Frank Ferrante News

Our friend Frank Ferrante morphs back and forth between Groucho Marx and another mangy lover named Caesar. Caesar is the star of "The Hot Spot," a show that's playing at Teatro ZinZanni in Seattle through June 7. Also in the cast with him is the lovely actress/aerialist Dreya Weber as well as other people who do incredible things. I wasn't able to make it up to see this show but I saw Frank and Dreya once in a Teatro show in San Francisco and had a wonderful evening.

Teatro ZinZanni, for those who don't know, is a long-running theatrical organization that stages shows that feature comedy, music and acrobatics presented in a (gourmet) dinner theater setting. It's like Cirque du Soleil if Cirque du Soleil was smaller, more intimate, funnier and well-catered. Their San Francisco outlet was forced to close in 2011 due to real estate problems but all the legal hurdles have now been hurdled and a grand reopening at a new location should happen in a year or two. We are very pleased to hear this.

Meanwhile: When he's not Caesaring, Frank is often Grouchoing, touring America with his one-man (and a pianist) show in which he stunningly transforms himself into the grouchiest of all Marx Brothers. I have recommended this show to you before. I will recommend it to you again. Do yourself a favor and go see it if/when it comes anywhere near you. Frank has just posted new dates for the balance of this year and much of 2016, including next January when he'll do three shows in two days at the Pasadena Playhouse — an easy commute for us Los Angeles Ferrante fans.

So catch him as Caesar. Catch him as Dr. Hackenbush. Catch him as both if you can. And watch the latest exploits in the decadent life of Caesar….

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