Here to impress

Friday, Nov. 14, 2003 | 5:58 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION Nov. 15 - 16, 2003

Stephen Sorrentino is a rocket man, hurdling through the entertainment universe, determined to reach stardom.

It is a passion that has powered his engine since he was a child growing up on Long Island.

Considered by some to be one of the world's top Elton John impressionists, Sorrentino has taken the fame he has received from that talent and launched a career that includes stage, screen and television.

He frequently opens for such performers as Dennis Miller and Dana Carvey at Paris Las Vegas and other venues around town.

His "Voices in My Head" concert -- in which he draws from more than 100 impressions, sings, jokes and plays a variety of musical instruments -- is in demand around the country.

Sorrentino has made a handful of independent films, with more on the horizon. He writes songs and movie scripts, does stand-up comedy, sings and acts.

Sitting in the living room of his home at The Lakes, surrounded by walls covered with autographs of famous people and show business memorabilia, the energetic, 38-year-old entertainer recently discussed his budding career with the Las Vegas Sun.

Las Vegas Sun: How did you acquire this consuming desire to be in show business?

Stephen Sorrentino: It's just something I've always wanted to do. I'm a third-generation entertainer. My parents and my grandfather were professional singers, performing at weddings and bar mitzvahs. They had a small amount of fame on Long Island. For them to get their names in the paper was a big deal.

Sun: So they inspired you to get into the business?

SS: Actually they always discouraged me. My parents didn't want me to do it. They said it was a dead end, too competitive. But even when I was in the sixth grade I was doing impressions. A friend of mine and I would do "The Tonight Show," with him playing the part of Johnny Carson and me being all of the guests -- like Alfred Hitchcock and Peter Falk. Jerry Lewis was always one of my favorites.

Sun: When did you turn professional?

SS: I was a wedding singer back East for 13 years ... I'm going to write a book someday called "True Confessions of a Real Wedding Singer."

I decided that I had had it, I couldn't do the wedding thing anymore -- I couldn't sing "Daddy's Little Girl" again. I knew I could do more. Everyone used to come to me and say I had a great voice, so I became an Elton John impersonator.

Sun: How did that affect your career?

SS: Elton John opened up everything for me. Within two years I got international recognition. I signed a contract with John Stuart's "Legends in Concert," performing back East. Then in 1997 Stuart brought me to Vegas to perform in "Legends" at the Imperial Palace. I came for three months and stayed for nine, then I was on my own.

Sun: Is that when you developed "Voices in My Head?"

SS: No, I wrote that show while I was in Atlantic City. I saw an impressionist there from Portugal that sucked. I watched him and I said I do all the same impressions, but I could do them better. It has taken this long for the show to get somewhere. It has come into its own.

Sun: What made you give up "Legends in Concert?"

SS: I consider myself to be a musical comedian. I didn't want to do the same show every night. I wanted to keep changing, so I left the Imperial Palace.

Before that I had done an independent film called "Happy Heights," and that's when I said, "I'm good enough. I can do this stuff. I can be an actor, an impressionist, a comedian."

Sun: You've done other films?

SS: Yeah. I got an agent in L.A. and drove back and for auditions. I've done several films, all independent, but I have big parts in all of them.

Sun: What is your ultimate goal?

SS: I'm a libra. I love to do as many projects as possible. I'm writing a one-man show for L.A., sort of my life story. I co-wrote, co-produced and co-starred in a movie for Showtime. It's in the can now.

My ideal would be to do a sitcom, do a film every year and spend three to six months on the Strip in my own showroom.

Sun: What about the impression that started your career, Elton John?

SS: At the end of each performance of "Voices in My Head" I do two songs as Elton John, but the Elton John thing has gotten sour for me. I hate being lumped into something I'm not. After awhile, I don't want to hear "Crocodile Rock" anymore -- it's such a yesterday thing, that and "Daddy's Little Girl."