"Everybody's Buddy", a musical about the life of Cincinnati pizza-king Buddy LaRosa, premiered at the College of Mount St. Joseph last week. A 16 member orchestra from University of Cincinnati College and Conservatory of Music played the catchy tunes while the 15 member cast portrayed vital scenes from LaRosa's life, from birth to the present day.
Jared Moore, a Northern Kentucky University graduate, starred as Buddy. Other key parts were Gabby (Buddy's guardian angel) played by Patrick Thernes, a student at the College of Mount St. Joseph; JoAnn (Buddy's wife) played by Becca Trimbur, a student at Western Kentucky University; Grandma Pizano (Buddy's maternal grandmother) played by the famous Stacey Sands of the Cincinnati Opera, and Aunt Deena (Buddy's aunt who created LaRosa's famous pizza sauce) played by Buddy's niece, Patricia LaRosa. The other cast members took on several different parts: Heather Roush, a graduate of Northern Kentucky University, played Mary (Buddy's mother) and was a member of the chorus; Neil Geoppinger, Jeremy Aldridge, and Sebastian LaRosa all played Buddy's cousins along with being members of the chorus; Sebastian, Buddy's grandson, also acted as Tony (Buddy's father). Andrew Maloney and Hannah Barteck, both students at Northern Kentucky University, had a featured tap number as the "Cotton Club Dancers", and held several other parts throughout the show; and finally, Courtni Nicolaci (Mrs. Russo), Heather Kailholz, Molly Moran, and Anna Marsala (Sciano's Pizzeria vendor) all starred as chorus members. A crew of 9 made sure things ran smoothly on the logistical side of the show: Pete (head sound technician) and Barb (head stage manager) Hamilton, Barry Leinhart (head lighting technician), Michael Heckmann (follow spot), Kat Taylor (assistant stage manager), and Ben Hamilton, Rick Norris, Shelby Heinrich, and Andi Schmidt (running crew).
The show highlighted key events and major accomplishments in LaRosa's life, from the time he was 14, helping Aunt Deena with her sauce at the Italian Festival Weekend; through his time in the Navy in Philadelphia, where he came up with the idea for LaRosa's Pizzeria; to the opening of the first restaurant, which quickly blossomed into 15 pizzerias and a commissary. Fighting obstacles of all shapes and sizes - from losing his initial business partners to having to rebuild his commissary after a four-alarm fire - did not make LaRosa's climb to success simple. Yet throughout it all, he maintained a generous, compassionate nature, which he has become so famous for.
The musical was produced as an 80th birthday gift to its inspiration. "I never thought I'd make it to 80," said LaRosa with a chuckle. Director Dick Ruehrwein and wife Lillian have been working on the production for 9 months and were overjoyed to see their labors come to fruition. "Everybody's Buddy" ran at the College from August 11-14. Large, appreciative crowds really seemed to enjoy the show each night, with Saturday being a sold out performance. And in a spirit of giving - as usual - all proceeds from the show went to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. I think it's safe to say that "Everybody's Buddy" deserved the nightly standing ovation it received.
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