AS WELDON PLUM in BINGOJanuary 2020 First Avenue Playhouse
AS FATHER PATELLA in ITALIAN FAMILY CRISISAugust 2019 First Avenue Playhouse
AS HAROLD THE HERMIT in YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN THE MUSICAL
October 6-22, 2017 Spring Lake Theater
AS SCROOGE in A CHRISTMAS CAROLTHE MUSICAL
December 16-20, 2015 House of Independents, Asbury Park
AS BRUNO in DISORDERLY CONDUCTKaren Meister-- COAST STAR NEWS February 6, 2015
If you are entertained by zany farcical comedies, then I highly recommend the play "Disorderly Conduct"...if you enjoy a "Law and Order" presentation with an "I Love Lucy" overtone, you should find "Disorderly Conduct" very entertaining. This too-funny-for-words comedy will be at the Spring Lake Community House through February 14th.
Philip Dorian-- SCENE ON STAGE February 17, 2015
"Disorderly Conduct" is a formula farce whose only serious aspect is its quest for laughs.
There's no denying that "Disorderly Conduct" is already a crowd-pleaser. In one exchange that's a pip, the hotel manager (Steve Bartlow) mistakes the hit man for the prosecutor. "I'm a fan of what you do," he says. "You know what I do?" is Giacchi's perfect double-take reply. In the play (seen Feb. 13), prosecutor Larry Veal, played by Schweers, is targeted by a mafia don under investigation. Holed up in an Atlantic City hotel suite for an assignation with his secretary (irresistible Krissy Sliwoski), Veal instead finds himself dodging his karate-krazed wife (high-energy Nicole Grassano) and the determined hit man (ace character actor Sal Giacchi).
The secretary (Krissy Sliwoski) and the prosecutor (Gregg Schweers) about to get it on while the hit man (Sal Giacchi) lurks under the bed. (Where else?)
AS SCROOGE in A CHRISTMAS CAROL THE MUSICAL
Performed December 2014 at The Jersey Shore Arts Center, Ocean Grove, NJ
AS BIG JULE IN GUYS AND DOLLS
Karen Meister-- COAST STAR NEWS April 18, 2013
There are a myriad of superlatives that can be used to describe the Spring Lake Theater's recent production of Guys and Dolls, but the first three that come to mind are sensational, amazing and thoroughly entertaining. This performance deserves a very large wow, which was evident from the audience's reactions. We could not laugh or clap enough to the antics on stage.
AS ZOLTAN KARPATHY IN MY FAIR LADYPhoenix Productions, Count Basie and Strand Theatres September 2012
Back stage with Choreographer Jennifer Forzaiti-DaCosta
AS BEN FRANKLIN IN 1776
Karen Meister-- COAST STAR NEWS May 3, 2012
A must see production of the Tony-award winning musical 1776 is currently being performed at The Spring Lake Theatre.
Sal Giacchi is the revered Ben Franklin; he looks and acts as one would picture this wise and admired man.
AS THE SHOE SALESMAN AND THE DENTIST IN ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY
Performed at Brookdale Community College 2011
AS JACOB IN JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
Philip Dorian --THE TWO RIVER TIMES April 11, 2008
Phoenix Productions' Joseph
Joseph provides several opportunities for cameo turns. The better ones here are turned in by Sal Giacchi whose comic timing with Jacob's few lines couldn't be improved.
AS PELINORE IN CAMELOTPhilip Dorian --THE TWO RIVER TIMES March 9, 2007
My Kingdom For A Song
Phoenix Productions reprises "Camelot"Among the others, the usually reliable Sal Giacchi plays the lovable, befuddled old Pellinore strictly for laughs.
Tom Chesek --THE ASBURY PARK PRESS March 9, 2007
No Spam, but lots of shining moments in "Camelot"
As Arthur's decrepit deputy Pelinore, Sal draws the lion's share of laughs in a turn that cements his status as resident comic character specialist.
AS BEN FRANKLIN IN 1776Philip Dorian --THE TWO RIVER TIMES December 22, 2006
10th Annual Normy Awards For Excellence In Monmouth County Community Theatre
Best Trio of Founding Fathers
In Phoenix's stirring 1776, James Marhold, Martin Grubman and Sal Giacchi played John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin. (Or was that really Dr. Franklin?) Normys to them - and whoever made the decision to produce the under-rated musical.
Philip Dorian --THE TWO RIVER TIMES November 10, 2006
Politics - Not As Usual - On Count Basie Stage
Phoenix Productions "1776"Phoenix Productions does a bang-up job with the 1969 award-winning show. Whatever flaws creep into the production are outweighed by the pluses - and by Phoenix's decision to do the show at all.
Benjamin Franklin, "inventor of the stove," is an irascible elder statesman who acknowledges the need for compromise. The ubiquitous character actor Sal Giacchi finds the middle ground between Franklin's philosophical and comical personas. He's excellent. (He even looks like Ben Franklin. Sheesh.)
AS MAX PRINCE IN LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR
Phil Dorian -- Monmouth County Arts Council STATE OF THE ARTS January/February 2006
The 2005 Normy Awards for Community Theatre Achievement
Best Performance(s) As an Old Time Comedy Guy
Did Sid Caesar make the rounds of Monmouth County this year? Nah, it was Sal Giacchi and Bill Rogers in productions of Neil Simon's Laughter on the 23rd Floor at Phoenix's Studio and Monmouth Players' Navesink Library theatres.
