Babbaro to headline concerts at Playhouse

March 31, 2016 at 12:05a.m.

By GUY D’ASTOLFO

YOUNGSTOWN

Angelo Babbaro and Friends, accompanied by a big band led by Thomas Ruggieri, will perform two shows – 2 and 7 p.m. – on Sunday at the Youngstown Playhouse.

Proceeds benefit the Rich Center for autism research at Youngstown State University.

Babbaro, a Sinatra-style singer, will be joined by vocalists Rachel Ruggieri, Cassie Mosure-Oles, Judy Castronova and Dennis Colla.

Tickets are $30 (or four for $100) at the door or in advance by calling 330-788-8739.

Babbaro, a Canfield native, has been touring the country as part of Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack, a theatrical show. He plays the role of Sinatra.

The Rat Pack show is Babbaro’s first touring production, and he said the experience has been invaluable. “I’ve done about 50 shows so far in beautiful theaters and learned everything that you can’t learn in a book,” he said.

Sunday’s performances at the Youngstown Playhouse will be a variety show, with humorous skits and duets. Babbaro will be involved in about a dozen of the 20 songs. “I do a medley of songs with Dennis [Colla], and we also showcase the band,” he said. “It’s an all-star band of local players.”

The show is an hour and 40 minutes, without intermission. The event also will include an art show and a gift basket raffle.

Ron Verb, the talk-show host of WKBN-AM 570 radio, will be the emcee.

Babbaro said performing at the Playhouse brings him full circle.

“I was on the crew, pulling riggings for ‘The King and I’ at the Playhouse when I was a kid back in 1978,” he said. “To stand on that stage was a thrill for the 12- or 13-year-old that I was, and if someone would have said then, ‘You will hold a show here one day,’ I’d have said, ‘You’re nuts.’”