“What got me interested in performing in the theater was an early exposure to the Marx Brothers,” Ferrante said. “I saw the Marx Brothers in the film ‘A Day at the Races’ when I was 9. It changed my life. It was so wild and free and exciting to watch. They were breaking rules and saying what they wanted to say and doing what they wanted to do. When you’re a shy kid being taught by nuns, that’s very appealing.”

That was truly the start of his performance of the alter ego he’s so recognizable with today.

“It was really Groucho’s genius and character that really made a difference for me as a child,” he added. “I saw that you could live life differently than have to be a fearful shy kid. That you can be bold in situations. There are other ways to behave and get away with it.”

Ferrante developed the piece for his senior project in drama from the University of Southern California in 1985.

Frank Ferrante

“I invited everyone who knew Groucho that I could get a hold of. That included Groucho Marx’s son, Arthur, who was a playwright, and Groucho Marx’s daughter Miriam and Morrie Ryskind who had written some of the Marx Brothers’ great works,” he stated. “They all showed up at my campus to see this show. That was my project for my degree, and Arthur Marx said to me, ‘If I ever do a show about my father again, I’d like to use you.’ So upon graduation, within a year, I was hired to portray my hero from ages 15 to 85 in Arthur Marx’s play called ‘Groucho: A Life in Revue’ off Broadway.”

The show became very successful, and after glowing reviews and awards, it moved to London’s West End, where it was nominated for three Laurence Olivier awards. He was 23, fresh out of college and already making an indelible mark in the world of theater. During the last 33 years, he’s performed as Groucho more than 3,000 times in more than 500 cities.

“An Evening with Groucho” is not quite as long as Arthur’s show, but it’s more improvisational and interactive, which is just what Ferrante loves to perform.

“I love the rhythms of the Marx Brothers comedy. So much of the comedy today is influenced by that ‘ratta-tat’ style. The economy of the word play and the rhythms and the tempo, it’s just amazing,” he went on. “To work at this level, after over 30 years, that I’m still performing and getting in front of audiences of all ages and getting better in the process; I’m proud that I’m adaptable. To go from directing a musical (“Teatro ZinZanni”) and be a success there and then do my one-man show and be equally received by my peers means a lot.”

This is not Ferrante’s first performance of Groucho in “Freedonia” either. He performed the show at the Opera House roughly 12 years ago, unfortunately that was during the period from 1991-2008 when Marxonia wasn’t going on. He’s followed the tradition for years through his friends, renowned Marx Brothers researcher Paul Wesolowski and friend Matthew Hahn, whose book “The Animated Marx Brothers” will be presented this weekend.

Following this event, Ferrante has more performances of “An Evening with Groucho” scheduled until the end of the year. Then early on next year he’s directing a play by Ken Ludwig called “A Comedy of Tenors,” which is a sequel to “Lend Me a Tenor” in Philadelphia. After that he’ll be spending six months in Chicago, performing his improv-based show “Teatro ZinZanni.”

‘Groucho Marx’ will take the stage Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m. the show is presented with support from an anonymous donor, so it is a pay what you will event, all funds go to benefit the Fredonia Opera House. Tickets can be reserved by calling the box office at 679-1891.