Sierra Madre's Frank Ferrante Comes Back to School, This Time As Groucho Marx

Frank Ferrante began his life-long career of bringing the humor of Groucho Marx to audiences nationwide when he was a student at . Now he is returning with his laugh-out-loud show, "An Afternoon with Groucho" for a performance to benefit the school 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 13 at St. Rita's O'Malley Hall in Sierra Madre.  

Ferrante credits St. Rita Elementary and , both of which he attended, for allowing him to develop his love for the stage, and specifically for Groucho Marx.

"Can you imagine a 13 year-old with a cigar in his mouth imitating the famous Groucho?" Ferrante remembers. "My parents, Dominic and Theresa Ferrante, who by the way lived in Sierra Madre at that time, encouraged me. My Dad took me to meet Groucho—and that pretty much set my path." He went on to graduate from USC as a Theater Arts major. While a student, he performed as Groucho.  Fortunately, that performance was seen by Groucho's son, Arthur Marx, and that chance meeting developed into a show, "A Life in Revue" which was written by Arthur Marx with Ferrante portraying Groucho from about age 15 up to his death at age 85. Rehearsals for that show were initiated at St. Rita's, and ended up touring internationally. The show went on to receive theater awards in New York and London and that was followed by a PBS TV production which was produced, directed and starred Ferrante as Groucho.

Ferrante has received acclamation from both the public, but more importantly, from Marx' family and friends. Groucho's daughter Miriam and Arthur often attend performances when Ferrante is in town. Morrie Ryskind, the writer responsible for many of Marx' famous lines, said of Ferrante, "Ferrante is the only actor aside from Groucho who delivered my lines as they were intended."

Tickets are $20 for adults; seniors, $15; children 6-12 years, $10.