RAVES / BIO
"Chuck Caruso generates lots of laughs."
-BWW Reviews, "Memphis" National Tour
"Chuck Caruso's Edna Turnblad - Edna is always played by a male, in honor of the star of the original movie, Divine - is a delightful portrayal of the mother whose heart is as oversized as the rest of her, and who manages to keep that heart in the right place all the time."
-BWW Reviews, "Hairspray" Lancaster, PA
"Chuck Caruso, as her mom, Edna, was a comic genius."
-irresistable unsolicited TripAdvisor review, "Hairspray" Lancaster, PA
"Caruso is SUPER as The Big Bopper!"
-Lancaster Online, "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story" PA
"Caruso balances between the gruff side of the ogre and his tender side. One of his best vocals was in the second act, “When Words Fail.”
-Theatre Sensation, "Shrek The Musical" FL
"Caruso demands respect as Old Deuteronomy."
-Sarasota Herald-Tribune, "Cats" FL
Chuck Caruso has been acting since age 8. He was a regular with the lauded Act 2 Performing Arts Center in Glen Rock, NJ performing in sixteen fully staged musicals during his four years of high school. His high school honored him with senior distinction in three departments: vocal music, drama, and instrumental music.
Chuck then attended Richard Stockton University in Pomona, New Jersey, receiving a BA in Acting from the school. This theatre program produces well-rounded performers who hold an appreciation for the goings-on both in front of and behind the curtain. The school keeps its roster at 35 majors, to insure an immersion in the process as well as the craft of creating a role. His crowning scholastic achievement was a nomination by the faculty to the ACTF for his portrayal of John Proctor in Arthur Miller's "The Crucible."
Mr. Caruso began his professional career one week following graduation with a summer season at what is now the Palace Theatre in Manchester, NH. This was quickly followed by a national children's theatre tour and an 18-month stint at the well-loved Great American Melodrama and Vaudeville in central California. Next came 1.5 years with Disney Cruise Line and a 10 month contract as part of an acappella quartet in the Grand Opening cast of The Disney Company's Tokyo Disney Sea.
In 1999-2000, Pat McCorkle cast Chuck as "Trake Bedeker" in the Comedy Central sleeper cult hit "Strangers With Candy" (produced by Jerry Kupfer) where he got to work with the likes of Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Amy Sedaris, and Paul Dinello. Directors included Peter Lauer and Bob Balaban.
Chuck then began a 10-year relationship with the Prather Entertainment Group, performing in over 50 productions at the company's venues in PA, AZ, and FL. He also hit the road on six more national tours including Memphis, Fiddler on The Roof, Man of La Mancha, Footloose and A Christmas Story.
In his spare time, Chuck enjoys travel, comic improv, cooking, sketch comedy and walking behind people with pets and narrating their conversations.