“Sometimes I think the younger generation appreciates it more than those who remember the great Groucho from his 1950s TV show “You Bet Your Life,” said Ferrante. “The show and the character have an edge. It’s a highly energetic performance, and the Groucho character is wildly fun – saying and doing things none of us could ever get away with. Younger audiences, college students, even children find this style exhilarating.”
Ferrante delivers the classic one-liners and famous songs matching Groucho’s originals with stunning precision, critics have said, but his performance is beyond mere impersonation. Much of the show is an improvised interaction with the audience – just as Groucho himself would have done. Audience members should be ready to be carried away to the earliest days of American television – and maybe pulled up onstage.
At PCHS during the Tuesday morning residency, Ferrante will share his more than two decades of experience performing comedy on stage, film and television with an emphasis on improvisation. Currently, Ferrante plies his craft in multiple shows, including “An Evening with Groucho” and the cirque show “Teatro Zinzanni,” in which his act is mostly extemporaneous. During the workshop adult and high school students will be enlisted to perform improv games with Mr. Ferrante.
Ferrante’s performances are presented with funding from Main Stage Supporting Sponsor TD Bank and Event Sponsor ACTS Retirement-Life Communities. Tickets are available at the Tryon Fine Arts Center Box office Tuesday – Friday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Call 828-859-8322 for more information or email info@tryonarts.org.
– article submitted by Marianne Carruth