The Man Behind the Moustache: Local production showcases Groucho Marx's life

ZELIENOPLE -- What may seem like simple humor from the late comedian Groucho Marx has a complex man behind it, said the star of an upcoming Strand Theater musical about him.

"(Marx) is a complex man; he is not what people think. He was much more than the comedy," said Jeremy Czarniak of Bridgeville, who also serves as associate director of theater operations at The Strand.

"Groucho: A Life in Revue" was written by Robert Fisher and Arthur Marx, the comic's son.

"The hardest part of being Groucho is living his whole life in every performance and experiencing those emotions every night," Czarniak said.

Some years ago, Czarniak was cast as Groucho in "A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine," and that began his fascination with the man.

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"I had heard of the Marx Brothers, but just vaguely. When I started to learn about Groucho, I became incredibly fascinated by the Marx Brothers phenomenon and I still am," Czarniak said.

The Marx Brothers -- comprised of real-life nicknamed brothers Chico, Zeppo, Harpo, Gummo and Groucho, who was the oldest -- performed vaudeville-style slapstick comedy and were most popular between the 1920s and 1940s.

Czarniak, 46, reads all he can about the Marx Brothers and has watched episodes of the TV show, "You Bet Your Life," which Groucho hosted from 1947 to 1960, and for one more year under the name "The Groucho Show."

"The audience will get a lot of the signature Groucho comedy but they will also learn about where the comedy came from," Czarniak said.

Czarniak brought the role to life at Upper St. Clair High School, followed by its critically acclaimed run at The Hazlett Theater in Pittsburgh, and performances at The Theatre Factory in Trafford. He then took the show on the road to The Gilbert Theatre in Fayetteville, N.C.

The Zelienople production, directed by Czarniak, also includes includes veteran actor Michael Marra as Chico, Tal Kroser as Harpo and Chelsea Bartel as the women in Groucho's life.

Marra, has appeared in a number of productions at The Strand, most recently in "Big River." He has extensive theater credits including Broadway productions and a national tour of "Les Miserables."

Kroser, a veteran actor making his Strand Theater debut, has appeared at the Pittsburgh Playhouse and Prime Stage.

Bartel, also making her Strand Theater debut, has appeared at a number of theaters including The Theater Factor and Prime Stage.

Czarniak graduated from Point Park University in 1992 and from Goddard College in 2013. He is a faculty member at Pittsburgh Musical Theater and Robert Morris University. He joined The Strand staff in 2015 and directs most of the productions there.