Geno finished the run of Little Shop of Horrors at the Merry-Go-Round Payhouse in September 2008, appearing in the ensemble and covering all the male roles, going on for Seymour 5 times!!!
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Geno starred as Leo Bloom in The Producers at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse
Photos courtesy of Gaston Moore Photography and Robert Frame
“The Merry-Go-Round Playhouse production is an unqualified hit, due largely to the performances of Ray Arrucci and Geno Carr under the enlightened direction of Ed Sayles.”
“Even with the top-notch performances from the supporting cast, and they are legion, it is Arrucci and Carr who drive the play and they have a firm grip on the wheel.”
“Carr will be familiar to MGR audiences for a variety of roles over the last few seasons, all of them memorable and his Leo Bloom is no exception. He has a tremendous gift for comedy, particularly as the straight man. Still, he gets as many laughs out of a strip of blue cloth as the rest of the cast does with Brooks' marvelous script. He can sing, dance and fall in love with the best of them and still project enormous charm and innocence.”
CNY Theatre News and Reviews
“In his casting, Sayles has struck gold as well, with the return of Geno Carr and Bethany Moore (who fell in love last season in “Thoroughly Modern Millie”) as Leo and Ulla, and
with Ray Arrucci as the irrepressible Max Bialystock.”
“Carr does his usual flawless work here, sending Leo through paroxysms of anguish and insecurity as he ventures into the world of theater. Carr has the rare ability to play comedy as both the straight man and the joker, has an enormously appealing presence and a marvelous and expressive voice.”
Auburn Citizen
“Heading a very talented cast in the two lead roles are Ray Arrucci (Max Bialystock) and Geno Carr (Leo Bloom). Both possess strong voices and the necessary undercurrents of risky bravado and reserved self-consciousness, respectively.”
Syracuse Post-Standard
“Auburn's Merry-Go-Round Playhouse trots out Ray Arrucci as producer Bialystock and Geno Carr as accountant Bloom….the duo are so endearing…Ed Sayles has chosen a cast to support Arrucci and Carr that is close to perfect, and his design team measures up to near-Broadway caliber.”
Syracuse.com
“Arrucci's Max and Carr's Leo, both full-voiced and articulate, carry the play…and work well together.Carr's big song, "I Wanna Be a Producer," is exuberantly persuasive.”
Ithaca Times
"Playing mousy and repressed usually makes it hard for an actor to shine, but Carr’s “I Wanna Be a Producer” easily outclasses what Matthew Broderick put into the poorly received 2005 film version of the stage show. " Syracuse New Times
City of Angels at Heritage Theatre Festival
Rob Marnell and Garen McRoberts
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Geno's final performance as an Assistant Professor of Theatre/Resident Actor at Stephens College was as Beverly Carlton in "The Man Who Came to Dinner."
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Geno starred as the foppish Master Sparkish in the Restoration comedy, The Country Wife, at Stephens College.
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In December 2007, Geno completed a successful run as the title role in the musical Fiorello! at Stephens College.
Geno and Katie Karel in Fiorello!
During the Summer of 2007, Geno returned to the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse to star as Mr. Smee in Peter Pan, and Trevor Graydon in Thoroughly Modern Millie.
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"Geno Carr's Smee was a visual and verbal delight. " The Syracuse Post-Standard
"Geno Carr returns to MGR in the role of Hook's first mate, Smee. Carr is a gifted physical comic and gets plenty of opportunity here to demonstrate that talent." The Auburn Citizen
"Smee (Geno Carr) and the yo-ho-hoing Pirates, deliver some of the freshest fun here..." The Syracuse New Times
"A gaggle of harmless pirates complement Hook's comic delivery. Among them, Geno Carr's pitch-perfect Mr. Smee is so lovable you want to take him home and adopt him - exactly what Mr. and Mrs. Darling end up doing. " Ithaca Times
"But the biggest scene-stealer of all is Millie’s genuinely rich boss at Sincere Trust Insurance, Mr. Graydon (Geno Carr). His big solo, “The Speed Test,” is a hyper-caffeinated riff on a Gilbert and Sullivan patter song, which zips past the breathless in the later choruses. Millie and Miss Flannery join in, but Carr deservedly gets some of the loudest huzzahs at the final curtain." -The Syracuse New Tmes
“In a droll change of pace, ladylike Miss Dorothy (Bethany Moore) and Millie's boss Mr. Graydon (Geno Carr) -- both fine actors, and both with really rich voices -- discover love of the lace valentine variety, and go into operetta mode a la Victor Herbert.” -Syracuse Post-Standard
“This show is a confection; stuffed with sweet voices, delectable dancing and topped of with a pair of the best comic performances you’ll see anywhere. …Add in Geno Carr and Andrea A. McCullough and you have a stellar production. The pair steal the show as Millie’s boss and his dour office manager…Carr is as fine a comic actor as you’re likely to find anywhere, and for the last few seasons we’ve been fortunate indeed to find him at Merry-Go-Round. His vocal abilities are flawless, his dancing is assured and his acting is impeccable. He has a presence that is enormously appealing, an everyman quality that endears him to an audience, although there is nothing everyday in his ability. His “Speed Test” and “Sweet Mystery of Life” are worth the price of admission.” -Auburn Citizen
“But any discussion of the comedy has to focus on the work of Geno Carr and Andrea A. McCullough.…Carr is simply one of the best comic actors you’ll ever see, perfect timing, deft movement, a rubber face and as a bonus he has enormous vocal and physical control. He has been a joy to watch at MGR for years, and hopefully, for years to come.”
