Frank Ferrante's GROUCHO Launches Australian Tour Today

American actor/director Frank Ferrante known for his stage performances as legendary comedian Groucho Marx in New York, London and over 400 cities worldwide debuts his "An Evening With Groucho" in Australia beginning today, June 27th. The tour plays eleven cities closing July 19th. Dreya Weber directs. Pianist Eric Ebbenga provides musical accompaniment. Australian based Jally Entertainment produces.

Hired by the comedian's son Arthur Marx in 1986, the then 23 year-old Ferrante portrayed the elder Marx in Off-Broadway's "Groucho: A Life in Revue" for 254 performances at the Lucille Lortel Theatre and in the subsequent West End run. Ferrante won the New York Theatre World Award and was nominated for a NY Outer Critics Circle Award and London's Laurence Olivier Award. In 2001, the play scripted by Arthur Marx and Robert Fisher broadcast nationally as a PBS special produced by Ferrante.

"An Evening With Groucho" is a two-act, audience interactive comedy highlighting Marx's classic film work, songs, writings and Ferrante's improvisation. Picked by NPR as one of the top five one-person shows in the country on a list that included Hal Holbrook's "Mark Twain Tonight" and Lily Tomlin, the Chicago Tribune called it "nothing short of masterful" and The New York Times described Ferrante's work as "artful."

Since 2001, Ferrante headlines yearly in the cirque vaudeville show "Teatro ZinZanni" in Seattle and San Francisco as comic lead 'Caesar' - an outrageous, ad-libbing Latin lover. He recently took 'Caesar' to Amsterdam for a four month run in "Palazzo." Ferrante directs in regional theater throughout the country notably at Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theatre where he helmed the premiere of Pulitzer finalist "Old Wicked Songs." On television, Ferrante was recently seen on Rob Corddy's Emmy Award-winning Adult Swim comedy "Childrens Hospital" as a talking mime and was heard on the animated series "Garfield."

"An Evening With Groucho" is represented by Baylin Artists Management. For detailed tour information log on to www.eveningwithgroucho.com.

'GROUCHO' AUSTRALIAN TOUR (JUNE 27 - JULY 19)
JUNE 27 AN EVENING WITH GROUCHO BYRON BAY Frank Ferrante stars at the Byron Theatre at 69 Jonson Street, Byron Bay, New South Wales. Performance is Friday. For tickets and information log on to www.byroncentre.com.au.

JUNE 28 AN EVENING WITH GROUCHO TOOWOOMBA Frank Ferrante stars at the Empire Theatre at 56 Neil Street, Toowoomba, Queensland. Performance is Saturday. For tickets and information log on to www.empiretheatre.com.au.

JUNE 29 AN EVENING WITH GROUCHO CALOUNDRA Frank Ferrante stars at The Events Centre at 20 Minchinton Street, Caloundra, Queensland. Performance is Sunday. For tickets and information log on to www.theeventscentre.com.au.

JULY 1 & 2 AN EVENING WITH GROUCHO BRISBANE Frank Ferrante stars for two shows at the QUT Gardens Theatre located at 2 George Street, Brisbane, Queensland. Performances are Tuesday and Wednesday. For tickets and information log on to www.gardenstheatre.qut.edu.au.

JULY 4 AN EVENING WITH GROUCHO GYMPIE Frank Ferrante stars at the Gympie Civic Centre at Mellor Street, Gympie, Queensland. Performance is Friday. For tickets and information log on to www.gympie.qld.gov.au/civic-centre.

JULY 5 AN EVENING WITH GROUCHO GLADSTONE Frank Ferrante stars at Gladstone Entertainment Centre at 58 Goondoon, Gladstone, Queensland. Performance is Saturday. For tickets and information log on to www.gladecc.com.au.

JULY 9 AN EVENING WITH GROUCHO MACKAY Frank Ferrante stars at the Mackay Entertainment Centre at Alfred Street, Mackay, Queensland. Performance is Wednesday. For tickets and information log on to www.mackayecc.com.au.

JULY 10 AN EVENING WITH GROUCHO AYR Frank Ferrante stars at Burdekin Centre at 161 Queen Street in Ayr, Queensland. Performance is Thursday. For tickets and information log on to www.burdekintheatre.com.au.

JULY 11 AN EVENING WITH GROUCHO THURINGOWA/TOWNSVILLE Frank Ferrante stars at Riverway Arts Centre on Village Boulevard in Thuringowa/Townsville Queensland. Performance is Friday. For tickets and information log on to www.townsville.qld.gov.au/community/ticketshop/Pages/RiverwaySessions.aspx.

JULY 16 AN EVENING WITH GROUCHO CESSNOCK Frank Ferrante stars at the Cesnock Performing Arts Centre at 198-202 Vincent Street, Cessnock, New South Wales. Performance is Wednesday. For tickets and information log on to www.cessnock.nsw.gov.au/cpac.

JULY 18 AN EVENING WITH GROUCHO GOSFORD Frank Ferrante stars at Laycock Street Theatre on Laycock Street, Gosford, New South Wales. Performance is Friday. For tickets and information log on to www.laycockstreettheatre.com.

JULY 19 AN EVENING WITH GROUCHO NEWCASTLE Frank Ferrante stars at the Civic Theatre at 375 Hunter Syreet, Newcastle, New South Wales. Performance is Saturday. For tickets and information log on to www.civictheatrenewcastle.com.au.

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