BWW Preview: TIME TO GET RAUNCHY WITH BELLE BARTH at Carrollwood Players Theater

On March 10 and 11, 2017, actress Sara DelBeato will transform into the 50s "unkosher comedienne," the Miami Beach-based trailblazer Belle Barth for Jimmy Ferraro's production of RAUNCHY LITTLE MUSICAL - BELLE BARTH IS BACK at Carrollwood Players.

Director Jimmy Ferraro explained, "Belle Barth was groundbreaking. She dared to be different and was the first comedienne to perform "blue" humor. This was at a time, the 1950's and 60's when it was totally UNACCEPTABLE. The younger generation needs to see Belle Barth to realize that it is OK to be unique and to be YOURSELF and to BELIEVE in what you do against all odds in a challenging world."

With a dozen, original songs relating to Belle's life, written by lyricist Owen Kalt and composer Grammy Nominee Ilya Levinson, RAUNCHY LITTLE MUSICAL is a special limited performance at The CWP Black Box at Carrollwood Players before heading to New York.

"Before Amy Schumer or Sarah Silverman, even before Joan Rivers or Roseanne, Belle Barth was the original, totally irreverent woman comic - - deflating men and women and anyone who dared to take sex seriously," explained playwright Joanne Koch. "She was the "female Lenny Bruce," the self-proclaimed founder of "Ball Breakers Anonymous," the purveyor of dirty jokes and an attitude which made her off-limits for Ed Sullivan. Her nightclub act and records were the forbidden fruit of the 1950s-with 3 million of her "party records" serving as sex ed. for baby boomers."

The concept of the musical came to be when Joanne saw Jimmy's production of SOPHIE, TOTIE & BELLE in late 2015 with Sara and Ryan Bintz. She was extremely impressed with Sara's performance and decided to put pen to paper to write a play about the woman pioneer of naughty comedy.

"We saw Sara DelBeato killing it as Belle Barth. We knew the audience was in for a great time as soon as she pranced on stage, tossed off that first bawdy joke and sent the crowd into gales of laughter," she said.

Jimmy added, "Ryan and Sara had a magical chemistry and so teaming these two award-winning actors together again was an ace in the hole for me!"

Recommended for mature audiences, Belle's humor is edgy comedy, mainly about sex.

Joanne said, "Most of her humor is based on sex, a frank admission that she engages in it and enjoys it and a willingness to laugh about men and women actively engaged in the pursuit of sex-hopefully with love but sometimes just for its own sake. Yet Belle Barth was doing this kind of humor 60 years before Amy Schumer."

Belle Barth and RAUNCHY LITTLE MUSICAL is the perfect fit for The CWP Black Box, the intimate theatre within a theatre that does not shy away from edgy and controversial performances, having just performed THE LARAMIE PROJECT and THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES. Musical patrons should expect an evening peppered with choice jokes, songs, something silly and sometimes poignant moments, that come from Belle's private life and loves.

"The audience will be thoroughly entertained, without question," said Jimmy. "I want them to experience an important bit of entertainment history that has been tucked away for decades. It's all about daring to be yourself and moving forward despite the odds, acceptance and believing in your dream."

The CWP Black Box at Carrollwood Players is located at 4333 Gunn Hwy. RAUNCHY LITTLE MUSICAL - BELLE BARTH IS BACK runs Friday, March 10 and Saturday, March 11 with performances at 8 pm. Tickets are $25 general admission. Advance tickets can be purchased at https://carrollwood-players-theatre.ticketleap.com/raunchy-little-musical/

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