New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu


Rich Francese's Italian American Comedy All Stars

Thursday, August 21, 2025 @ 7:30pm

Carteret Performing Arts Center
46 Washington Ave, Carteret, NJ 07008

Rich Francese’s Italian American Comedy All Stars is a fast-paced, unpredictable, and hysterically funny show.

The show consists of National Headliners Rich Francese, Eric Tartaglione, and Frank Santorelli, who are all our proud Italian Americans.

Special Guest, Fred Rubino opens the show.

Join them as they discuss family, friends, things that annoy them (An Italian specialty), growing up Italian, dating, marriage, and then raising their own kids.  It’s like being at Sunday dinner with hundreds of guests, with some of the funniest people on Earth stirring the pot. So come on down and enjoy what is sure to be the funniest night of your life. Let’s do it Italian Style!

RICH FRANCESE: Funny how? Rich will show you how funny. A Regular at the prestigious Gotham Comedy Club in NYC, and the world famous Comedy Cellar in NYC, Rich is legendary for his intelligent and well-crafted material and improvisational genius on stage, he’s a killer! Rich also was a writer for Saturday Night Live coupled with an occasional sketch appearance. He also starred in The Italian American comedy touring stand up and sketch show “What Are You Looking At?” which was presented by many of the best theaters on the East Coast.  He was also selected to perform at the prestigious Montreal Comedy Festival.

ERIC TARTAGLIONE: A dynamo on stage, Eric’s high energy and high likability translates into rapid fire laughs.  A national headliner, Eric is known for poking fun at his Italian upbringing and his shortcomings dealing with everyday life.  A multi-talented artist, Eric co-wrote and co-starred in the award winning Italian American themed play, “Shut up, Sit Down, and Eat!”

FRANK SANTORELLI: A native of Boston, Frank Santorelli has been in the Comedy Scene for over fifteen years. Frank was a regular on HBO’s “The Soprano’s” playing ‘Georgie’, the bartender at the Bada-Bing. He has been seen on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, VH-1, MTV, HBO, Showtime, Comedy Showcase with Louie Anderson, Conan O’Brien, Evening at the Improv, A&E’s Caroline’s Comedy Hour and clubs all across the country. You may also remember him as the “Elevator Guy” from Short Attention Span Theater on Comedy Central. 

SPECIAL GUEST, FRED RUBINO: Fred Rubino is a standup comic from Brooklyn New York who performs all over the East Coast from comedy clubs to casinos and resorts. He has been called the “voice of American Italians”.




For information on how your event can be listed, click here



 

Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month,
click here for info


 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Arden

Arden Children's Theatre presents "The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales"

(PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- This spring, Arden Children's Theatre invites families into a hilariously twisted world where classic fairy tales don't go quite as expected in its next production of the 2025/26 season, The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales (The Stinky Cheese Man). Based on the beloved book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith, adapted by John Glore, the production brings the book's fractured fairy tales to life for kids and adults alike. Directed by Steve Pacek, the production runs on the Arden’s Arcadia stage with previews starting April 8, opening night on April 18, with performances running through May 31.



Haddon

Haddon Township to Hold 4th Annual String Band Parade

(HADDON TOWNSHIP, NJ) -- The Camden County Board of Commissioners, along with Haddon Township, invites residents and visitors to the fourth annual String Band Parade down Haddon Ave, featuring the Philadelphia Mummers String Bands on Saturday, May 30, 2026 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. (note: it was rescheduled from April 25th due to the weather)



Hitchcock

Hitchcock Meets Hilarious: Bergen County Players presents "The 39 Steps"

(ORADELL, NJ) -- Fresh off being named the top live music or theater venue by 201 Magazine's "Best of Bergen" readers, Bergen County Players (BCP) invites audiences to brace themselves for a whirlwind of espionage and outrageous comedy with the Tony Award-winning The 39 Steps, which runs weekends from May 2-31, 2026. Directed by BCP life member Steve Bell, this breakneck adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 film classic blends film noir suspense with Monty Python-style absurdity.



McCarter

McCarter Theatre Center presents "Mrs. Christie" - a new comedy-mystery by Heidi Armbruster

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- McCarter Theatre Center presents Mrs. Christie, a witty new comedy-mystery by Heidi Armbruster, from May 6–31, 2026. The production is directed by BOLD Associate Artistic Director Donya K. Washington in her McCarter directorial debut.



The

The Barn Theatre presents Monty Python's "Spamalot"

(MONTVILLE, NJ) -- The Barn Theatre presents Monty Python's Spamalot weekends from May 15 through June 6, 2026. King Arthur's legendary quest for the Holy Grail gets a hilarious twist in this uproarious musical, lovingly ripped from the 1975 classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail.






 

Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month,
click here for info




LATEST COLUMNS


Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Bike in the Ocean" by Kevin Hill & Secret Sound

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "Bike in the Ocean,"a single from "Day/Night," the new album by Kevin Hill & Secret Sound.




Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites... 05/28/2026

It has been said before that time travel was a pipe dream, impossible, a crazy Einstein theory but today, thanks to the wonder of the internet, there is a growing consensus that it may be very possible but what if this space can prove it's not only possible but for a few hours now and it's quite probable?




Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Shine" by Helen O'Shea feat. Michelle Moore

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "Shine" by Princeton singer-songwriter Helen O'Shea. The song from Helen's latest album, "Songs in the Key O," features E Street Band backing vocalist Michelle Moore.




This Week in Music

Here is a look at shows taking place this week along with our featured listings and a look at some upcoming shows. New Jersey Stage offers previews of concerts throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas