About me

I come from a big, loud Italian family where stories get told with hand gestures and volume is a love language. I’m a proud Chicago transplant who moved to Arizona sort of post pandemic in 2021 —fully convinced I was retiring from the stage for good. But Arizona had other plans. Turns out, this state has a passionate, thriving theatre community, and before long, I was right back doing what I love most: performing.

I’ve been part of the theatre world for over 35 years and, like most performers, probably came out of the womb singing “Everything’s Coming Up Roses.” When I’m not under the lights, you can find me volunteering in my community with organizations like Feed the Children, Feed My Starving Children, and The Phoenix Children’s Hospital—or in my kitchen baking up a storm for family, friends, and cast mates alike.

I’m married to my beautiful wife Deb and surrounded by the best circle of friends a person could ask for. My pink hair—an impulse decision during COVID—has since become my signature, and honestly, I love it that way. I wasn’t lucky enough to have children of my own, so I’ve happily adopted all the kids I meet as “Auntie Pink Hair”, and it’s become one of my favorite roles yet.

Reviews

  • "Together, they form a kind of communal narrator, part Greek chorus, part block party. Each performer embodies their character so well, you feel that by the end of the production you’ve just made six new best friends. They speak directly to us and sometimes to each other, though often the deepest truths arrive through song. Writer Viertel wisely lets the music carry the soul of the piece, and it’s a memorable songbook he’s assembled."

    David Appleford, BroadwayWorld

  • "Gina Guarino is simply delicious as the evil character you love to hate, Ursula. Guarino's commanding stage presence makes you follow her every move and her voice soars on her songs with immense clarity and diction."

    Gil Benbrook, Talkin’ Broadway

  • "Gina Guarino is just as good as Mae, the domineering mother from hell. She wrings every ounce of humor from every line of dialogue and scene she has, including bringing the house down on opening night by simply showing the top of her panty hose. When a performer gets huge exit applause at the end of a scene, like both she and Coris received numerous times at the performance I attended, you know they are highly talented comic actors."

    Gil Benbrook, Talkin’ Broadway

  • "Meanwhile, Gina Guarino brought down the house. From her first lines, her natural comedic ability stood out, and as the show went on we came to eagerly anticipate her every word. By the time she belted out the fantastically funny "He Vas My Boyfriend," we were completely in love. Guarino has the stage presence, vocals and comedic genius to go far, and we'd go to another show just to see her."

    Third Coast Review, Chicago Arts and Culture

Fun Facts

Likes:
Baking, cooking, volunteering, hiking, kayaking, traveling, weight lifting, cocktails & brunch, Indian cuisine, Barbra Streisand anything & watching the entire Golden Girls series for the 8th millionth time.

Dislikes:
Peas.

One thing about me you’d never guess:
I had gastric bypass surgery back in 2018 and have lost (and maintained) a 160 pound weight loss. My Instagram fat2fab_RNY was started for personal accountability, but ended up reaching 7K+ followers. I am very proud and extremely grateful that it has helped reach so many pre-op and post-op patients (and those debating surgery), all while helping to break the stigma against surgical weight loss intervention.