FULLY COMMITTED to Play Broward Center, Begin. 1/8

John Manzelli stars in Fully Committed, a deliciously funny look at life in an A-List restaurant, from Thursday, January 8 through Sunday, February 1 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

Fully Committed (that's restaurant-speak for "no tables available" unless you're a supermodel, socialite or other VIP) is a one-man show starring John Manzelli who gives a tour-de-force performance as a high-strung maître d' named Sam plus 39 other characters, including scheming socialites, name-dropping wannabes, fickle celebrities and egomaniacal bosses. Sam, an out-of-work actor who mans the red-hot reservation line at Manhattan's number-one restaurant juggles coercion, threats and bribes for prime tables, while contending with hopes for a choice part at Lincoln Center and his recently widowed dad who wants him home.

A South Florida native, Manzelli spent years working in New York City on stage and in television and has starred in wildly successful productions of this one-act comedy at Mississippi's New Stage and New Jersey's Tri-State Actors Theatre.

Locally, Manzelli has appeared in The Lonesome West for The Naked Stage, and Betrayed at Gablestage while, on screen, he has portrayed the recurring character of Sol Drucker for two seasons on Magic City and has also appeared in Burn Notice, The Glades and Third Watch. In addition to performing, he is currently producing artistic director of City Theatre and serves as an Associate Professor of Theatre at Barry University.

In 2001, Fully Committed was the first production ever produced by the Broward Center. In a review of that performance, the Sun-Sentinel reported, "One-man shows don't deserve to be this funny. There are enough laughs in Fully Committed to keep a whole comedy troupe in business for a season... But these aren't just inside jokes for harried hospitality workers; Fully Committed also is a diner's delight and everybody has to eat sometime."

The new production is directed by Hugh Murphy and Manzelli with a creative team that includes sound designer Matt Corey and lighting designer Preston Bicher.

The show's restaurant theme makes it a natural fit as the second show in the inaugural Abdo New River Room Theater Series. This "dinner theater" experience combines great food and big laughs for an exceptional dining and theater outing. Audiences are invited to enjoy drinks and a modern menu with table service that begins one hour prior to the performance and resumes during intermission in the newly designed cabaret-style space.

Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. from January 8 to February 1. Tickets for the performance only are $45 and do not include food, beverage or gratuity.

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