-CNY Theatre News and Reviews
"Geno Carr is dynamic and comically irresistible as Mr. Graydon, Millie's hyper-efficient boss at the Sincere Trust Insurance Company. Thrilled with Millie's proficient dictation and typing, Graydon sees her as one of the guys; his highest accolade is to call her John. One of the show's standout numbers is their hilarious, superfast delivery of "The Speed Test." Like Burns, Carr maintains a believable character with a comic persona; others tend to rely on simplified types." -Ithaca Times
Officer Barrell in Urinetown...
...at Stephens College!
Geno with Allison Rihn in ....
....the Phiadelphia Story at Stephens College
During the Fall of 2006, Geno appeared at the Missouri Theatre as Francois in the musical "Babes in Arms" and at Stephens College as Dexter Haven in "The Philadelphia Story." During the Holiday Season Geno and Nancy portrayed Mr. and Mrs. Dickens in "A Victorian Christmas" at Stephens.
Nancy and Geno as Nellie and Billis in South Pacific at Heritage Repertory Theatre, Summer, 2006
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In April, Geno made his Off-Broadway debut as a replacement in the hilarious political satire, Bush Wars at the Rattlestick Theatre in NYC.
The musical standout is the truly sweet new song by Music Director Fred Van Doren, "When Christmas Comes." So beautifully performed by Geno Carr, a consummate singer / actor / performer, supported by two of the loveliest voices in the show, Erin Caldwell and Jessica Scuteri. Mr. Carr also deserves praise for his performance as the older brother, Kenny Kringle, where he makes up with energy, style and wonderful comic timing for much that is lacking in the role as written.
-Showcase
Geno starred as Kenny Kringle (the ghost of Kris' long lost brother) at the Allenberry Playhouse during the 2005 holiday season.
All photos courtesy of John Pitman at Causal Foto
Geno, Matt Posner, Brian Massey, Ken Ritter and Matthew Scott
Geno was Sparky in his 5th production of Forever Plaid during the Fall of 2005, this time at the Allenberry Playhouse.
Day-O!
Matilda
Love is a Many Splendored Things
Opening Night!
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In the fall of 2005, Geno completed his second production of I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change at the Merry Go Round Playhouse
(pictured above are Geno Carr, Denise Summerford, Lindsey Alley and Alan Souza) Photos by Glen Gaston Photography
"The two-hour-plus endeavor flew, buoyed by a skilled cast effectively playing DiPietro's sharp comic observations concerning the American way of dating and mating.
"You will laugh and often. This is due to a gifted cast who, aided by the swift-paced and nuanced direction of Marie Kemp, knows how to play the comic elements just right. Lindsey Alley and Denise Summerford are the women in all of the sketches, and Geno Carr and Alan Souza are the men.
"Standout moments include Souza's and Summerford's impersonations of dating nerds, Carr's macho man on a trip to a tear-jerker movie and a confrontation of traditional parents (Alley and Carr) with non-marrying Summerford and Souza.
"A sketch concerning a singles visit to jail not only had the audience in stitches but even the actresses struggling to hold back their laughter as well, prompted by some wonderfully over-the-top work by Carr as an ever-so-slightly berserk prisoner."
