Event: An Evening of Giving and Saving Lives

Join Sean Penn, Frank Ferrante, Joan Baez and a host of other celebrities to raise needed funds for Haiti

Date of Event: May 25, 2010

Location: Teatro ZinZanni, San Francisco

Name of Benefiting Organization: J/P HRO

Co-Chairs: Frank Ferrante, Norman Langill, Sean Penn

Vivanista sat down with Event Co-Chair and comedian-extraordinaire, Frank Ferrante, to find out more about this fun and fabulous event.

Why were you willing to take on the role as event Co-Chair?

Well, the event was my idea so that was a natural. After the tragedy…I did what many Americans did and sent a donation for Haiti via text. And then I see my friend Sean on television in Haiti and and he is doing it! He is there. And I thought what more can I do? I had two resources to pull from to make it happen…my friend Norman Langill, founder of Teatro ZinZanni, where I opened last night and my connection to Sean. I called Norm to see if Teatro ZinZanni would like to be involved and he did not miss a beat. So here we are.

What are your goals for the event?

The goals for the event are to raise funds from ticket sales and auctions for J/P HRO, create more awareness for this remarkable organization and its cause and do it in a manner that celebrates life. In other words, we are devising a spectacular evening that is driven by music and humor and food and drink. A personal goal is to challenge other arts organizations like Teatro ZinZanni to use their venues to raise funds and encourage communities to give. So many theaters are empty on the nights off…Mondays and Tuesdays. There is opportunity to do more of this work…and succeed…if you make enough calls and send enough emails!

What can guests expect from the evening?

Guests should expect a night of first class entertainment. The legendary Joan Baez who is an admirer of Sean and his work as actor and humanitarian will sing two songs, several Teatro ZinZanni world class cirque acts, Tony Award-winning legend Liliane Montevecchi will sing, Jerry Hannan is performing his song “Society” from the Sean Penn directed “Into the Wild,” yours truly will MC. Two short documentary pieces will be premiered. And at the end of the show there will be two hours of dancing to the sounds Lakay & Mystic Man.

Any surprises up your sleeve?

Always…some remarkable attendees that I’m not at liberty to divulge…and my comic alter ego “Caesar” may make an interactive appearance.

Will Sean Penn be in attendance at the event?

Sean will be at the event and will give us his perspective on the Haitian experience, his work, the work of J/P HRO. Here is a rare opportunity to hear from someone who is in the trenches of this tragedy for weeks now. Sean is one of our most honest, compelling story tellers…I can only imagine what he will share with us on May 25th…tales of the Haitian plight and hope and coming together. His participation is certainly the highlight of the evening.

What will constitute success from the fundraiser?

If we raise funds, if our guests are entertained and informed and moved than we have succeeded. I have a feeling that this evening will resonate for years to come and will engage our guest and supporters. And I believe many will commit to this cause and will be inspired to do more when they can…and perhaps with J/P HRO.

How will the funds raised be put to use in Haiti?

Funds will go directly to J/P HRO and will be used to continue their extensive work. It is absolutely mind-boggling what they have accomplished. Maintaining a camp that serves 60,000 Haitians, medical supplies and equipment, water filters, the list goes on and it is living proof that a difference can be made and I am proud that we can honor Sean and all the volunteers and staff of J/P HRO as they continue to serve Haiti. Their list of accomplishments is highlighted at www.jphro.org.

What are you wearing to the event?

As host…I’m thinking a tux with a little glitz befitting of the Teatro ZinZanni experience. Dean Martin meets Liberace.

What should other guests wear?

Not black tie…but festive.

A bit more about you:

Have you chaired other fundraising events?

Never…I have performed for them…but never chaired…and I look forward to doing it again.

You have such an interesting background. Has your life led you to where you thought you would be?

I am exactly where I wanted to be. For 25 years I have worked in a profession that generates laughter and as I get older I appreciate that fact more and more. I’ve had the privilege of working on stages in New York, London…and Paducah and Altoona. And I love what I do and feel blessed for that.

What is the best charitable event you’ve attended and why?

It’s happening this Tuesday! And for all the above reasons!

What is one fundraising tip you’ve learned that you’re willing to share?

Reach out to be people, co-hosts who know what they are doing and know how to connect with those who can lend support in name and/or in person. Hilary Armstrong for example has made all the difference in making this event magical…and it will be.

What faded tradition do you wish would be resurrected?

Sock garters…I’m a traditionalist. If there is a faded tradition out there then you’ll see it in full bloom Tuesday.

To purchase tickets to what will surely be a great event, please click here.

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About Frank Ferrante

Frank Ferrante has spent 25 years mastering the art of improvisation and audience interaction. At 23, Frank portrayed the legendary Groucho Marx from age 15 to 85 in off-Broadway’s Groucho: A Life in Revue. The New York Times described him as “artful” and his timing as “digital sharp.” Awards and nominations followed as did a West End run where he was nominated for London’s Laurence Olivier Award. A Hirschfeld drawing. Cover of American Theatre. Multiple feature stories. A profile on NPR’s All Things Considered. The subsequent national PBS broadcast was produced by Frank and picked as a New York Times television highlight.

Over corned beef sandwiches in Manhattan’s Carnegie Deli, Henny Youngman dubbed Frank “better than the original Groucho.” Onstage in London, Albert Finney described Frank’s work as “sheer joy.” In reference to his roles as Groucho and Caesar, Sean Penn recently said to Frank, “You’re just a giantly talented guy…with one foot in yesterday…one foot in today…and you make it all your own.”

Between ‘Groucho’ gigs, Frank evolved into a first rate stage director developing the premiere of Pulitzer finalist Old Wicked Songs at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. At the Walnut Frank is the ‘go to guy’ for comedy since 1993. There he invigorated Neil Simon revivals with critically acclaimed productions of Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues, Broadway Bound, Lost In Yonkers, The Sunshine Boys and Laughter on the 23rd Floor in which he also starred as the Sid Caesar inspired lead Max Prince.

More regional theater credits and BBC radio programmes. And then the circus called in the name of Teatro ZinZanni. For nine years in the cirque show Teatro ZinZanni, Frank Ferrante’s alter ego Caesar has ferociously attacked the San Francisco and Seattle theater going public with his relentlessly brash humor, puns, pomp, frenzied mania, flirtations and quick wit. The Latin lothario with the quotable catch phrases “Look at you!” and “You’re a beautiful man” is a favorite among audiences and critics as well. Said the Seattle Weekly, “See this man. He is comic genius.”

Frank graduated from the University of Southern California in 1985 with a degree from the Division of Drama. His first paying job in show business was operating marionettes at age 11 for legendary puppeteer Virginia Austin Curtis at her Puppet Theatre Workshop in Sierra Madre, California – the town where Frank grew up. Mrs. Curtis sculpted the original Mortimer Snerd for Edgar Bergen and toured in vaudeville with her own marionette creation Clippo – the little boy clown. For that gig Frank received $2.50 and is eternally grateful for it.