www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, May 7, 2010 · 38 Artscene SUBMITTED PHOTO ACTING OUT IN OAKVILLE: The cast of Acting Out, in back, from left, Danny Wengle, Joe Parro, Robert Mauriell; in front, Jean Daigle, Adrianne Daigle and Christina Collins. Actors stay home for new dinner theatre By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Long-time Oakville actor and businessman Joey Parro is tired of going to Toronto to do and see what he loves best. So he and a fellow suburbandwelling actor, Jean Daigle, have teamed up to open a dinner-theatre company on the Burlington-Oakville border, much closer to home. "Maturing cities like Oakville, Mississauga and Burlington are absolutely ready to support a firstrate dinner theatre," Parro said. "Not only will our patrons not have to deal with the expenses, hassles and headaches of getting into downtown Toronto for a quality night out -- we can offer that same quality night out close to home and for less money." The company holds its inaugural performance Friday, May 7 at its partner restaurant location, the Atrium, with a cast of six professional actors, including Parro and Daigle. Daigle is directing as well. Parro has more than 20 years of acting experience and has appeared in Hollywood movies such as Hairspray and the sequel to the Boondock Saints, All Saints Day. But aside from acting, he's also had managerial roles. He owned his own club, called The Hip, in Oakville and for the past seven years he's been director of VIP hospitality at the Molson Amphitheatre. With the creation of Acting Out Dinner Theatre he has a chance to be both actor and businessman. Daigle of Mississauga also has a lengthy list of credits. Both worked at Toronto's Mysteriously Yours Dinner Theatre where Daigle has been for more than 20 years. "We said why don't we do something here on our own?" Parro said. He began looking for a restaurant to buy when the Atrium on North Service Road was suggested, not to buy but for a partnership. "I went over, looked at the place. It was perfect. It was a perfect venue." Now Atrium will provide the food, while Acting Out will provide the entertainment. The restaurant has a 140-person capacity and has several hotels in its vicinity. "It was a nice marriage," the Oakville actor said. The first performance will be 'Til Death Do Us Part -- The Sopranos' Final Chapter: A Murder-Mystery Parody. Featured in the play will be characters well known to fans of the hit-television series on which the play is based, including some characters created for the stage production. To pair the Italian mob feel of the performance to the food, the opening show will include bruschetta and Caesar salad to start with chicken parmesan, roasted potatoes and seasoned vegetables for the main course. Desert is tiramisu and coffee and tea are unlimited. The menu will be expanded in the future and a vegetarian alternative is available, but must be specified at the time of the reservation. "Jean and I sent our wives for a tasting so that our excitement wouldn't overshadow what the taste of the food was and they came back raving about it." Parro, an Italian himself, will play one of the added characters, an exmodel, wedding planner named Fabio. "Fabio, the ashamed, ex-model," Parro said of his role. "I love it. It's a really fun role that crosses between Roberto Benigni's character in Life is Beautiful to Joey Tribbiani (Friends character). He's a lot of fun." The production follows Tony Soprano after the television series finale in a funny performance at a wedding. The basis of the show is that all patrons are guests at the wedding. Then Tony Soprano discovers his psychiatrist was murdered and placed in his SUV and everyone becomes a suspect, including the audience members, who are expected to participate. Parro said he's confident his new venture will be a success. He said many years ago he was involved with Oakville's community theatre groups and the response they got then was great and that support for theatre hasn't waned over the years in Oakville. "We've got the right demographic," he said. "We're 20 minutes from Hamilton, we're 20 minutes from Mississauga. Oakville, Milton and Burlington have huge growing populations. We're a sophisticated type of people living here that enjoys theatre and as a resident here it would be nice to have something here where you can go out with a group of people, be entertained and have a great dinner." Shows are Fridays and Saturdays beginning May 7. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $68. Group rate discounts are available and discounted Wednesday matinee shows are also in the works. Reservations are required. For more information, visit www.actingout.ca and for reservations call 905-273-7654.