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Chazz Palminteri To Give Advice At Westchester Theatre

UPDATED Nov. 5: Because of the hurricane, the show has been rescheduled to Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m.

Actor and writer Chazz Palminteri will visit the Westchester Broadway Theatre in Elmsford to share his experiences and offer acting advice.

Actor and writer Chazz Palminteri will visit the Westchester Broadway Theatre in Elmsford to share his experiences and offer acting advice.

Photo Credit: Westchester Broadway Theatre

ELMSFORD, N.Y. — He's played a U.S. customs agent in "The Usual Suspect" and a mobster in "A Bronx Tale," but Chazz Palminteri will be starring as himself on Oct. 29 at Elmsford's Westchester Broadway Theatre.

The actor, writer and producer hosts a radio talk show and created AskChazz.com to answer questions for other aspiring entertainment-hopefuls looking to get into the industry. At the Westchester Broadway Theatre appearance he will give audience members an opportunity to hear his stories and ask questions on how to develop a career of their own.

"When I first started, I didn't have anybody to help me," Palminteri said. "In entertainment, everybody tells you 'no'. I tell people 'Go try it.'" 

The Bronx native, who now lives in Bedford, started the website about five months ago, and when things started to take off, Scott Greenstein, president of Sirius XM Radio, offered Palminteri an opportunity to do a weekly radio show. 

"It just kind of blew up, and people love it," Palminteri said. "They call in and ask for advice, how to get into the industry. But it's also about life — people will call up to talk about the Yankees."

The AskChazz.com website also features a "Show Me Your Work" section where users can send in monologues and skits and receive Palminteri's feedback.

In addition to the website and radio talk show, Palminteri is still heavily involved in the industry, with cameo roles in television series like "Modern Family" and "Rizzoli and Isles" and four movies on the way for 2013.

It's a hectic schedule, he said, but after hearing from people contact him saying he's helped them succeed, it's worth it. 

"You have a life here, you've got to make the best of it. This is it," he said. "I want to do as much as I can to help people. All of these people are so happy because of it — you've got to see their faces. It's really amazing."

"A Very Special Evening with Chazz Palminteri" will begin at 6:30 p.m. and all proceeds will benefit The Lighthouse Youth Theatre, which provides arts education to Westchester youth. For more information, visit the Westchester Broadway Theatre's website.

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