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The Villages
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Villages entertainers to team up in benefit for Rotary Club of The Villages

Gary DeLena as Jesus comforts Judas played by Alex Santoriello.
Gary DeLena, left, and  Alex Santoriello just completed a successful run in “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

Gary DeLena is one of those big-city boppers enchanted by The Villages.

“I loved it here from the moment I arrived. It’s cool to jump in golf cart and drive around all day – I might move here,” said the New York City comic/actor/musician. He will team with old buddy Alex Santoriello, April 19-20 at 7 p.m. in Savannah Center. Proceeds will benefit Rotary Club of The Villages.

DeLena came here this month to perform the title role in the local, smash-hit musical “Jesus Christ Superstar, directed and starring Santoriello.

Now, DeLena and Santoriello will team up for family-oriented show named “Call It What You Will?”  They describe it this way: “a professional singer who loves to play the fool, meeting the professional fool who loves to sing.”

They don’t say which fool is which – but these two stage veterans guarantee a good time for the audience.

DeLena does “rock and roll” comedy and performed at clubs throughout the U.S. He’s shared comedy stages with such big names as Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Ray Romano, Chris Rock and Louis CK.

But being with Santoriello is special for him.

Alex Santoriello starred in Man of La Mancha in The Villages and will do so again this summer in Pennsylvania.
Alex Santoriello starred in Man of La Mancha in The Villages and will do so again this summer in Pennsylvania.

“It’s always fun to work with Alex; he’s the one who brought me to The Villages,” DeLena said.

“We’ve known each other for 30 years back in the old days in New York,” said Santoriello, who played on Broadway in the original cast of “Les Miserables,” among other shows.

Since coming to The Villages a couple years ago, Santoriello, 60, has been a major force in local musical productions. He starred and directed “Man of La Mancha” “Guys and Dolls” and “…Superstar.”

“But I haven’t done a live, one-man stage show,” Santoriello said. “This will give me a chance, to sing, perform and share my life story.”

He favors power-ballads and Broadway show tunes. Among the songs Santoriello expects to perform are: “Bring Him Home” (From Les Miz); “The Impossible Dream” (Man of La Mancha) and “Music of The Night” (The Phantom).

Santoriello ran a nightclub called The Lexy Bar in Barbados for years. He liked to sing at the piano bar.

“I’m hoping to create the same kind of atmosphere in this show,” he said. “I want people to sing-a-long and lend a hand. We’re all going to share this night.”

Santoriello said Ken McBride “Himself” of The Villages Rotary Club will also appear. “He’s a lot of fun,” added  Santoriello, a Rotarian.

DeLena is also good for some laughs.

“Gary is a writer and he likes to be current,” Santoriello said. “He’s going to be doing material about being in The Villages. I think people here are going to enjoy listening to his experiences.”

It’s going to be a busy summer for Santoriello. He’s headed up to Pennsylvania to do a couple of shows at The Nittany Theatre at The Barn, at Penn State University. He will star in “Treasure Island” and “Man of La Mancha.”

Villagers Dave and Laura Saxe founded the Theatre and were impressed by Santoriello’s work in The Villages.

“There are so many good people in The Villages and I’m very lucky to be here with them,” Santoriello said.   

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