Rocco Does Broadway via Chicago

By JULIETTE ROSSANT Have you missed Rocco DiSpirito? He is coming back to New York, reincarnated. The New York Daily News reports: Rocco Dispirito could be moving from the kitchen to Broadway. We hear the celeb chef has been huddling with producers Fran and Barry Weissler about joining the cast of Chicago. DiSpirito's rep confirms the talks, but says nothing's set. There have been plenty of chefs on Broadway in shows, most notably in Chef's Theater, where everyone from Tyler Florence toMary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, and Todd English made an obligatory appearace, preparing a meal on stage in the midst of a review. But in that musical review, the chefs weren't required to do more than perform as chefs: they cooked for the audience. Rocco is going to be acting, and not in the kitchen. If Usher (who is signed up to perform Billy starting on August 22nd) can do it, why not Rocco? And a slew of chefs have already acted in canned formats. Chris Maher on the big and small screens. Nobu Matsuhisa has appeared in movies like Casino, Austin Powers in Goldmember, and Memoirs of a Geisha. Charlie Trotter appeared in My Best Friend's Wedding. So why not Rocco in Chicago? Maybe all those fans he hooked on the radio will follow him to Broadway. One suspects Rocco will be better playing someone else than he did when playing himself in The Restaurant. Maybe he can act and cook, a la the late, great Ismail Merchant -- now that's a tough act to follow, and worthy of the effort. Go for it, Rocco! Break a leg! Previous articles: Rocco Right Now Foie Gras War: Rocco Saves Seals Rossant on Rocco: New York Daily News Rocco DiSpirito: Super Duper Bowl "F" is for... "Rocco"? Xmas Spirits: "Club Rocco" Brand? Rocco DiSpirito Wins TV Turkey Dinner Rocco DiSpirito: Pretty in Pink? Rocco DiSpirito: Ridiculed in the Rainbow Room More Reality TV Chefs (or Less)? Video Killed the Radio Star: Can Radio Resurrect Rocco DiSpirito? Rocco DiSpirito: Be Warned by Me! Claude Troisgros: Riding de Rocco DiSpirito Star Rocco Barred from Reality TV Restaurant Rocco: Trapped in Reality TV's Twilight Zone? Technorati Tags: superchefblog, Juliette Rossant, super chef, celebrities, chefs, food, restaurants, cooking, branding, cuisine, blogging, food blogging --> back to superchefblog