Berlin Musical & Funnyman 'Sarge' Coming To S. Florida

I LOVE A PIANO, IRVING BERLIN'S MUSICAL JOURNEY THROUGH

SEVEN DECADES AS AMERICA'S GREATEST TUNESMITH, TO OPEN A

TWO-WEEK RUN JANUARY 23-FEBRUARY 3 AT PARKER PLAYHOUSE.

MULTI-TALENTED COMIC SARGE TO DEBUT

ONE MAN SHOW, I MAY BE BLACK…"but god knows I'm Jewish",

OCTOBER 31-NOVEMBER 4AT AMATURO THEATER

SARGE, the triple-threat high energy stand-up comic/impressionist who also sings and performs on piano, will debut his new one-man show, I MAY BE BLACK..."but god knows I'm Jewish," for a limited five day run, Wednesday, October 31- Sunday, November 4, at the Broward Center's Amaturo Theater.

Directed by Ray Roderick, with scenic and lighting design by Eric Haugen, SARGE will precede a new production of I LOVE A PIANO which Roderick will also direct, opening a two-week run, Wednesday, January 23 through Sunday, February 3, at the Parker Playhouse.

A multi-talented entertainer who is not only a raging comic but is also a concert pianist, the Miami Beach-born SARGE grew up as a black Jew from New York and launched his show business career at the age of six when, after seeing a performance of "The Sound of Music," he returned home and began playing the score on the family piano. Comedy began at seven when his grandfather took him to New York's Catskill Mountains' "Borscht Circuit" where he became enamored with the audience response to Don Rickles, an experience which would later show up in his work as he recounts his personal journey and laugh-packed social commentary.

Studies at Boston University's, jobs as a booking agent with such prestigious houses as Wilhelmina Models and his own talent firm., "Punch Models," didn't deter him from enrolling at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute. It was there that he decided he would no longer represent the talent but "be" the talent. Stints with ABC's" Wide World of Sports," CBS Sports, and, finally, the inspirational words of "The NFL Today" host Greg Gumbel, whose declaration that "you're too funny, too creative and too bright not to go for a comedy career," launched him on his stand-up comedy career. On his way, he opened for such major stars as Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin, Paul Anka, Donna Summer, and Wayne Newton. Between gigs in clubs and cruise ships, SARGE heads for Iraq where he entertains troops.

For director Ray Roderick, I LOVE A PIANO, co-written with Michael Berkely, will be a return to a work he has mentored since having directed it for successful runs at the Denver Auditorium and, locally, during the 2002-03 season at Lou Tyrell's Florida Stage. Earlier, Roderick was Associate Director to director Mike Ockrent's production of "A Christmas Carol" at Madison Square Garden, and to director Susan Stroman for the Broadway revival of "The Music Man," which he was later to direct for the North American tour.

A major stop on the national tour that will open September 21 at Boston's Cutler Majestic Theater, I LOVE A PIANO will feature an ensemble cast of eight versatile performers, including Mark Baratelli, Darcie Bender, Summer Broyhill, Joanna Hill, Johnnie Moore, Sean Schwebke, Karla Shook and Jason Weitkamp. The revue is a virtual cavalcade of top tunes to which Irving Berlin committed his life from his early beginnings in the 1910s through most of the 20^{th century. During that time, he wrote nearly 1,000 songs, scores for 21 Broadway shows and 17 musicals, and created such all time standard American "anthems" as "White Christmas," "God Bless America," and "There's No Business Like Show Business."}

^{Directed and choreographed by Roderick, I LOVE A PIANO is only one of two shows authorized to use the Berlin catalog. Culled from the huge output, the revue will feature more than 60 songs, all of them centered around an upright piano which carries the plot through the many eras that Berlin gave the world his unforgettable music. I LOVE A PIANO, produced by Lawrence Toppall, Martin Markinson and Richard Willis, will play Wednesday, January 23 through Sunday, February 3 at the Parker Playhouse, 707 N.E. 8th Street, Ft. Lauderdale. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 8 P.M. with matinees Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 P.M. Tickets at $43.50; groups $38.50, are available at the Parker Playhouse (954) 462-0222; via www.parkerplayhouse.com or www.ILoveAPianoTheMusical.com.}

^{SARGE starring in I MAY BE BLACK…"but god knows I'm Jewish," produced by by Lawrence Toppall in association with Broward Center for the Performing Arts, will play the Broward Center's Amaturo Theater 201 S.W. 5th Ave. Wednesday, October 31, at 2 P.M. Thursday and Friday, 8 P.M., Saturday, November 3, 8 P.M., and Sunday, November 4, 3 P.M. Tickets at $30 and $24; groups $26 and $22.50, are available at Broward Center box office, (954) 462-0222; www.browardcenter.org; www.Iamsarge.com.}

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