Syracuse Post-Standard
"The cast is made up four chameleon performers in a dizzying array of roles. Geno Carr (Forever Plaid, Ragtime, Jekyll and Hyde) is a marvel as a disappointed father, a seriously deranged convict (who morphs into a hippie minister) and a macho man caught crying at a chick-flick.
"His work as a septuagenarian trying to pick up a woman at a funeral is priceless."
"Geno Carr may be the strongest in solo numbers, but Perry Medlin, Nancy Snow and Ashley Hunter all have something going for them, and when all four sing, it's a treat for the ears."
Daily Progress
Geno with Rob Marnell and Heather Mayes
Damn Yankees has come and gone, but was definitely a "hit!!!"
"Geno Carr takes on the role of Mr. Applegate - the devil - with demonic glee, playing it appropriately over the top. His 'Those Were the Good Old Days' number in the second act is a showstopper, and he and Heather Mayes as the sizzling Lola play off of each other nicely."
The Charlottesville Daily Progress
"Carr's vibrancy and polished timing...compensate for how the devil struck me as nothing more than a wily salesman."
c-ville
Mr. Carr's characterization is a blend of humor that is close enough to human to be funny, and bad boy that is far enough from evil to be unthreatening. It's a fine line, and he walks it like a Wallenda. He has one of the cleverest songs of the show, 'Those Were The Good Old Days,' a vaudevillesque inventory of history's most horrendous events."
Culpeper Star-Exponent
Geno with Laura Matson as Shelley
BAT BOY!!!
Geno joined the national tour of Grease in August of 2004 to play Rydell High's favorite DJ, Vince Fontaine!
Geno starred as Spider, and understudied the title roles, in Jekyll & Hyde during the summer of 2004 at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse.
Geno performed in Forever Plaid a second time at the Merry Go Round Playhouse in June of 2004, this time to celebrate the opening of the newly renovated theatre. Pictured to the right are Geno as Sparky, Doug Marcks as Frankie, Brian Golub as Jinx and Tim Dietrichs as Smudge.
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QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY!!!
Geno participated in an abridged reading of a new musical entitled UP IN THE AIR, by Warren Loy and Chris Todd. The one time performance was on Friday, Decemeber, 5th at 5:30pm at the Arclight Theatre in NYC. In addition, the show was taped by the hit TV show, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, because Warren had been chosen for a Fab Five makeover. The cast included Hunter Foster (The Producers, Little Shop of Horrors and Urinetown), John Tartaglia (Avenue Q), Michael Rupert (Ragtime, Falsettos, City of Angels), and Kelli O'Hara (Light in the Piazza, Dracula, Sweet Smell of Success, Follies, Jekyll and Hyde) to name a few. Michael Scheman directed with musical direction by Eugene Gwozdz. The Queer Eye episode premiered Tuesday, March 3, 2004. Check your local listing to see a snippet of Geno's performance.
In the fall of 2003, Geno portrayed 3 different characters in the comedy, The Book of Liz, by Amy and David Sedaris. No, they're not Amish...they're Squeamish. And they like to make Cheese Balls.
Geno was Younger Brother from June 18-July 5, 2003 at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse
Geno was Younger Brother from June 18-July 5, 2003 at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse
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Geno starred as Luthur Billis in South Pacific at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse. His lovely co-star, pictured here, was Cristin Boyle.
Click to see the cast with Maria Elena
From the late summer of 2001 until late February of 2002, Geno starred as the Clearlake MC in Phoenix Production's national tour of "Buddy, the Buddy Holly Story." Above is a picture of the cast with the real Maria Elena (Buddy's wife) taken in Fort Worth, Texas, and to the right is Geno in his fabulous jacket as the Clearlake MC.
Geno starred in I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change at the Heritage Repertory Theatre during the summer of 2002. Joining him onstage were Nathan Moore, Kiira Schmidt and Geno's wife, Nancy Snow.
Geno and Nancy Snow on the 2003 HRT Season Brochure
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During the summer of 1997, Geno performed at the College Light Opera Company in Falmouth, Massachusettes. He took on roles in Pirates of Penzance (Pirate/Sergeant of Police), On the Twentieth Century (Oscar Jaffee), Annie Get Your Gun (Frank Butler), Of Thee I Sing! (V.P. Throttlebottom), Me and My Girl (Bill Snibson), Yeoman of the Guard (Jack Point), Countess Maritza (Prince Popolescu), Call Me Madam and A Little Night Music (Frederik Egerman). It was a long summer!
