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Pasco's Studio Theatre offers another "<i>Aint...</i>" show

 
&#65279;&#8220;Ain&#8217;t Food Wonderful&#8221; opens April 10 at Jimmy Ferraro&#8217;s Studio Theatre in downtown New Port Richey. Here, cast members Pete Clapsis, Tracie Callahan, Jared Michael Shari and Elizabeth S. Phillips rehearse the song, Who Doesn&#8217;t Like Chinese Food?
“Ain’t Food Wonderful” opens April 10 at Jimmy Ferraro’s Studio Theatre in downtown New Port Richey. Here, cast members Pete Clapsis, Tracie Callahan, Jared Michael Shari and Elizabeth S. Phillips rehearse the song, Who Doesn’t Like Chinese Food?
Published April 1, 2015

NEW PORT RICHEY — Jimmy Ferraro's Studio Theatre seems to be on a roll — in more ways than one.

For one thing, most of the eight-month-old theater's recent shows have been almost or completely sold out, including the boisterous Holy Cannoli, the sentimental A Christmas Cabaret, the audience-interactive Murder on the High C's, and the comedy Ain't Retirement Grand.

For another, the shows have mostly had 'em rollin' in the aisles, with often over-the-top physical humor, fresh (and some eye-rolling corny) jokes, and plots and characters that appeal to the market Ferraro aims to please.

So the show opening on May 3 should be another winner: Ain't Food Wonderful! It's the second "Ain't…" show Ferraro is bringing to the theater by playwright/composer/lyricist Gil Perlroth, writer of at least 23 shows, several of them written since he moved from Connecticut to Gulfport in 1998.

Like the first one, which spoofed retirement and retirees, Ain't Food Wonderful! has a mix of short sketches and all-new songs about another favorite subject, food — buying it, preparing it, eating it, suffering the consequences of it, and, above all, enjoying it.

Many of the songs have a particular appeal to anyone who has sampled the offerings in the strip malls of Florida: Who Doesn't Like Chinese? A Bag Boy at Publix, Nothing Like a Jewish Deli, Cellulite Blues, and Hooters Guys.

Two of the four-member cast appeared in the first Ain't… show, award-winning actors Pete Clapsis and Tracie Callahan, both also veterans of the Show Palace Dinner Theatre.

Clapsis won a HAMI award at Stage West Community Playhouse as Pseudolous in Funny/Forum. Ms. Callahan won a Charlie Award at Richey Suncoast Theatre as Agnes Gooch in Mame.

The other two are Jared Michael Shari, who was recently an audience favorite as Holy Cannoli's Anthony Pavese, the hero's swishy pal, at the Studio Theatre; and Elizabeth S. Phillips, who is making her Studio Theatre debut, though she's been in shows at Richey Suncoast Theatre and the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center.

Ferraro intended for the play to have a five-weekend run, but when he realized it was opening on Easter weekend, he postponed the opening for a week, cutting it down to four weekends.

For that reason, he's already added a April 2 matinee and also urging patrons to buy tickets early to be assured of a seat.