Fifteen-year-old Paul Iacono of Secaucus is appearing in a New York City musical called “The Parrot.”
The musical play, being presented at the Flea Family Festival Theater, is inspired by an old Italian folk tale. It’s a story about a prince who loves a merchant’s beautiful daughter from afar and asks a sorceress to turn him into a parrot. As a parrot, he tells her stories. The play combines music, masks, and puppetry to create a sophisticated and unique theatrical experience.
“This is not the biggest role in the play, but he likes doing it,” said his father, Town Administrator Anthony Iacono.
Paul is a Leukemia survivor named the National Youth Ambassador by the The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Paul was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia in 1997 but has since made a full recovery. A singer and performer on stage, in film and on television, Paul has appeared in soap operas, The Rosie O’Donnell Show and Late Night with Conan O’Brien.
In addition, Paul has extensive credits in local theater, performing in the role of Patrick Dennis in Mame, the title role in Oliver, and Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol. He is also an accomplished singer and particularly likes to sing songs recorded by Frank Sinatra.
In September 2002, Paul entered the prestigious High School for Performing Arts in New York City.
Two years ago, Paul was along 97 kids statewide who had been invited to join the Paper Mill Playhouse’s “New Voices” program, part of the Paper Mill Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory.
Paul is one of those natural talents who had already impressed his family with his singing by the time he was 3 years old. By age 6, Paul was already a prominent player in the Park Theater’s yearly production of “A Christmas Carol,” playing the role of Tiny Tim. And over the years he has developed a string of accomplishments few twice his age could brag about, from singing the national anthem before a New Jersey Nets basketball game to playing side by side with Mickey Rooney in a national tour of “The Wizard of Oz.”
He has performed several times at Paper Mill Playhouse in plays like “Mame,” “The Will Rogers Follies,” and “Children of Eden.”
“The Parrot” is running until Feb. 22 on Wednesdays at 11 a.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. There are added Sunday Matinees on Feb. 8 at 1 p.m. and Feb. 15 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., and Feb 22 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. All seats are $20 ($15 preview before Feb. 8). For individual tickets call: (212) 352-3101. The theater is located at 41 White St. in New York City.
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