with Groucho
Frank Ferrante recreates his New York, London and PBS triumph as the legendary Groucho Marx at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 19 in Lakewood. Adult tickets are $25 and are available by calling 303-987-7845, online at www.Lakewood.org/CulturalCenter or at the Lakewood Cultural Center Box Office, 470 S. Allison Parkway (Wadsworth Boulevard and West Alameda Avenue). Senior, student and group discounts available. Ample, free on-site parking available.
Ferrante is an award-winning actor, director and playwright, and his acclaimed portrayal of Marx is 90 minutes of fast-paced hilarity. The two-act comedy consists of the best Groucho one-liners, anecdotes and songs including "Hooray for Captain Spalding," and "Lydia, the Tattooed Lady." The audience literally becomes part of the show as Ferrante ad-libs his way throughout the performance in grand Groucho style. Accompanied by his onstage pianist, Jim Furmston, Ferrante portrays the young Groucho of stage and film and reacquaints us with the likes of brothers Harpo, Chico, Zeppo and Gummo as well as Charlie Chaplin, W.C. Fields, Greta Garbo and Marx foil Margaret Dumont and MGM's Louis B. Mayer. A show perfect for all ages!
The New York Times has described Ferrante as “the greatest living interpreter of Groucho Marx’s material.” “Animal Crackers” and “A Night at the Opera” coauthor Morrie Ryskind called him “the only actor aside from Groucho who delivered my lines as they were intended.” Discovered by Groucho’s son Arthur when Ferrante was a drama student at the University of Southern California, Ferrante originated the off-Broadway title role in “Groucho: A Life in Revue” (written by Arthur), portraying the comedian from age 15 to 85. For this role, Ferrante won New York’s Theatre World Award in 1987 and was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award. He reprised the role in London’s West End and was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Awardfor Comedy Performance of the Year. Ferrante played the Groucho role in the off-Broadway revival of “The Cocoanuts” and has played Captain Spalding in several productions of “Animal Crackers,” winning a Connecticut Critics Circle Award for his portrayal at Goodspeed Opera House and a Helen Hayesnomination in Washington D.C. at Arena Stage. In Boston in 1988, he played the Huntington Theatre in the record-breaking run of “Animal Crackers” that landed him on the cover of American Theatre magazine. In 2001, he starred in, directed and produced the national PBS television program “Groucho: A Life in Revue.”
Marx and Martinis, An HCA Alliance Benefit
Join the HCA Alliance for a special post-performance meet-and-greet reception with Frank Ferrante. Tickets for the performance and reception are $75 per person or $125 per couple. The HCA Alliance is a nonprofit organization that raises funds to support Lakewood's Heritage Culture & the Arts programs. For more information, visit www.AllianceHCA.org or call 303-987-7779.
The 2010 - 2011 Lakewood Cultural Center Presents Season is generously supported by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) – with appreciation to the citizens of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District – Aura Spa and Wellness Center at the Sheraton Denver West and The Denver Post.
Added by GS on October 29, 2010