An Evening with Groucho at Chandler May 2

Randolph, Vermont - Award-winning actor, director and playwright Frank Ferrante recreates his acclaimed portrayal of legendary comedian Groucho Marx in a fast-paced 90 minutes of hilarity at Chandler Music Hall on Friday May 2.

Accompanied by his onstage pianist, Jim Furmston, Ferrante portrays the young Groucho of stage and film and reacquaints us with the likes of brothers Harpo, Chico, Zeppo and Gummo, Charlie Chaplin, W.C. Fields, Greta Garbo, and MGM's Louis B. Mayer.

The two-act comedy consists of the best Groucho one-liners, anecdotes and songs including "Hooray for Captain Spalding," and "Lydia, the Tattooed Lady." The audience becomes part of the show as Ferrante ad-libs his way throughout the performance in grand Groucho style.

Frank Ferrante has been described by The New York Times as "the greatest living interpreter of Groucho Marx's material." Animal Crackers and A Night at the Opera co-author Morrie Ryskind called him "the only actor aside from Groucho who delivered my lines as they were intended." Discovered by Groucho's son Arthur when Frank was a drama student at the University of Southern California, Frank originated the off-Broadway title role in “Groucho: A Life in Revue” – written by Arthur – portraying the comedian from age 15 to 85.

For this role, Ferrante won New York's Theatre World Award in 1987 and was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award. He reprised the role in London's West End and was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for 'Comedy Performance of the Year.' Frank played the Groucho role in the off-Broadway revival of The Cocoanuts and has played Captain Spalding in several productions of Animal Crackers winning a Connecticut Critics Circle Award for his portrayal at Goodspeed Opera House and a Helen Hayes nomination in Washington D.C. at Arena Stage. In 2001, Frank starred in, directed and produced the national PBS television program Groucho: A Life in Revue. Frank currently stars as the comic lead in the European cirque Teatro Zinzanni in San Francisco and Seattle.

Musical Director and pianist Jim Furmston enjoys a versatile career as recitalist, accompanist and composer. He is a native of Canada and a graduate of the U.S.C. Thornton School of Performing Arts. His performances have garnered international acclaim in both the classical and popular music worlds. For many years, Furmston was a studio pianist for many leading teaching artists of our time including Gwendolyn Koldofsky, Janos Starker, Zvi Zeitlin, Peter Pears, Jascha Heifetz and Brooks Smith. He was invited to perform a debut recital at New York's Lincoln Center and also performed on the inaugural program of the Arnold Schoenberg Institute. Furmston began his collaboration with Frank Ferrante in 1983 and has accompanied him in An Evening with Groucho since its premiere in 1984.

Reserved tickets can be ordered online at www.chandler-arts.org or through the Box Office by calling 802-728-6464 between 3 and 6 PM weekdays. Student prices and a discounted advance adult ticket price are offered, and a limited number of deeply discounted tickets are available through the box office only. Visit Chandler's Facebook page to get a special code for a free student ticket for every adult ticket purchased through the Box Office. Please refer to Chandler’s website for local discounted dining options for Chandler patrons.

Chandler’s entire 2013-2014 season has generous support from the Vermont Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts. Chandler Music Hall is wheelchair accessible and an assisted listening system is available.