Philip Dorian --THE TWO RIVER TIMES February 10, 2005
Laughter On Monmouth Street
How did Laughter on the 23rd Floor escape me all these years? Until last week I hadn't seen the 1993 Neil Simon play. If you've never seen it, or even if you have, you might want to get yourself to Phoenix Productions' Studio Playhouse next to the Count Basie Theatre this weekend, where Phoenix is squeezing every laugh out of the funny play.
Admittedly, much of the comedy is old-time stuff, but the excellent cast carries it off. All nine are admirable, but we can't resist mentioning Sal Giacchi who toils untiringly year after year in all manner of supporting character roles and who is finally in the right place at the right time. Max Prince-cum-Sid Caesar is a leading man, albeit a gruff one, and Sal fills the bill confidently.
AS WALDO FIGMENT IN ON THE TOWN
Philip Dorian --THE TWO RIVER TIMES August 6, 2004
A Fancy Free Musical
"On the Town" on the stage in The Barn
Brooks and Roccaro wreak havoc in the Museum during their amusing duet, much to the dismay of the curator, played by the ubiquitous Sal Giacchi (Is this guy everywhere, or what? Five expert cameos in this show alone.)
Philip Dorian --THE TWO RIVER TIMES December 25, 2003THE 2003 NORMY AWARDS FOR COMMUNITY THEATER ACHIEVEMENT
Ubiquitous Actor Award
Will anyone ever challenge Sal Giacchi for this Normy? We saw him in at least three plays this year. In Phoenix's Sniper and West Side Story he was his gruff self, but in Carousel at the Barn in Thompson Park he widened his repertoire as the gentle Starkeeper. He's probably in rehearsal for something even as you read this.
AS LT. SHRANK IN WEST SIDE STORY
Philip Dorian --THE TWO RIVER TIMES November 7, 2003
West Side Story Revival Worth A Visit
Music and Dance highlight Phoenix Production
I've seen West Side Story another half dozen times over the years, so a certain resignation about covering the show again was natural. I am pleased to report, however, that this repeat visit was a pleasure.
Sal Giacchi humanizes the nasty Lt. Shrank...The show passes two important audience tests: Elation during the balcony scene, and tears at the end. Phoenix president Tom Martini shouldn't beg (his word, not mine) before every performance. Fund raising is an important part of his job, but at point-of-performance it's preaching to the choir. He should let the work speak for itself. West Side Story is saying quality, loud and clear.
A scene from the Phoenix November 2007 production of West Side Story
AS THE STAR KEEPER AND DR. SELDON IN CAROUSEL
Michael Kaabe --THE ASBURY PARK PRESS June 18, 2003
Carousel gets the brass ring
Producer-director Angela Flynn Knox, coreographer Yvonne Scudiery and musical director George Powers have created a clambake that is just bustin' out all over with class, brilliance, and imagination. ...the material is treated with such tender loving care, that the entire experience is just irristable.
Every detail of this show works together marvelously to form one solid, stunning production... Yes, it was a real nice clambake. See it.
Philip Dorian --THE TWO RIVER TIMES June 27, 2003
Step Right Up And Ride This Carousel!
Rather than entering and bowing individually at the end of Monmouth County Park System's Carousel at The Barn in Thompson Park, the entire cast gathers on the stage for one mass curtain call. The shared recognition is altogether fitting, for while there are leading roles and lesser ones, all 34 of these talented individuals contribute meaningfully to one of the finest local productions of a musical I've seen in years.
Sal Giacchi proves himself to be a most reliable character actor once again as the Starkeeper.
A show this good doesn't happen in a vacuum. Flynn Knox (and assistant director Chris Tomaino) made all the right decisions. Casting, staging (no corner of the stage is unused), the intangibles of character relationship: It all works. This is a Carousel to make everyone associated with it -- and the Monmouth County Park System -- proud.
AS PRINCIPAL MACNAMARA IN SNIPERPatrick Carpenter --THE NEW JERSEY THEATRE FORUM February 10, 2003
Yesterday afternoon, I sat in awe at one of the most powerful productions I've ever seen on a community theatre stage. Phoenix Productions in Red Bank presented an original play, Sniper, written by Dr. Bonnie Culver. Sniper is based on an actual incident that took place in upstate New York during the mid 1970's.
Rob McBurnie as his defense attorney and Sal Giacchi as his school principal rounded out the cast with fine performances. They each had smaller roles but performed them to perfection.
Director Bill Van Sant and producer Michelle Mulvihill have got to be proud of this production. They could not have asked for a better cast.
AS HORACE VANDEGELDER IN HELLO DOLLYPhilip Dorian -- THE TWO RIVER TIMES June 21, 2002
Sal Giacchi owns the patent on gruff comic characters, Horace is another notch on the veteran actor's resume.
AS JACOB IN JOSEPH AND THE TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOATPhilip Dorian -- THE TWO RIVER TIMES September 20, 2001
"Thanks...We Needed This"
Theatre as Therapy: The Show Goes OnThe opening of Phoenix Productions' Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Count Basie Theatre had been scheduled for Friday September 15th, not close enough to the 11th to warrent a postponement. Phoenix's powers-that-be, Board President Tom Martini, Joseph producer Wayne Peck and director Todd Aikens, decided to hold rehearsals as scheduled on Tuesday evening, believing that cast members might want a central rallying place. Of the fifty cast members, nearly 40 showed up.
It may not be coincidental that it was the best production of Joseph I've seen, and while this is as abbreviated a review as you'll ever read, the musical is playing this weekend and is a thoroughly diverting couple of hours.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was performed September 14--23, 2001, Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, NJ.
Over $5,000 was raised during intermissions for the Red Cross September 11 Fund.
MORE
